Chapter 3: Time Gone by

It has been a year or so when the Calcutta trip happened to my life. I have cribbed the whole story to my friends. They were as much much amazed as much amused by my depiction of the experience.

Now it's time to introduce my team:

Partha: a guy of medium height, medium complexion, high energy, superb skills (in games).

Utpal: cousin-cum-friend of mine, too dark to find in darkness (to mock we used to ask him to smile in dark).

Bhairab: a guy who bears all the pains of the world, often beaten by parent

Raja: My best friend, fair complexion, too clever too wicked, can do anything putting the gun on your soldier.

We never planned for any picnic or sort earlier as our everyday life was quite full of excitement. We used to play a lot, study a bit and enjoy whatever cometh our way. We used to taste raw pulses from the field, ripe fruits from the tree. We did not have any park in the village but natural colours were abundant in the vicinity. Also a small river passes aside our village.

So this time finally we decided to go for a picnic in Kalajhara (Jhara means fountain and due to its location in coal mines, probably it has got the connotation). we made a list of take away and packed ourselves up next morning for a morning stride to the place. It was roughly 5 kms. away.

At 6 in the morning we started and by 9 we were there. Walking on the red soil was a bit pleasant but there is always a fear of Adhabagha (I did not know that it was Hyena - it looked like wild dog with white-black tiger like stripe on the body). In the jungles of the village on the way to Kalajhara there is also another rare species - black panther, although it had been watched by only a few and deadly tarantula (a type of spider, if it spread web over you the part of the body will melt down). There were several cases already. All these put together, you can imagine how tough it would have been to get permission from parents. With moderate disagreement, we somehow managed it.

Reaching the place we realised it worths our efforts. The serenity of the place was so pleasant that we almost started feeling in tandem with nature. The four of us had managed breakfast with breads and eggs and them on walkaway got some fruits nearby to treat ourselves.

Then we played a bit of cricket and then gone for a shower under the fountain. The water was real refreshing - we swam across and dive from the rocks into the pond below. Finally we got ready for our packed lunch. We ruled out the option of cooking as we were neither expert nor we wanted to kill time in doing so. Sharing food and knowledge are always enriching - I was not not sure of the latter but the first one is incomparable.

After the lunch is over, we got into the jungle to watch Adhabagha but to our dismay  none were visible. As the afternoon was trudging, we had to get back against our will, but the experience that day will remain afresh in memory forever.

Chapter 2: A dreadful day

It is hard to imagine for the new generation the kind of transportation system that used to be during early '90s. Except for the metros & some big cities, it was always a tough time for people. I wonder how people used to do all the things back then...

As we ended up in Asansol that night and headed for a nearby village, unknowingly about the current situation. We boarded a bus that took us about halfway and the rest... is history. There were only 2 buses that connect the village from this place and its high time now to get a look of them at 9 p.m. Also there was no chance to get back to Asansol as the bus that took us here was known to be the last bus.

So in middle of nowhere, it was a challenging task to decide what to do, although there was no option left in front. Apart from all, our stomach were starving too.

We were thinking (better to say Dad was thinking, I could not think rationally then) how much trouble my aunt will face to provide us the food. Finally we decided stroll down the path. It was rain drenched and as usual the village was so blessed to get an electric connection. Amidst the darkness with stinking smell from the sides it was too challenging to take a fresh breath and keep walking with tired legs.

In each step forward I was damn afraid and the time I did not get hold of Dad's hand I was just freezing to death. Don't know how I reached there despite of all. I found myself alive the next morning and felt that I got a nice meal yesterday night although could not recollect.

Then my aunt cometh calling me for breakfast. So I had to hurry up and get fresh immediately. It was a good treat in the morning and the journey was fruitful not due to the heavy meal in the morning but more for the special occasion we have reached there. It was a tradition here to celebrate some 'Parav' (festival) where the devotees pierced themselves with sharp needles in the chin and back. It was so horrible to watch that I just cried out of fear. I had heard about this earlier and wanted to see always, but when faced with realty it was dreadful.

So after all this chaos, we started our way back home after day meal and this time surprisingly everything went fine. I was at home in another 2 hours.

I was just thinking about the last day - how unexpectedly I visited Calcutta and was amazed the whole day and the night was different altogether. My friends were unaware of 'reason of my invisibility', so they will be asking me about everything. I started articulating myself to narrate my experience to them.

Chapter 1: the begining

A hot summer day of '90s. I was playing in the streets with my friends. This is called Gully cricket - a very popular form of game in India. The narrower the alley the better fashioned the game is...

Well anyway, what I'm going to talk about here is not the cricket or its modified version to suit our convenience, but its obviously much more than that...

My father shouted from the door of our house and I had to return midway my inning with the bat in one hand and ball in the other. I thought I'd get some reprimand for overplaying. O hell, don't think my father used to scold me for every l'il things, as he rarely did. But to my utter disbelief he told we are going to Calcutta. It was the time when I could not even pronounce it properly, forget about the spelling.

The small village kid, for whom a cycle ride would cause a chin-breaking smile, a ride in the train was like getting the way to heaven. I was overwhelmed by the thoughts that surpassed me in the next 2 hours and finally I was awake at Asansol where the bus landed us for boarding the train.

I read about dreadful train journeys by some authors whom I could not recollect then - their treacherous experience and horrified depiction left me afraid until I got into the seats and amazed seeing nothing happened.

As the journey begins, one co-passenger lighted a bidi (Cigarette like material with natural packaging), I hated this the most while people smoke. I felt so bad about them and for myself for accompanying them. I felt miserably ill at times during bus rides for this smokey matter. Now of course, the scenario is lot different.

Various hawkers came with their ferries at unbelievable rates and with delicious cuisines (don't blame me, those things were not available in the village where I used to live). But my father commented about the hygiene and did not offer me anything. And then after initial hiccups, he got me a thonga (pack) of Jhalmuri (a spicy chilly-aloo filled puffed rice like Bhelpuri). I kept myself busy eating from the pack till the end of the journey while looking out from behind the window.

It was pleasure to see the trees running backwards, it was hard guessing your own movement, I mean the train's. It was a lifetime experience I thought that I would share with my friends while I get back. Running trees, I thought for a moment, they won't believe me for sure.

Oh yes, I forgot to mention about my attire. I came out in the same dress I was wearing while playing Gully cricket as there was almost no time left for me. Even I came out wearing Chappals (typical bathroom slippers). So this way, after about 4 hrs. of journey we reached Calcutta while the clock is touching noon.

The Howrah bridge stood in front of my eyes. I could not believe myself. The only sight I got of this earlier was in the pencil box cover of my best friend. I was jealous about his worthy possession and he used to show off too. It is sooo big and across the wide Ganges & it was looking awesome under the sun. Hence we proceeded towards the City of joy. The Eden Garden's lush green pasture, the height of Shahid Minar, incomparable traffic of then Calcutta were all new to me and I was gobbling with my eyes and retreating my mind.

The day went on, we had food in some restaurant - that was so delicious even today my taste buds feels for it. Finally the time came to return, the very same day as Sun set we were back to the compartments yet again for the return journey. There was no possibility to get a seat in a coach occupied by daily passengers unless you are of fairer gender. The playing cards, never ending arguments on so-many-diversified topics were order of the day in the train. While we boarded the train it seemed a l'il too occupied but as it started moving it seemed a bit more spacious - even the hawkers and beggars found their way through.

Finally we got back by the evening just to find the last bus has left for the day. My father planned immediately to surprise his sister. So the journey was not finished but has just begun...

A series of melodrama begins...

A journey of thousand miles begins with a single step - this should be the prelude to my expedition around India.

A small village kid who rode the train for the first time at the age of 10, it is really amazing to proclaim to visit almost all the states in this vast land of divine India.

It's an untold story of one's heart's revelation and is minutely depicted as u will visualise while reading this -

Keep walking...