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.
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