27 July 2013

Real life puzzle

Here is a real life puzzle… Look at my previous post. It is truly a beautiful snap. The sky color is unbelievably azure and you can see the sun trying to break out if the grey clouds in the horizon.
Now, I do dabble in photography but my caliber is nowhere close to take such a beautiful shot. Also, it was an unsophisticated iPhone and I did not touch up the picture with any filters.
Can you tell me then how did the sky come so beautiful?
A hint – look carefully at my position on the road!
It bothered me enough last night that I had to state at the picture long enough to finally get it….

Category: Puzzles, Vacations | 8 Comments on Real life puzzle
26 July 2013

Long time no see…

In the few hours that I am in Kolkata, I was lucky enough to spend half an hour with my classmate from fifth grade – Debasish Chakraborty. The last time I saw him was in 1986 when I ran into him outside a movie hall!! (Most people who know me closely enough are probably wondering what was I doing outside a movie hall 🙂 Fact is I have seen about six movies in some movie hall in my entire life. “Bhalobasa Bhalobasa” in Durgapur Cinema in 1986 was one of them!!
Well, he is a much accomplished central government official now. To relive our old times, we just sat outside on the side streets outside his office and caught up on each others’ parents, family and old schoolmates over a couple of cups of tea!! Living thru these moments is what gets me really excited about life. Who knew 27 years later we will share a cup of tea again?
Another interesting tidbit on him – I think he is the only person whose entire family – he, his wife and his twin kids (more on their talent in a later post) are my FB friends!!

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Category: Vacations | 22 Comments on Long time no see…
25 July 2013

Reaching out to all my friends in Kolkata

All my FB friends in Kolkata,
I am in Kolkata tomorrow (Friday) for a few hours (arriving tonight). Since my dad has not recovered yet, I will have to come back to Kalyani in the afternoon.
I know it is a workday and a schoolday, but if anyone of you is so inclined, I can join you early morning for a walk/run followed by a “chai/biscuit”. I can come most anywhere – Maidan, Rabindra Sarobar, Nicco Park etc as early as you want/can. For your efforts as well as the courage to endure me :-), I will buy the chai/biscuit. Let me know and we can fix the time and place.

Category: Vacations | 5 Comments on Reaching out to all my friends in Kolkata
24 July 2013

Dad’s sense of humor!

After fighting back some large health issues – with a new stent, new knee and new hearing aids, I was hoping to see dad in his best spirits. Unfortunately, he has been down with viral fever and drained of energy for the last few days. In between his bouts of fever, during those Paracetamol-induced lulls, he is certainly displaying some of his old spirits and coming up with memorable lines. An example:
We came from our trip to the river bank and the adjoining crematorium grounds to find him up on his bed in great spirits. This is how the next couple of minutes of conversation went…

(Bengali version)
Dad: Kothay gechhili sob?
Me: Shmasan ghat dekhe elam.
Dad: Maaney? Shmasan ghat keno?
Me: Ei je kobey theke bhoy dekhachho – morey jaabey naaki ebar. Taai hiseb potro gulo dekhe elam. 🙂
Dad (ektu chinta korey): Dekhbi na ebar – protidin phone-e jaalabe – ‘Koi apnader party elo na to ekhono’ 🙂

(English translation – best attempt)
Dad: Where were you guys?
Me: We went to check out the crematorium grounds.
Dad (somewhat surprised): What? Why crematorium grounds of all places?
Me (teasing): Oh! You have been threatening to die for quite some time. So we went to check out how the system works.. 🙂
Dad (not to be outdone): Good. Now they are going to pain the hell out of you everday over the phone – ‘What happened? Your candidate never showed up!’ 🙂

Category: Family in India, Vacations | 10 Comments on Dad’s sense of humor!