After finishing up dinner with the Ghoshal family, I still had a bit of time to surprise the birthday girl – Debjani. This morning, while driving to Atlanta airport, I had called to wish her and surreptitiously found out her evening plans. She was going to be with Subhasis at a place of her choosing – Escape 360 Cafe in McKinney.

And that is exactly where I found them!! Our excitement was enough that after the Cafe shut down, we sat outside till near midnight chatting about our old days and even older friends!!

Asok-da and Sumita-di were two of the very first Bengalis we had met when we moved to Dallas. It was during the 1996 Durga Puja – which was held in Grand Prairie. I had not seen them in quite some time. My last couple of attempts to meet them were thwarted by their own travel plans! This time though I was able to see them – nearly two decades later – in their house. HAd a marvelous time reminiscing the past!