June's Evening

June loved cycling. In the evenings , whenever she did not have her tuitions, she took her cycle out of the garage, dusted it and set out. She spent most of her spare evenings like that. Sometimes she took Sooji, her one year old Golden Retriever with her, and as she cycled, Sooji ran alongside her. Though she was a happy and jolly soul, June had one disability: she could not speak.

On one such evening, when June and Sooji were enjoying the evening sun, they took a new route; June hadn't been there before. The street was nice - trees on both sides at frequent intervals, flower bushels, nicely coloured houses, and after a few turns she reached a ground. The scenery was one so simple yet so special. The ground was moderately big, with mahua and neem trees on one side, nice benches under them, two other sides were lined with houses and another side was open with bushes and a few flower shrubs. June parked her cycle and went and sat on one of the benches; Sooji followed her. As she sat she could behold the sunset right in front of her -- it was beautiful. The sky was a smooth gradation of blue, white, yellow, orange, pink and a bit of violet, with a vermilion sun. Sooji sat right at her feet and June brushed her hair gently. The place had its own beauty but it was deserted. She took out her earphones and plugged them in; Ed Sheeran was about to play. That was when she heard the sound of rustling leaves and a sudden fall. She got up to see who it was and she saw a boy, who seemed to be the same age as her. She helped him get up and that was when she realised that he was blind. She helped him to a seat. Sooji barked twice. He began," Hey, I'm Saavan and by now you must have realised that I can't see. True, but I've very sharp ears (laughs up a little). Why aren't you saying anything, huh? I live two streets away from this ground. I had a fight with my mother, so, angry I came here; took me a lot of effort though!" June listened silently, looking at him all the while. Sooji lied down. 

The sun had set already. Saavan stopped talking. June understood that to get him talking again, she had to do something, but what? She couldn't speak and he couldn't see her symbols to interpret them. She shared her earphones with him. It played 'Perfect Strangers' by Jonas Blue. Even autoplay can sense the atmosphere sometimes. 

We share because we care. June shared her earphones with Saavan because she cared enough to have a conversation with him. Sometimes, a small gesture like this means more than words can. And, if you really care for someone, share your time with them.

Random Thoughts

People and feelings.

Sometimes it amazes me how different the life of everyone is. Somewhere some girl is waiting for her distant love and somewhere some boy is writing songs to express his love for another girl. Somewhere a husband is frustrated with his life because of a failing marriage whereas somewhere a maiden is waiting for her long lost love in the bar they had first met. A woman who is completely in love with her assistant and some other boy who simply cannot forget his insane ex-girlfriend. These are instances from daily life- some of which were made into movies, some have been written down as books, few as poems, some others have become tales and some more have gone unnoticed. All of them are different stories yet one thing is common in them: human feelings.

Love: a word whose meaning no one can really explain because it is a mystery. Love cannot be told or explained, it can be felt. A silent but beautiful sunset that you enjoyed with your head rested on your lover's shoulder; something that you not only saw, but felt. Love is something like that; cannot be seen, but can be felt. You can see the agony in ones eyes by just looking at the tears collecting at its corners: the pain that stirs up her heart whenever she thinks about him. You can see her pain but not feel it. 

Today I had gone to a place with a beautiful scenery around it and I had a very nice time amongst trees, the river, sands, kashphul, and the evening sun, all of which need with a beautiful sunset. While returning I was listening to a few songs like:

                            তুমি আসবে বলে তাই

 আমি স্বপ্ন দেখে যাই

 আর একটা করে দিন চলে যায়।

(Days are numbering out as I have been having dreams because you are going to return)

This song has always meant a lot to me. Another one is:

এটা কি 2441139

বেলা রোস  তুমি শুনতে পাচ্ছ কি

মিটার যাচ্ছে বেড়ে এই পাবলিক টেলিফোনে 

জরুরী খুব জরুরী দরকার।

(Is this 2441139? Can you hear me Bela Bose? The meter of this public telephone is increasing, it's urgent for me to talk to you. )

Even this song has a story to tell.

What's the point of all this? Nothing.

These were things that just came up in my mind.

Random thoughts.

Disappointments

The last post on my blog was on the tenth of February and today is the eleventh of April. So it is quite clear that I've practically ignored my blog for two long months. But to be honest, these two months have been the shortest ones ever. Say why? Because most of the time has gone in preparing for the exams and after that practically I have not been at home for most of the time. Sorry Blogspot, I have ignored you.

Meanwhile I had gone for a Short trip in North Bengal and it was quite good and refreshing. North Bengal is mostly nature. There were rivers, hills, forests and jungle safaris. I enjoyed it pretty well. I am a nature person so I liked being amidst nature. I shall say more about my trip to Dooars in another writing.

Yes. Disappointments. I am disappointed about so many things right now. Firstly,  about growing up. I am not liking it. I don't like the way I am going up and now I have to act responsibly. I cannot be careless as I used to be. Now I cannot sit on Mum's lap. I cannot roam around sitting on Daddy's shoulders and I cannot afford to waste time. Today in the evening before the rain came down, I was sitting in my balcony and watching the children at play and a rush of nostalgia brushed past me. Childhood memories became alive. I was back to those days when I used to play around, and bicycle around in that big playground. For me it is not just a playground but a place with uncountable memories. I have learnt how to ride a bicycle in in that place. I have learnt to run and to make friends in that place. When I was a little girl, my mother used to take me there and then as I grew up I used to spend all of my evenings there. I miss those days. You might have a question that why don't I go there now? Trust me I do; the difference is now I don't play around like I used to before because most of the time I don't have company.

Things are changing very fast- first the end of class ten, then the board exams.,then the short trip and then admission to a new school. All of this ended so fast! But the good thing is that things are happening mostly according to plan, leave apart a few. And, I am learning to trust my instincts. Soon classes are going to begin, tuitions already have, and then I'll be busy again. Sad thing. So, I'm trying to do all the meet-ups now: meeting up with friends who'll be going to other states for studying, meeting relatives, and also teachers. Who knows when I'll be free again? Already tutors, parents and seniors have scared me enough about the ocean-like syllabus.

I was supposed to talk about disappointments, but you see I've gone quite off-track. Apologies!

Another thing: I just saw the books of class five ICSE students and I was gaping at the syllabus. They have cut short almost every detail that we had studies and yes, history geography and civics have been clubbed into a single book, just like CBSE.(Though most of you know this already, this was for those few who didn't).

And the one above was another disappointment. Alas!

A Tale as Old as Time 

'And at last I see the light
And it's like the fog has lifted
And at last I see the light
And it's like the sky is new
And it's warm and real and bright
And the world has somehow shifted
All at once everything looks different
Now that I see you.'

These are the lines of the song 'I see the light' from the Disney movie 'Tangled'. Today I was listening to songs from Disney movies and Barbie movies and since then I haven't returned to reality. When I was in lower classes these Barbie movies used to be such a fascination! I never missed any of them whenever they came up on the television. And today while listening to those songs all those fairy tales flashed back. So unreal, impractical, yet so enchanting and charming! Once again I was in that dreamland, someplace that I used to visit so often a few years back. Those songs made me sway and dance and twirl, thinking that I was not in my room but in a land with a blue open sky, trees with flowers of all possible colours, the music playing in the background, my feet covered in ballerinas, and no one around. Since then I have been lost in that dreamland, unable to return to this cruel world.

Sometimes even such unrealistic fairy tales and Disney movies make me feel so positive and lively; like a whiplash to my imaginations!


'Tale as old as time, true as it can be.....'

Better Times

It has been a long long time since I have written anything here, apparently because of the approaching 'devil'- ICSE examinations.

I was just going through the pictures from our Vizag tour and now all of the memories are reappearing. It feels like just yesterday I was there, and today I am here. 

                                                  These pictures took me back in time. 

Letter to a Friend Faraway

Dear Supriti,

                    I hope this letter finds you in good health. My fellow readers might think me to be crazy but I am not. They might say that there is no point in wishing you good health because you are already gone- but you haven't. For me you have just got a transfer to a faraway place (somewhere we are not allowed to go) because you yourself had written the application for a transfer. Wherever you are, be happy (which you were not when alive) and may you find mental peace.

                    I'll keep it short, else this letter will never end. I don't remember exactly when we started talking, but this much I know that our friendship started weaving in class eight, in class nine the threads had woven into a beautiful shawl, and in class ten this shawl kept our secrets under cover. Supriti, do you remember that day at the end of class nine when Sneha recited her poem, I sang my self-composed song and you sang your original song 'Alone'? We were sitting on the last benches, Akhanksha( forgive me if I misspelled your name), you and me, and you appreciated my song so heartily. From that day onwards we started connecting through music. Later, you were the one who introduced me to the Smule app and finally when I installed it in class ten, you were so happy! I won't ever stop calling you Shuupreetii in place of Supriti because I know that is what irritated you the most.
                    Everything about you had an edge in it. If I were to start with your physical aspects, your model-like figure, your voice, your bob-cut hair.... Everything! Your personality was way better than the average girls' but I'm not sure whether I had ever told you this. If I had not, then I am saying it now; you were a charming person. You always inspired us and no, I'm not flattering you or boasting about you. Now when I'm writing this letter to you, your memories are making me smile. I have been writing this letter from the 29th of last month(the day you left us) and I'm still writing it because whenever I do so I indulge in deep thoughts; thoughts which only you would understand.
                    We really miss you in school these days and every time I'm writing someone's diary I have just one thought in my mind: I did not fill your diary. I remember you begging me to do so but I made excuses every time, so I could not write anything more than your misspelled name... On the day we had spoke to each other for the last time before you went I remember vividly the way you had told me to write in your diary. Probably it was the only thing in years that you had asked me to do, and I didn't pay attention to it when I should've. Anyway, a seat has been kept for you in our classroom and though you don't sit there anymore I feel your presence whenever I glance at it.
                     In school, whenever I miss you badly I pay a visit to the place I had clicked pretty group photos of you and few of our other friends, that is the area just beside the main gate, surrounding the children's park. When I go there, alone, I try talking to you and it really feels like you're listening to me. Over there, I have sung so many songs of your liking and have composed many more in your memory. If only you had lived to enjoy the very last day in school! Supriti dear, I don't want to talk about your miseries but I believe you would have had some better days if only you had lived long enough to have some more quality time with us!
                      I am going to miss you terribly on our farewell day and on our yet to come excursion trip. But remember that I haven't forgiven you for not sending me the picture we both had clicked, posing on the stairs our school corridor. And, you're selfish. You did not think about the plans we had made about having our own YouTube channel and setting up our partnership business. Now who is going to take over your place? Is anybody going to? Ever??

                      Now, all I can really do is to ask you to be with me so that I can feel your presence. I know this letter will remain unanswered, but I also know that you are reading this and  feeling like returning once again; but you can't. I pray to the Almighty above so that at  least these words may reach you. Let our souls stay connected through music.❤    

Just that you were here, and today you're just faraway... Far, far away from us.
You will always be my dear 'Shupreeti'. 💟😊

Yours lovingly,
Sinchita

Addressed to: Supriti Banerjee (7th March, 2002 to 29th November, 2017)

The Last Children's Day

It hurts to even say this; the fourteenth of this month was the last school celebration I attended on the occasion of Children's Day. I don't know which school I'll get into after my boards, but definitely there won't be any more celebrations for me in this Carmel.

Throughout these twelve years, there have been endless memories and I still marvel at the fact that I'm about to leave this environment in a few days: it's like 'the end of an era'. The day was mostly about clicking pictures with friends, classmates and juniors. As usual we were allowed to wear outfits of our own choice and again, everyone was busy checking out who was looking the best. We were excited to find out what our 'dear' teachers had prepared for us (and were a little upset when we didn't find what we expected to). As soon as everyone was present we began our 'photoshoot' ; I was the one who kept on clicking the worst candids possible ( my friends hate me for that). It was a huge question from everyone whose picture I clicked that why do I snap shots when they are not ready, or are not posing. My explanation was that,"Everybody has a good picture when they are posing; but pictures clicked without the knowledge of the person in it are the best, because they are natural."
Here are examples:

All I remember is my best friend Sneha insisting me to click a picture with her; but as usual it didn't happen. My bad.

Then we went to watch the program, which was initially a bore, but it improved gradually. After that we hurried to the ground to have out tiffin( to feast, rather), and it was over even before we let it sink in. The day was a normal celebration day, with a lot more laughter (especially because of my pictures). Remarkable was the fact that it was the last time we got the chance to plan what to wear and what food to have because we won't have any other celebration after this. There won't be any other announcement telling us to proceed to the auditorium one by one and no one to scold us if we wore anything indecent( not according to the school calendar). This might seem very normal for anybody else, but only Carmelites know what it is to be a part of this.

Yes, it was the last children's day.
The sad part is I don't have any picture with Supriti; I won't get to see her in her wonderful outfits anymore and I won't be jealous anymore.