Niki and Tasha join their cousins for a true Indian style meal – sitting crisscross applesauce on the floor, eating with fingers a delicacy that is arguably South India’s biggest cultural export – dosas!!!

Auf Wiedersehen, Durgapur!!!
Given my parents’ failing health, they are moving to Kalyani to be close to my sister. That would also mean this is the last time Niki and Tasha were with both their grandparents in Durgapur. This was taken at Durgapur station a few moments before we jumped onto our train and they said goodbye to their grandparents. Now starts another year of hope that I will get to see all four of them next time….

A moment reflecting on the whole life. My dad teaching Niki how to water his flower plants. Unknowingly, he is nurturing a young life with nourishment and experience that only a grandparent can..

Second evening in Durgapur. Second trip to Big Bazar with Sharmila in the evening. If you are not aware of Big Bazar, think of it as a large departmental store. However, if you are aware of Big Bazar, it is really a code word Sharmila and I use to go to a local restaurant to drink some red wine. (my alcohol-disapproving parents have not quite figured out yet what do we buy everyday 🙂 )

Post 10K run tea with dad. You can see in his face his disapproval of a 10K run. There is a Bengali phrase that aptly describes his continuous muttering under his breath about his disapproval – it is called “gojgoj kora” 🙂

Early morning. Dad and I are having tea sitting outside. Everything was going great till I pulled my running shoes out. So far it has been a 30 min lecture on the ill effects of running 🙂 His conclusion was hilarious – “Sutorang, jotoi dourou, hnaatu jedin jabar sedin jabe-i” (“therefore, howmuchever you run, your knee is going to give in someday anyways”) 🙂

Got down at Durgapur station fully prepared for the 110 degree day. I had my shorts on to infuriate my relatives, I had the loosest Hawaiian shirt on that my dad feels I can easily grow into only if I would stop running and my baseball cap on like some of those tennis players – to make sure I give my relatives some time to get used to my shaven head. My dad, had one look at me, chuckled and said “sokaley taratarir modhey tupi-ta ulto pora hoye gechhe” (translation “in your hurry in the morning, you mistakenly put your cap on frontside back”). I chuckled back knowingly…

Promise fulfilled! Last year, during a phone call, I had promised to come and see her personally. This is the 96 year old great aunt of mine who had accepted my grandmom and her kids into her family when my dad lost his dad (he was 2 then). Without that and the sharing for the next 15 years, there is no telling what my dad would be today. Or I for that matter. We chatted for two hours. Best time of my life!!!