The Smiling Rains

The intense heat wave that is smouldering the plains of West Bengal reminds me of how much difference a journey of just 16 hours can make. In Gangtok the rains have set in. Even though the sun still manages to show its radiance daily for at least 8 hours in the morning, the afternoon is ruled by the torrential gusts. The weather has become musty, gloomy and dark as the direct outcome of such climate with sudden outbursts of lightning and thunder now and then. March and April are the two months when lightning shows its full potential. The deafening sound of the thunder fills one with awe and admiration for nature’s raw force. The rain is much welcome here as opposed to the scorching heat of the plains. Requests are coming aplenty to send some clouds in packages down there.

Indeed, when the people of the plains are gasping for a fresh bout of shower, here the rains sometimes play havoc with the people. These incessant rains have their own share of disadvantages. Apart from disrupting the normal way of life of students, office-goers, workers and other professionals, who fight their way out during such frequent downpours, these rains have already started landslides. The after-effect of these slides, as people in hilly areas are well acquainted of, are the breakages of water pipelines causing massive water scarcity in such affected areas.

The problem of water scarcity is felt none other than people like me who have a once-in-three-bluemoons-maid servant like mine. Even in the bitter cold months of December and January she spends hours on end washing clothes or utensils to such a degree that they can be sold as brand new items in any shops. So one can well imagine how happily she will be doing her job during this time when the temperature rises up to at least 20-25 degree Celsius. Anyways, after much coaxing and cajoling and requests for less usage of water, she managed to wash a bucketful of clothes with just 9 buckets of water!

But really, when reports of temperature soaring to 40-42 degrees are heard from the plains, one feels blessed for the rains which do not allow the temperature to rise above 25-26 degrees. The whole phenomenon of water cycle can be witnessed in no more than 12 hours. My mother-in-law rightly says that one with a poor knowledge of Geography can witness practical demonstration of such different phenomena and as such acquire permanent ‘gyan’ seeing such things first hand.

Watching the brilliance of rains with occasional hailstorms does fill the romantic mind with lots of possibilities. (Statutory warning: People who know my husband would’nt dare their imaginations run wild!!). The coniferous trees sway wildly in the wind and the foggy atmosphere gives a fantasy-like charm to everything around. The beauty of half-washed mountains is beyond imagination of a person who has not seen such miracle of nature with his own eyes. Mother Nature paints with her own hands this masterpiece of water colour in her huge canvas. Not to forget that this piece of writing would also not have been produced in the seething heat of the plains. So as H. W. Longfellow said a long time back-‘...After the dust and heat/ In the broad and fiery street/In the narrow lane/How beautiful is the rain!’.

Happy Diwali

Happy Diwali to one and all. Hoping that this year's festival of light has washed away all the darkness of the past. Keep well.

Subho Bijoya

Subho Bijoya to all. The Pujas came and went. It was a different experience for me in Gangtok this year. We got the essence of Puja though quite a bit hatke. The weather was clear and all sunny. It was cooler so far as temperature is concerned as compared to Kolkata.
From where we stay, chants could be heard on microphone coming from far down below. On Saptami we(me and my hubby) thought that we should try to have a visit to the nearest pandal. So we started climbing down stairs from our place to reach to an area called the ‘development area’. Well, while doing so, I started to count the number of stairs to engage myself from getting bored from climbing down. It was then that I realized that we actually had to cross 252 steps (phew!!) to get a darshan of Ma Durga. Anyways it was not that bad after we reached there except that the knees and the part of the leg from there below still thought that I was climbing down and so refused to co-operate to walk properly. After quite a few seconds they finally became normal and we entered the pandal. It was well decorated with bright colourful lights and draperies. The idols were at their beautiful glory. Full-throated people were scattered here and there in the pandal wearing usual new clothes. Children (both wailing and smiling) were also running helter and skelter with occasional spanking from their mothers. A large number of chairs were also placed in front of the idols (bless the person who had the idea thinking of tired-legs people like us!!). We rested few moments looking at the beauty of Durga Ma and her children. After drowning ourselves in that noisy atmosphere and getting the feel of Puja we took leave to venture to another place.
Next we went to a place called M. G. Marg, supposed to be the hub of Gangtok. There in Thakurbari (another few scores of steps up) we visited another pandal. It was also well-decked. The feel was nice and live devotional music was going on. Staying there for sometime, we descended down to M. G. Marg. By that time I was awfully thirsty and we had good coffee at Baker’s Café, a really nice joint for coffee-lovers. After taking in the aroma of coffee, we felt we had had enough and finally called it a day. But we had a good time and even being outside West Bengal, we still experienced the charm and thrill of Durga Puja.

Remembrances

Everyday when I go for my morning walk up the paths of Gangtok, I find people of both sexes and of all ages and it is during one such days that the following lines came up.

The morning was glorious-
The air refreshing and cool,
The path was steep, sharp and steep
The old man trudges up along
Morning walkers pass him by,
Happy in their youth and vivacity
Walking in groups of fellowship.
The even younger folks in their jogging shoes and shorts
Running with earphones on.
Everyone pass him by,
The old man much aware of their presence
Continues, stops for two seconds or four
Now and then
But still continues
With his dim eyes, clutching his bundle
Looking at his thin legs
Reminiscing the days when he
Overtook such men as he.
Smiles
At the momentary triumph of the others
And continues.

Durga Puja and more

Durga puja is knocking at the door. The season of giving and receiving gifts is here. The winters are slowly setting in here at Gangtok. The air has started becoming colder. The cloudy skies have gone to make way for the white cottony ones. Mt. Khanchenjongha has finally obliged to show himself. The sunny weather lifts up the spirit. Its a nice feeling. Nicer if you are surrounded by people who care and whom you care for. The coldness of air gets warmer to hear voices from far. Its really good to be thought about during this season.

That Rainy Night

And there I was
Standing by myself in that rainy night
Looking through my tearful eyes
As you say, “Goodbye”
No words could have hurt me more
than that uttered by you on that rainy night.

Its awfully wrong, wrong the way
things go,
Am pretty sure I didn’t think
That things would come to this
That you would turn your back on me
The reality sinks in slow,
Slow enough to ponder over
The happy days that we shared
The happy days that waited for us.

I looked on, hoping you’d turn round
Turn round with those twinkling eyes
Come to me and hug me
Hide me in your arms
But you walked on
And I look at you with my empty tearful eyes
The rains help me wash away the tears
Wish I could wring my heart out to stop the pain and numb my senses.

Things are supposed to happen for the best, they say
But as I stand there hopelessly
I stop to think
The possible good that your going away can give me
I find none to give me solace on that dark, dark night.
Alone you go
Leaving me alone to face the long night ahead.

Reflections

Looking through the window
I find the white clouds floating carefree
In Sikkim I guess it’s just a regular affair to see them at your eye-level
But these melancholy clouds lift up my spirits whenever I am down
Thoughts travel likewise and bring back
Some of the richest moments of my life
A man asked me once, “What was your best moment in life so far?”
I stayed mum, even after giving it a thought
Really...my best moment?
Can I pinpoint such a time?
It’s more like some golden treasurable moments
Looking back upon which, the bleakness seems to clear
The dreary solitude that one feels even amidst loved ones
Seems to melt away to crystal clear daylight
One’s refreshed and anointed with the purity and sublimity
Of some of the simplest, commonplace yet exhilarating, subtle moments
Ready to take life by its horns.

Loving people

Why do someone love somebody?

What is it that draws one to the other?

Why does one miss somebody who was a perfect stranger just few months/weeks/days ago?

The feeling of being loved and thought about is good. But to love and to think about someone is perhaps better. Gives a pain-but a sweet one at that.

Makes you realize that there are still so much beauty around you in spite of the ugliness that sometimes seems to have the upper hand. Good to know that though you may have gone through one of the worse days of your life, there is someone with whom you can share your deepest feelings-one who will take your worries and feel you up with the moments that you will cherish for a long time.

Its strange how little things can make you feel better. Just a sentence, a phrase, a word, a gesture, or just the twinkle of an eye can make you feel on top of the world even when you are troubled by all kinds of things. The whole horizon opens up right there and then. It is strange, but it’s true. Isn’t it?

Thanks to all those who have made me realize the magic of love and the miracle it produces. All those lovely people who have redefined my way of looking at life. Just a token of gratitude as no words can equal the care and love I am showered in. Only know that no matter what, there is someone here who will stand by you even when the entire world turns his or her back on you.

I thank the Almighty for giving me such people and pray that He might give all the best that life has to offer to them.

Thanks for being there for me. Love you all.

After two years

Its kinda weird...that finally after abt two years I decided to visit my own blog....anyways felt good to revisit after such long hiatus...renewed old memories..some sweet some not so...but still made me realize just how much I have come across in these two years. Lost some friends to oblivion...but also made some now friends...still have some great friends.
Enjoying life as it is...hope to find it better in the days to come...lets see...

HAPPY NEW YEAR

Hi everybody! HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! Hope this year makes each of our living worthwhile-old dreams and wishes get fulfilled and new hopes to carry us through the year.