Wedding season

N and I left nearly at 9 (that is pm) from work and took a cab for the long ride home. And ofcourse our conversation was on trying to find that elusive work life balance. Slowing down at Kalighat (it is on the road to my home and I haven't suddenly turned into a fervent devotee), we saw something amazing. Amazingly cute. A woman shepherding a young groom and bride. Complete in dhoti-topor and biyer lal benarasi and alpana and red cheli and biyer malar across the road as our cab waited at the signal. Kalighat wedding. Hmm. Made our long hours almost worth it.

Colour, Bhopal

In Flight demo

Another trip to Bhopal. Which means flying to Nagpur from Kolkata, a cab to Nagpur station, a train to Bhopal and an auto to my hotel in Bhopal. I can now do it blindfolded.

And I thought I had learnt all the tricks and shortcuts and had seen it all. Not quite, as I found out.

I got a seat right in front of the plane on the Kolkata Nagpur flight. As I took my seat, I found the plane abuzz with mosquitoes. More were entering through the open door as other passengers were still boarding. A lady swatted angrily and complained to the airhostess about them. “It happens only in Kolkata,” said the air hostess, catching my eyes and smiling sympathetically. I looked stonily ahead my hackles raised (cant help this bongness). But only momentarily. Indeed there was a thick cloud of mosquitoes. Maybe not a cloud, but definitely a swarm which, heh heh avoided me sensing my solidarity and attacked others.

As the flight took off, and the plane went upwards (to stratospheric heights), the mosquitoes settled and then vanished. But not before a final show. I have never paid much attention to the security drill / demo by the cabin crew (atleast not as much as men do…but that I think has more to do with air hostesses in short skirts) but this time, I did. And what a demo it was. The airhostess slapped (her arms), swatted (her face and neck), stamped her feet all the while demonstrating the usual seat belts, oxygen masks, exits demo!! It was funny. But full points to the lovely lady for not missing a beat even with all the stamping, stomping, slapping and swatting!

Holi, Happily!

Bengal celebrated holi on Sunday, a day before rest of India. Holi for me, meant colours - creeping up on friends and family, pichkiri, abir & other hard to remove colours, resorting to buckets of water when stocks ran out, post holi bath with the painful scrubbing off, the most resistant bits - a triumphant souvenir to be proudly shown off the day after!

Once a manic fan of "dol khela"...this year, I welcomed holi as a day spent at home. (In February, I have spent a total of 24 days touring and was not only weary, but dis-oriented as well).

The lazing in bed as the cool morning breeze wafted in...
The strangely empty noiseless kolkata roads...
The lazy cawing of the crow...
The obligatory mangher jhol and bhat for lunch ...
and in the afternoon air redolent with the almost sweet, heavy lazy fragrance of the mango blossoms ... the best of all - a magnificent post mangsher jhol siesta!

Happy Holi, belatedly!