Pool filters cleaned, hot tub filters cleaned, car washed and cleaned. Exhausted, dozing off by the pool with Bengali “adhunik” songs on… like the lazy Sunday afternoons of childhood days (“adhunik gaaner anurodher asar”). One thing missing though – the aroma of “pnathar mangsho” (goat meat) cooking wafting from every Bengali household..
Hilarious!! During my daily call to mom in India, she started talking about the reading habits of her grandchildren. When it came to Niki (my younger one), she was desperately trying to decribe the iPad (on which Niki was reading her books during our last trip to India) – “Sei Je, Niki erokom korey dito aar sob kichu ultey paltey jeto” (roughly translated, “Don’t you remember? she used to do like this and everything went topsy turvy”) 🙂 I had to mute myself for 10 seconds 🙂 That was the most humbling description of an iPad!! No doubt Jobs turned in his grave!!!
Every year, Natasha and Nikita perform (dance) during our biggest festival – Durga Pujo. This time was no exception. Although, perhaps, this is the last year for Natasha. She did two dances this time and Nikita did one. Their choreographer was Mayuri Ray, who, as always, did an outstanding job.
Natasha’s first dance – “Tere Nana Megh”
Nikita’s dance – “Amar Gaaney”
Natasha’s second dance
After a week with my parents, now the next four days are focused on the next two generations. At a quiet riverside resort with all siblings of myself and Sharmila and all first cousins of Tasha and niki. Last time Sharmila and I had all our siblings and their spouses together was …. Never. The kids are ecstatic. The four of us are getting a good chance at getting in touch with our roots!
Well, that was my week with my parents. My best time each day was waking up at 4:30 to sit with my parents for a couple of hours in our garden. Drinking tea, watching the daybreak, enjoying the flowers, occasional question and answer but mostly quiet – just enjoying each other’s company. No doubt we were all wondering how many more such days we will have. The loudest conversations, indeed, were the silent ones.
Dad is suitably impressed by iPhone. he is astounded that the piddly device can show the route to my sisters house (gps), show the current temperature, stock price, news satellite picture of his village and so on. But he is disappointed that I do not know what the “I” stands for in iPhone. He thinks I am covering up my ignorance by saying it does not stand for anything
Finally, I understood my dad’s deep rooted disdain for my running. Why don’t you play soccer or tennis he asked. Why, what’s wrong with running, I asked. Pat came the answer – because you are not having to beat anybody! I think he still thinks of me as the school kid who has to beat everybody to the first rank!!!!