written on Nov 29, 2014

My meeting with Sweta yesterday was one after 5 long years (the last time I met her was in November 2009 when we spent a lovely evening shopping in Dakshinapanand South City Mall and talking our hearts out and having some good food at the sc food court).. Over the last five years, our lives have undergone one too many changes.. Things that have happened to each of us over the last 5 years have some been desirable, some been unimaginable, some been not-too-desirable.. life has changed around us, appointing us new roles, newer responsibilities, different mindsets, and a lot more different elements that maybe we did not have back then.. What remains unchanged was the relaxation that Sweta always brings to anybody around her, the love, concern, and good wishes that we hold for each other, the needlessness to prove anything to her, the dispensability of the facade I usually wear with everybody (except close and dear old friends) around me.. What remains unchanged is that we both can always begin as if we had just parted last evening when school got over and we left our 11D-12D classroom..

Meeting Sweta

Nov 28, 2014

So, I finally come out of my 2.5-year-long hiatus of shying away from friends (exceptKoyel, who is no less than a part of me) and visit my dear friend Sweta at her parents' house (which means I meet her parents, especially her Mom, as well).. get to meet her 3.5-year old son, Tiplu, for the first time.. rediscover that feeling of assurance and warmth that old friends bring effortlessly.. gather the will, desire, and courage to meet friends whom I have been avoiding for the last 30 months or so .. get to know so much that I did not know about her parents' health.. share my dad's stories.. hear the beautiful laughter of Tiplu, see his lovely smile, touch his slender tenderness..shed my inhibitions and earn the feeling that I have places to share my story if and when I want.. Thanks, dear friend, for the unspoken and spoken words (for the beautiful blanket and lotion, as well).. Thanks, Tiplu for the giggles, chuckles, and heartfelt moments heart emoticon .. I am happy that I made the effort and paid the visit.. that I turned a visit to the bank and market into a beautiful meeting with a precious friend..

The Love Behind the Dresses.. May I Never Lose Her Love

I have known her for years. She has always touched my heart with her warmth and simplicity. She has been a witness to many of my life's moments. But, then, on her migration to the UK, there had been a drift. Although she made it a point to visit us, whenever she came to Kolkata, there have been many trips of her when she did not manage to meet us.. Although she stays at the house next to mine during her Kolkata visits, often it has so happened that we have not met during her trips. A lot has transpired during this period.. my marriage, my divorce, my father's illness.. I met her after years in the beginning of this July when she had to hurry down to Kolkata with her husband after her mom-in-law's stroke .. Yeah, she is my neighborhood Jethi's daughter-in-law.. When I went to meet her on a July afternoon, it was a time when my Baba was becoming depressingly bedridden and her mom-in law had slipped into a coma, the first reaction from her was a warm hug.. as warm and tight as it can get.. Her eyes brimmed and she tried to talk about mundane matters, not touching the delicate subjects. She held me as if I was made of cotton wool and would fly off any moment.. She kept holding me all the way to their upstairs room where her husband was.. 
A few weeks later, the day before she was to return to the UK, I gave her the news that my Baba was improving a bit.. She was happy and assured.. Baba left us a fortnight after she left for the UK.. and Jethi left us after almost 6 weeks of Baba's demise.. My neighborhood dada-boudi observed Jethi's Shraddh at Edinborough and visited India in October. On November 1, they observed another Shraddh that was attended by all Kolkata relatives, neighbors, and friends.. They are to return to the UK today.. Last evening, amidst a lot of guests attending her, Boudi found time to visit my Ma and me with her son Shubhan, whom I have seen since he was a few days old, who is a lanky 17 year old now! Transmitting her warmth all along, it was a lovely half hour that Boudi spent with us. And then came the biggest surprise! She pulled out a big blue plastic bag and took out some extremely fashionable dresses from it! She had brought clothes for my brother, s-i-l, and me from the UK and asked me to try mine on! I was touched and speechless! Not one and two, but quite a few beautiful dresses for me that moved me deeply. I have not bought a single dress for myself since May 2012.. it has been my way of abstinence, trying to compensate for all the huge expenses that my father had incurred for my wedding.. a wedding that became meaningless just after a few months.. The only new dress that I have worn over the last 3.5 years is the one gifted to me by a dear brother Siddharth... Still, I do not find space in my wardrobe, and it seems to be overflowing with clothes always, maybe because, I maintain my clothes delicately and my figure remains unaltered over the years.. 
Coming back to Boudi, as we hugged goodbye, I could feel the love that she feels for me and felt blessed and thankful! Love is something that you cannot buy with money, you either earn it or lose it, you either find it and keep it, or destroy it somehow.. As I tried on the clothes later on, they were a perfect fit, as if they had been tailor-made for me! As I touched the soft fabrics, I could feel the love that was behind those clothes, love so unexpected!.. Love, absolutely priceless. I cannot and would not thank you, Boudi. Your gesture meant the world to me.. Love you. heart emoticon Stay like this, and I pray that I never lose your love heart emoticon