Saraswati Puja at School.. Nostalgia

#SaraswatiPuja #SchoolDays

After we left school the craze and attraction for the Saraswati Puja at school craved for more. It was then we realized how important part of our lives this particular day was. After leaving school, I was back on Saraswati Puja every year maybe for the next 4-5 years. That day was a so-called unannounced Reunion Day. But with time it faded away into memories of a lifetime. I, particularly was never associated with the intricacies of the Puja at school maybe because there was always Saraswati Puja happening back home including today. But the fun and nostalgia associated with the school is unforgettable. What actually we did when we visited was boss around because we had found this new title, Seniors or Ex-Students. We would visit the store room which was our Sanctum Sanctorum. This room would usually be locked as fresh vegetables, sweets (particularly umpteen Rasogulla’s) and cooked food were kept inside. And we would somehow sneak in every year and vanish with a bucket full of Rasogolla’s. Yes.. Bucket.. And eating those stolen Rasogolla’s were something I can never explain. And each one of us would eat maybe 10-20 pieces. At any other given time, even today I cannot eat more than 3-4 Rasogolla’s at one go. But this day and at that time anything was possible. It was Joy, Satisfaction, Happiness and what not. But how long does these stay for? Not for long. It happened so in my last visit during Saraswati Puja. As we entered and bossed around, a teacher spotted us and asked us to follow him (For my class-mates it was Ranjan Sir). We followed thinking what he was upto. He straight took us to the locked store room. I was thinking that is he going to let us guard a room which is most vulnerable to us only? Nah, nothing such happened. He unlocked the door and went in as we waited outside. In sometime he was back with a bucket full of Rasogolla’s and handing it over to me he said, every year you all do it secretly, this year I am giving you, have it openly. I, rather we all were awestruck. He handed over, smiled and left with the store room open. We initially surprised with what just happened started gulping down but after a piece or two I realized I was not enjoying it anymore. The fun, the joy, the happiness, the satisfaction had suddenly disappeared. I could not eat a piece more. Strangely that year for some reasons I had missed the lunch also. That was the last time I had visited school during Saraswati Puja. It has been long, very long. The school is also not the same as it used to be. Quite a few years back the school buildings were redeveloped and now it doesn’t look a place where we grew up. But these stories will never fade away.

Meetha Pan

#MeethaPan

I suddenly wanted to have a 'Meetha Pan (Sweet Betel Leaf)' and so I stopped by a road side Pan Shop. As the Panwala started preparing my Pan some wonderful daily life activities were going on which I feel like sharing. As the Panwala prepared my Pan, two people (probably daily customers) were chatting with him. One of the customer was proudly showing a few photos of his new family member, a puppy which he has bought for ₹15000. They all were engrossed how good and cute the puppy was. As I glanced, I too liked it. Meanwhile, a hurried customer came and asked for something and hurriedly left. Then came a teenager who bought a cigarette. Behind him was his girlfriend (am sure about this). The girlfriend was unhappy about him smoking and the way he smoked he looked foolishly immature showoff'ing something which he could've done without. By the way, my pan was still in the making with all those silly ingredients that make it difficult to put it inside the mouth at once (because it becomes so huge). The love and hate of the couple continued a few metres away below a tree when finally I get my silly pan which I couldn't put inside my mouth at once and had to take three bites while spilling some masala. Oh.. What trouble.. And I walked away chewing.. Life goes on.. 😊

Kissa Wallet Ka

#KissaWalletKa

Well, have you ever lost something and found it back again? Particularly your wallet. I have, twice. Here is the first incident which occurred a few years back. I was travelling to Mumbai from Kolkata in Duronto Express. I have a habit of keeping my wallet in the back pocket and when sleeping in the train I keep it in the front pocket. And when travelling alone I prefer the upper berth. The upper berth is a kingdom on its own. 😉 Anyway, so when going to sleep what I did was I kept my wallet on the upper berth and started climbing up and would take it once I am up. That’s my usual behavior. The scene happened next morning. I woke up to find my wallet missing. A sense of extreme panic engrossed me. My kingdom was at stake as I couldn’t find my wallet anywhere. I came down and asked people around (maximum were still asleep). The train was at Igatpuri, I remember. Those days the stoppage at Igatpuri was a technical stop as a for addition of a second engine due to the ghats. I boarded at the station and looked for the Travelling Ticket Examiner (TTE) who was stationed in his cabin near the pantry car. I hurried to his kingdom in order to file an First Information Report (FIR) as someone told me that’s the norm. I had also managed to write the complaint on a blank sheet of white paper as per suggestions from the people around. I reached but he refused to take it. What he suggested was that when I de-board at CST (Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, it wasn’t CSMT then) I should file the FIR with Government Railway Police (GRP) at the station. An amused me, hopelessly started back to my seat as the train was also about to leave. Suddenly it clicked my mind that my debit cards should be immediately blocked and as a responsible person I hurriedly called up the bank 24/7 helplines and blocked all my cards. I wondered how will I reach home as I didn’t have cash or card. I called up a friend who was unavailable. My wife was out of town and I didn’t want to bother her. Finally, a dejected me came and sat with gallons of thought in my mind. I searched the place once again to no avail. Meanwhile a person who was sleeping in the side lower berth woke up and seeing me searching he suddenly asked, have you lost your wallet? I was like, yes, Thank God I have found it. But no, he informed that late night a wallet was found and it was with the person in the next coupe as he asked around but didn’t find the owner. I found a ray of hope as I went to check but he was sleeping. Now every minute was like an hour to me. I kept waiting for him to wake up impatiently. Meanwhile breakfast and all that was served which I could hardly eat but gulped down. Finally, after an hour and a half or so, he woke up. And I approached him asking if it was my wallet. He was an elderly man travelling to Mumbai with his daughter. He asked me my name and verification. I said my verification is inside that wallet if he may check my PAN and cards were available. He did and after an eternal morning I got my wallet back all safe and sound but, but the story doesn’t end here. The next few hours till CST the elderly man kept giving me advice on safety and life and youth and what not, which I had listened patiently without uttering much words. I was thankful then and even now. It was an incident and a journey I would never forget. 😊

*N.B.: Will share the 2nd Lost and Found Wallet Incident soon.