Had I Known

Held your pinky a little tighter
Kissed you a little deeper that day
Forced, pleased, cried maybe much.
Did all that I could to make you stay
        Had I known
That was the last time
That I'd see you walk past my door,
I would remind you of the promise
Of together reaching the shore.

-Abhishikta

Pujo Rants from Bangalore

Choturthi in the ancestral looooong red house was all about waking up to Buchu’s “Oth, claab e thakur eshe gechhe” and the Shishu Robi visits.
Then came senior school when Choturthi was the last day of Half Yearly exam and Maa would take me post that, to “Bazaar Kolkata” for the mega shopping.
 Higher Secondary days till 2014, Choturthi meant the day Ria and I would get a Pujo haircut done in the evening.
College Choturthi-s were all about mass bunk, while we would still travel to the 2 hours far college, just to play 29, have Biryani at Janakalyan and pandal hop.
This year my Choturthi started with  “Ayre chute aay pujor gondho eshechhe”, 2000km away from home. Distance is just a number they say. Is it?
Pujo shobar bhalo katuk!

SOS

Remember that time in childhood when you would fall and immediately run to Mom? For no specific reason. Mom would ‘Awww’ a little, pretend to scold the ground that hurt you and you would just be happy.
Then came the time like now when no matter how many times you fall, you bleed, there is just a crowded city that keeps rushing and pushing. There is no one to scold the ones who hurt, there is nowhere you can go accept the daily failure.

There was one Ishaan Awasthi who was dyslexic and there is me with IT Dyslexia. There was one Nikumbh Sir and I had one lead. The lead who scolded me like no one before but with him around, I just knew I always have a way out, NOMATTER WHAT. Nikumbh stayed over with Ishaan but the lead I had, won’t be there from tomorrow, my IT Dyslexia stays.

So this time when I fail, there is no Mom to run to, no Nikumbh sir who will have my back.
To the toughest weeks ahead when you’re on your own. This time, both personally and professionally.

বাসলি কাকে ভালো

কেমন করে বাসলি তাকে ভালো?
একা লাগলো বলে?
বেলা সাধলো বলে?

হতেও পারে !
আবার, হয়তো না !

তবে কি গোপনে ভাবিসনা?
তবে কি লুকিয়ে কাঁদিসনা?

হতেও পারে !
আবার, হয়তো না !

নিজের সবটা দিয়ে,
আমার সবটা নিয়ে,
এমন করেই বাসলি তাকেই ভালো !

- অভিষিক্তা