We lost Sarkar kakima a few months back. We were very close to her and her sons – Somu and Tutu. We were all neighbors when I was in middle school age.

We swung by their house to offer our condolences and go over some great memories of kakima.

I am talking about my brother and my brother in laws. And when I say constantly on their phones, I do not mean they are doomscrolling in social media or news channels… they are actually making phone calls.

We had sat down by a street side tea vendor to have tea. My brother in law went straight for a stroll into the Chaturanga field to take a call!!

It is actually the sun rising on this overcast morning.

I missed both my sister in laws. One is still in Kolkata and the other was inside the house sleeping.

Wherever my siblings go, somehow the local dogs know they are around and will surround them looking for attention. This is when my brother and I went for a walk in City Center streets.

I remember seeing in Mongolia first and then in some other countries the local use of old tires dug half into the ground in a series to mark the boundaries of households.

Here in Durgapur at a tea stall in City Center, the same is being used as a seat to relax and have a cup of tea!!

He is the person my parents were closest to. As were we three siblings, growing up. Pushing close to being an octogenarian, he is a study of discipline when it comes to life habits.

No trip to Durgapur can be conceived of without getting to see him and the family once.