Talking to Self

While in school, two quotes always had me thinking

1. Distance makes the heart go fonder

2. Out of sight out of mind

Funny how the same cause can have two completely different effects on two usecase sets

গম গম, গম গম

আজ সারাদিন বৃষ্টি হল
ঝম ঝম, ঝম ঝম
নির্ভেজাল, এক নাগার জলের প্লাবন
নির্ভেজাল, একনাগারে স্মৃতি রোমন্থন
আজ সারাদিন বৃষ্টি হল
ঝম ঝম, ঝম ঝম

গলির পাশে দালান বাড়ি
আছে কি সেই এক ই রকম
হলুদ দেয়াল কালো দরজা
ভালো বেশি বাসা কম

বইয়ের তাক, এ সি'র তার
নতুন ভাবনা পুরোনো ফোন
বাস এর টিকিট, সাউথ সিটি
আশাবাদী মনের কোন

মিথ্যে স্বপ্ন
বোঝাতে ভুল
ভালোবাসার
উচিত মাশুল 

কাল সারাদিন মেঘ করবে
গম গম, গম গম
নির্ভেজাল, এক নাগার জলের প্লাবন
নির্ভেজাল, একনাগারে স্মৃতি রোমন্থন
কাল সারাদিন মেঘ করবে
গম গম, গম গম

- অভিষিক্তা

Noise In My Head

Probably it is the beauty of Calcutta that makes Dukkhobilash your favorite night routine!

I've been sleepless for almost 2 weeks now, felt restless, anxious and spent hours thinking of random things like how much space would be free-ed up if the book shelf is moved from left to right (yes!).

I've visited old memory corners of my mind and heart, tried to explicitly visit only the happy lanes and avoided the sad ones (both literally and figuratively). The subtle office pressure is also not helping.

Add the rush of Obhimaan that Calcutta brings in my heart! Whys and Why Nots and Why Me-s, ghosts of pasts, personality traits that I should have changed, words that I should have said better, people I should not have met, souls I should not have assumed mates. Whirlwind of thoughts, night after night! And then there are happy sappy people, happy sappy lives, happy sappy photos!!! 

Baadh Shedho Na Bondhu!!!!

Tobe Tai Hok :)

Repeat

A storm inside

A struggling Yacht.

The sails tearing,

The sailor wearing,

Don't call for help!

Must not abort.

            A hurricane outside,

            A struggling Jeep,

            You're heavy!

            You're demanding!

            Figure your own rescue!

            Must, now, leap

So bring out the smile,

Tears are for the closed doors to keep;

No one understands,

Do not talk so deep.

            Shout, write, hide,

            Repeat.

            Shout, write, hide,

            Repeat

- Abhishikta

PDDivD: Mostly Jargons, Non TMs, Must Skip

 I have never been a fan of numbers, but today, this, almost feels like magic! 🥹

Many years down the line when I would finally forget how to read the dashboard, this post would remind me that today was the day when I stopped checking the dashboard, every alternate hour.

A very grateful President's Distinguished Division Director today, just 3 days before the finish line because I bleed Bollywood and 

Har kar jeetne walo ko...

Ofcourse you know 🥹❤️

Sleeper Train on a Cool Tuesday

 Rolling eyes the moment I say sleeper!

The husband will blame the heat in summers, the chill in winters, the rains and monsoon, the pillows that are not given, the food that isn't good, the washrooms that aren't clean and many many actual logical correct reasons to not choose sleeper anymore if you have a choice!

And then, there are such 10-12 hours overnight trips from Bangalore in June where it's never summer, never winter and AC tickets are never available at the last minute; in short, the right choice as opposed to KSRTC (which again, I'm a fan of, but Indian Railways over Karnataka transport, okay).

This live blog, this day to remind myself of the feeling of this gush of strong wind brushing through my fringes which I didn't know existed up until now. To remind myself of this feeling of random sweet South Indian Aunty forcing us to eat their Idli despite the fact that I didn't switch my side upper with her daughter's seat (yes, okay, whatever). To remember the feeling of buying 'fu diye folano baalish' after forever and the random Lungi clad uncle totally judging and laughing at us with absolutely no awkwardness since we didn't bargain at 100 for a pillow. Indian Railways have been back big time in my life post marriage, not complaining and actively touching wood for the travel frequency, and also because S is a huge fan of trains.

I'm so happy at Sleepers not disappointing me this time. Return journey ofcourse, as S wanted with fancy windows with blue curtains, but this one's mine! 

Say Hello to searching through wallets to find khuchro taka for Kannada Jhal muri and Bangla Band on stringed headphones (I'm sure you aren't surprised that I still use these antiques, daily)

Hello Karwar in 8hours!!!

Silent Prayer and Show Before I Lose (or Not)

 

Pabbas!

We're a bunch of privledged kids-turned-midaged who mostly eat well (touched wood frantically). Our celebrations and grieves are marked with eating and drinking, often without any sort of demarcation between them, all four! 

However, Mangalore deserves a special mention today.

I remember coming to Mangalore back in 2015 where Pdi hosted us in full swing. I was in my own crazy IceCream fast that year and not healing from a certain breakup denial; so that entire experience at Pabbas had me keeping a straight face while N, R and Pdi insisted that I try this and that, atleast that, I denied. 

Today afternoon I visited Pabbas again after 8 years, and ate till I could not eat anymore. Visited that one place that had absolutely made me cry. Changed the narrative!? 

Looking back, it was a very stupid narrative in the first place, but then, we're all stupid and naive.

Here's to Mangalore

Here's to Ghee Roast

Here's to Icecream

🧿

Those We Love Never Go Anywhere ?

8 years ago I left Kolkata, with a heartbreak that will probably take this entire lifetime to heal, with a zeal to comeback as soon as I can which has never happened, with Maa to make sure I settle just fine before she heads home.

Cannot really say the years have been super bad, the nights have been high, the days have been sunny, Bangalore dramatic sky dance has filled  my heart, the Spring Cherry blossoms have adorned my phone gallery. The feeling of growing up, taking at least 6 flights to Kolkata a year, looking forward to and getting anxious before every Durga Pujo leaves; have not been as bad I had made it sound but the perpetual homesickness has never really left me. Come marriage, the homesickness have only become worse now with Bangalore home also slowly taking up a huge space in my heart and now, ‘choosing’ people AT places, it is always a tear and tear show every month, every flight. That is story for some other day but I always had the peace of the sister holding the home ground strong, albeit with her set of mood swings and GenZ complications, but, with a knowledge that she is there, while I chill and whine.

Today Kutu leaves for Chennai, and the somewhere, soon, or maybe not. Leaves home nonetheless and for good. I feel the same lost and sad and worried. The mother is again going to make sure that K settles just fine before she heads home, only this time, she will head home with a limp, extra medications and to an emptier Kolkata house.

প্রথম বৃষ্টি

মনে পরে ছোটোবেলায় বৃষ্টি গুনতাম, আজ প্রথম, আজ দ্বিতীয়, আজ তৃতীয়, আজ ঊনপঞ্চাশ |
মনে পরে গরমের ছুটি তে কোথাও ঘুরতে গেলে প্রিয় বন্ধু কে বৃষ্টি গুনে রাখার দায়িত্ব দিয়ে যেতাম |

আজ বছরের প্রথম বৃষ্টি হলো বেঙ্গালুরু তে' শুনতে পেলাম কলকাতায় ও বৃষ্টি বৃষ্টি ভাব, কালবৈশাখী, পরীক্ষা পরীক্ষা গন্ধ |

আজ আর বৃষ্টি গোনা লজিকাল না| আজ আর বৃষ্টি গোনার সময়, ইচ্ছে, আর ও আই  কোনোটাই নেই | একটা প্রাচীন অভ্যেস এর মতো মনে পরল বৃষ্টি গোনা আজ | একটু পরে থেমে যাবে, তারপর নেটফ্লিক্স হবে, জোর আওয়াজে ইংরিজি গান হবে, কালকের প্ল্যানিং হবে| একটু পরে, এখন শুধু বৃষ্টি |

আজ, প্রথম বৃষ্টি
আজ ই শেষ 

Neel Rong Chhilo Bhishon Priyo

Just the other day

You had your sky blue crayon phase.

Paint, was all you did

Paint, was all that made sense.

The many afternoon shine

Even more night time glaze

The many sea shores

Even more snow flakes

Just the other day

You had your sky blue crayon phase.

 

-Abhishikta

Dear Diary

Very recently Oreo introduced me to 'Tumhari Amrita' and as Toastmasters, we are shamelessly inspired by everything beautiful.
Hence, there is our flawed attempt at flawed love. With Love! Happy Adult Valentines' you :)

Dear Diary,

College starts tomorrow. I hope my decision to stay back in India for Undergrad, going against Dad’s wish was right.

Dear Diary,
What is wrong with the world? I saw a fresh batch of 1st years come to the college today. Everyone thinks about the US, everyone wants to earn money. Noone thinks about art or literature, or politics of this country. Am I born too late in time?

Dear Diary,

College is going great! I met a group of techno grads working for Robotic Modelling.
Our Seminar was hugely disturbed today by a group of Art Students shouting at the top of their voices, protesting against some political dysfunctionality. I hope they let us work in peace tomorrow.

Dear Diary,

I have decided to lead the political group of University, these people are directionless and naive. It deeply hurts my soul that other departments are not even bothered about the initiatives.

Dear Diary,

Never in my wildest dreams did I think that I will make friends with Ankur. He leads the Communist group of the University, the typical 'arty' type. Takes immense pride about his unkempt beard, baggy kurta, perennially borrowed cigarettes. He speaks of communism, ideologies and literature. No dreams, no ambition, just a blurry vision of tomorrow. But this blurry vision makes me want to believe him. He moves around the campus with a note of ten rupees inside his worn out wallet. 

Dear Diary,

Is it allowed for the 3rd world to fall in love with the 1st? I look at the Kohl in Amrita’s eyes and instantly want to keep looking at it till the end of time. She is smart and funny. In my black and white world of constant fight between right and wrong, she is my sunshine. I am scared of what lies ahead.

Dear Diary,

My dad caught me staring at Ankur’s photo today. I could not dare tell him that he is not from the same department. Why did I lie? 

Dear Diary,

It’s been a week that I have not seen Amrita around. Did she miss her classes or was I too busy in my own world that I missed seeing her? Is she ignoring me or the walls of my existence are too tough to cross? Will I see her again?

Dear Diary,

Ankur read a poem to me today from his brown Diary.
I was lost in his voice, his eyes. There was a certain sadness in the way he spoke. 

Dear Diary,

I got a full scholarship for pursuing a PHD in Stockholm. Who would have thought that someone following and pursuing Indian politics so passionately would also be acknowledged outside? But I am in two minds. I have no intent  to go abroad leaving so much behind but how would I compensate for the status Amrita deserves, her family expects? She has been raised as a princess, the lady who deserves nothing less than a diamond, how would she ever cope with the dark in me?

Dear Diary,

Today was the most magical birthday of my life. While everyone surrounded me with gifts, gold and diamonds, Ankur took me to one corner of the room, with a finger, he took one drop of water from a glass and placed that drop on my ring finger! This has been the most memorable gesture that anyone has ever done for me. I love him!

Dear Diary,

I love Amrita. Today, on her birthday, she looked like magic. While she was laden with gifts all around, I had nothing but myself to offer. Even then, her eyes danced and smile brightened the entire room. Should I really go to Stockholm to provide the life that Amrita deserves? But then, what happens to so many lives I have been leading? Is love enough to over power all other human emotions?

Dear Diary,

While I was discussing how my Dad can easily sponsor for my masters in Stockholm while Ankur does his PHD, he looked quite absent. Here I am already making plans for a future together but he seems to be lost. 

Dear Diary,

I thought about it a lot. I cannot leave India. I expect Amrita to understand, she can do her masters from India too, there are so many good universities. Even if she wishes to go to Stockholm, I can wait for 2 years till she is back. I am rejecting the scholarship offer. I hope Amrita will understand.

Dear Diary,

How can he decide to not go to Stockholm without discussing with me like I am noone to him. When he kissed me for the first time and called me his world, what did he mean then? Probably Dad was right. Ankur has no dreams, no ambition, just a blurry vision of tomorrow.

Dear Diary,

Amrita left for Stockholm today. She did not say Goodbye. She returned the Shiuli flower, the only gift that I was capable of giving her once. When I last saw her in the University campus the day after I told her I was not moving to Stockholm she did not fight, she did not smile, she just stared, stared and walked away. The same Kohl lined beautiful eyed girl, she looked like she had grown up overnight. 

Sigh

Dear Diary,

It’s been 10 years. Never spoke to you, never looked back but today something happened. Today I got promoted as the Managing Director but there was no one I could share my happiness with. I spent an entire decade working so hard that I left relationships behind. Is this the tomorrow I wanted? Have I become the person that I always accused Ankur of? No dreams, no ambition, just a blurry vision of tomorrow?

Dear Diary,

It’s been 10 years, I have become the person I always wanted to be. Teaching young students, weaving dreams. I wonder how Amrita is? She must have become a mother now, someone’s wife, someone’s reason to be happy every day. Does she still remember me? Because I do; every time the Calcutta winter wind sweeps past my Kurta I remember Amrita, every time the aroma of Shiuli fills my room full of books I remember Amrita, everytime I breathe, I remember Amrita. Hope she forgives me someday.

Dear Diary,

Do you think Ankur remembers me still? Has he forgiven me? Maybe he has not changed one bit. Or maybe he has. Maybe he has a beautiful wife to share his latest poems with, maybe a daughter, he is teaching the lessons of Feminism to. A thought crosses my mind everyday, to meet him once, to see him once, to say Goodbye, properly this time? Should I book my flight?

Dear Diary,

With the corruption that does not leave our society, at all times I feel my decision to stay back was right. The oil prices are over the roof, the unemployment does not seem to go, last heard, the midday meals of the children were misutilised. I am waiting for one day when I wake up to hear good news.

Dear Diary,

Late to tell you but I am on my flight to India.  Is it too late? Has the scars of time rusted the feelings? I love Ankur, I still do. Do you think I would get a chance to tell him in this life ever again?
The storm in my heart seems to be manifested around me. There is a strong turbulence outside. 

Dear Diary,

Again woke up to the news of a Europe to India flight getting crashed yesterday. At times I feel happy with the knowledge that Amrita is far and safe from all of this. At times I wonder how our life could have been? 

Dear Diary,

It’s been 30 years. Amrita must be 60 now. I am old too. My old age and half rimmed glasses are a testimony that one life is not enough for love. My health has started to show its colors of Winter. Winters when you are 20 are different from the winter of 60. Now, it is cold, just cold.

Dear Diary,

It’s been 40 years. Words have started to fail me. Only one feeling remains… love.
I love Amrita, I still do. Do you think I would get a chance to tell her in this life ever again?

Sigh…

- Abhishikta

Night Before Bangalore Flights

Are always sleepless and sad. But these days it's a choice, not office mandate. 

Aaro lafiye lafiye biye korte bolo, I told Maa, who is confident S can manage a few more days in Bangalore while I'm here.

Ofcourse he can, but then, to live in two parallel boats is not something I'm used to too. It is seeming like a choice. This or that. What what whaaaat!

Oh the dilemma.

Oh Calcutta! 

Give both of us rich jobs will you? Pretty Please.

Just Breathe

 

Prayers Etc.

Cherish what you have?

All's a God Plan?

Cancelled tickets for Manali

Got to attend Saraswati Pujo at Home

Just when you think you have made the perfect plan

Bangalore-Delhi-Rampur-Chandigarh-Manali-Pathankot-Bangalore, you get a phone call at Chandigarh, a loss of someone who has always been your defition of a perfect father! 

Mdi has always been blessed by a father who has never said NO for anything! I remember many night outs at M's where Pishu covered up for me. My mother's mania during Pujo nights were always calmed because Pishu was at M's!

Someone who always called me 'Aaabhishikta' :')

To ditch snowfall to pay respect to him!

Makes sense?

Adult me says yes, a two hundred percent.

Basant Panchami At Home:')

May All Gods and Goddesses give immense long and healthy life to all sets of parents!

Especially mine!

Amen

Mandate! 2023, Please Be Kind!

 1. What did you do in 2022 that you’ve never done before?

Took Maa to hospital -_-
Bikini

Shidhur Khela

Bought Cocktail maker and used

2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions and will you make more for next year?
Not kept, so the resolution continues for this year

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Lost the idea of who is close and who is not. Lots of Babies happening all around.

4. Did anyone close to you die?
R’s Mom

 

5. What countries did you visit?
Indonesia! (AND Thailand and Malaysia if transits count! Gareeb ko achha laggega!)
Also, in India,

Kolkata, Shantiniketan, Chandigarh, Vidisha, Lucknow, Ooty, Kochi, Munnar, Alleypey, Dhotrey, LepchaJagat, Darjeeling, DudhSagar, Dandeli, Palmaner, Gokarna, Landsdowne, Powri, Khirsu, Dehradun, Hosur

6. What would you like to have in 2023 that you lacked in 2022?
Healthy Lifestyle
Work Travel


7. What date from 2022 will remain etched upon your memory?
Don’t know about date but DivD Elections from Dhotrey, the palpitation, the tension, the network, the win! WHAT A DAY!


8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
GL Retention
Making it through 2 weeks of in-laws visiting


9. What was your biggest failure?
Not investing one second to wanting to do Masters


10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
The skin is tearing apart SO MUCH
And, Covid


11. What was the best thing you bought?
Scooty for Maa


12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Not anyone I can think of


13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Everyone’s during the 2 weeks of August


14. Where did most of your money go?
Travel (and happily so!)


15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Maa’s retirement
Bali

DivD Elections

Durga Pujo


16. What song/album will always remind you of 2022?
Hey Samalo (Coke Studio Version)


17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
1. Happier or sadder? Happier
2. Thinner or fatter? Fatter
3. Richer or poorer? Richer


18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
Exercising my brains! I can feel cobwebs inside, really!


19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Crying


20. How did you spend Christmas?
Wrote letters to Santa (S wrote too this time!)
Stayed indoors
Watched something stupid till 4 in the morning
Had Mulled wine at Toit (Did not particularly like the hype)

Finally learnt Monopoly at R’s

21. Who did you spend most of the time on the phone with?
Maaaaaaaaa! <3


22. Did you fall in love in 2022?
No


23. How many one night stands in this last year?
None.


24. What was your favorite Tv programme?
Emily in Paris

House

25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
No.


26. What was the best book(s) you read?
Bought a single book in a house that has over 500, read Shreya Sanghani’s story (fangirl forever).
That’s It. Shameful. Yes.


27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Jolene

28. What did you want and get?
Hike


29. What did you want and did not get?
Northern Lights (AGAIN)


30. What were your favorite films?
I think I watched 365 movies but cannot remember anything right now.


31. What did you do on your birthday and how old were you?
30+ till 40 :)
I did not go home :(

Big pre fight, Gokarna, Beer, Sea, Rides!

S gifted me a Keeeeeyboard :’)
Maa ordered a Bengali thali :’)
Decided to not miss home on Birthday next time

32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Maa’s good health


33. What would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2022?
M to L


34. What kept you sane?
Maa


35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Alfie from Emily In Paris (SO HOT)


36. What political issue stirred you the most?
None


37. Who did you miss?
Kolkata


38. Who was the best new person you met?
Noone

39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2022?
Old Age Demands People and Money! Plan Well


40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year?
ফিরবো বললে ফেরা যায় নাকি

Remember Me Real?

Looking at the mirror and not looking at me at all!

Who is this person? What have I become?

There is a constant noise inside my head which doesnt stop! My perception of myself, my plans about myself, my bars about myself during the growing up years have become faded, I can hardly tell! There is a silhouette that is tough to comprehend.

Did I hate indifference then? Did I like uncertainties? Did I crave shade? Did I give shade?

Was I fun? Risk taking? Kind? Lovable?

It feels like a different time now. My eyes glowed different, my smile didn't come so often, my tears, oh never!

Did you like me then?

Do you like me now?

Do I like me now?

ঘুম আসেনা বহুদিন

 

রাত তবে কটা হোলো ? 

ঘুম আসেনা বহুদিন | 

স্বপ্ন পরীর ডাক পড়েছে 

চোকাতে হবে বহু ঋণ | 

ঘুম আসেনা বহুদিন | 

মনে পরে সেই ছোট্ট বেলায় 

বাবা বলতো গল্প কথা,

কোনটা গল্প, কোনটা কথা,

কোনটা নেহাত মাথার ব্যাথা  |

তখন কি আর ভাবতে হতো

সোজা - ব্যাকা - সহজ - কঠিন ?

আজকাল তাই রাত বেরাতে

ঘুম আসেনা বহুদিন |

আচ্ছা শোনাই আরেক গপ্পো

বড়ো তখন আমি অল্প স্বল্প

বালিশটাকে মুখে চেপে

ফোন এ বুনতাম আগাম কাব্য |

হবে একটা আকাশি বাড়ি, হলুদ পর্দা, সাদা দেয়াল, 

সঙ্গে হবে Alsatian , কয়েকটা ছবি, একটা গিটার |

জানলা পারে খোলা আকাশ ,

দুটো মানুষ, অনেক খেয়াল |

এসব কিন্তু বহুদিনের কথা 

স্মৃতির পাতায় একটু মলিন |

তবুও হয়তো এসব ভেবেই

ঘুম আসেনা বহুদিন |

তবে কি সবটাই ফেলা ?

এতটা জীবন, শিক্ষা, অভিজ্ঞতা?

না না, তা হয় নাকি?

এসব খালি রাতের আড়ালে

একটু ন্যাকামি

একটু দুঃখবিলাসিতা |

ওই দেখো, সূর্য ওঠে ,

শুরু করো কাজ, হও প্রেমে লীন |

আমি? আমি কাল আবার আসবো,

শোনাতে নালিশ, নিদ্রা বিহীন |

ভোর তবে কটা হোলো?

ঘুম আসেনা বহুদিন 

 

- অভিষিক্তা

Same Old Last Night Shizz

Someday.

I.

Will.

Have.

A.

Job.

Here.

And.

Won't.

Have.

To.

Leave.

With.

A.

Heavy.

Heart.

Every.

Time.

Sir Clicked.

Mon Kharap

Ekadoshi is a very difficult day to explain

I don't know many people who can put End-of-Pujo feeling into words. 

The lights are dimmer

The air is sharper

The roads are crazy empty

So are the eyes!

The heart however is full but there also is a hollow within. The shreiky post Bijoya wind passes through that hollow and makes anxiety happen.

This feeling is my Flight-To-Bangalore reminder. Somehow, the Doshomi evening, with everything else, has been my reminder of the toughest flights. That's a ghyanghyan for another post, too many old posts too.

For now,

You cannot be making plans at 10pm

You cannot be waddling in rain with white saari on

You cannot be just happy, forgetting everything!

The days of being that girl from college, that boy from para, that couple from school are over for this year

Ashchhe bochhor ki j hobe :(

Chhuti shesh

School shuru

Ele r gele :(

Bhallagchhena :(

30th September 2022

The day my mother retired after her 40 years of service.

My granddad loved telling us the story of how my mother was the single candidate selected in Mumbai interview for Doordarshan where people came from all over India. How she was the single person who wore Saari and chose 'Namaste' over ' Hello'. 

My mother has always been my inspiration, someone I try to copy in most of the professional life achievement possibilities, but mostly fail!

As the joke goes, I'm justa a 'paati guaduate' meye to a mother who has done

BSc

B(Lib)Sc

MA in Economics

MA in Political Science

Mass Communication

Diploma in French

All of this along with raising two particularly difficult daughters!

All of that, with impeccable sense of self worth!

I write this, beaming in pride

I write this, hoping for her new journey;

Of doing things so cool that it would be impossible for me to chase, again! 

Chapter New, everyday, Maa ❤️

Instant Healer : Mahalaya

📻

🌼

To be able to hear Mahalaya on Radio and not on YouTube is such a disguised blessing !

Hoping for it every year, year after year!

Pretty Please? Maa!

Shubho Sharodiya 🌾

Wall of Comfort

Shared episodes with Smita, Imran, Sunil and mainly, with Bishakha, at Naveena ends; as B goes off for good!

Hence, presenting the wall which was curated with love, which gave familiar comfort, which now, would never be seen again! Even though I left this wall a year ago but still, it was right beside, to be visited;

Our major Covid shelter, our most spent warm evenings, our fate changer, this place!

Would long can you keep a paper boat you love?

Hey Samalo

Growing up in a communist backdrop, this song was played and sung every evening, on a dark grey tape recorder, after my father came back from work!

As a child I never quite paid heed to the lyrics, not that I was not a Lyrics Police, but this was way before words made sense.

When Coke Studio brought this back to me, it almost brought me a piece of my childhood of the red bricked beautiful house! And ofcourse a deep realisation that we were probably the last generation to have cherished such rich language jewels!

Also, secretly afraid of a only Hindi hugging child someday who would prefer "abbe yaar" over "dhushala"