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DurgaPuja 2020

IV
Pinky could feel that the guy on the train was looking at her at frequent intervals. She thought the
guy was cute but he reminded her of her ex-boyfriend Rahul. They had an affair for three years. But
things did not work out at the end and she broke off with him. The news of their break-up was like
music to the ears of Pinky’s mother who had never approved of Rahul in the first place and seemed
to have found this fervor of finding the right-guy for her daughter. This sudden burst of energy was
not unnoticed by her social circle where she came to be known as “Mrs. Pakraashi”. Her newest
endeavor is the son of an old family friend. According to her mother, Amit would be a ‘nice catch’. He
is handsome and suave, comes from a good family, is a vice-president of the company he works for.
The later, Pinky was skeptic about; the last place she worked, there were atleast five vice –presidents
working in the same cramped room in cubicles. But to her mother, Amit seemed akin to a knight in
shining armor who will rescue Pinky from her boredom and drudgery. Pinky took a careful glance at
the cute guy in the train and found that he was then talking with some guy in the train.
V
Startled, Soumik turned back and saw his friend Roddur staring at him and grinning. Soumik said,
“Arey, what a pleasant surprise,” though it was less of a surprise and more like a shock to him.
Roddur was his class-mate for twelve years. He worked in the creative department of an Advertising
agency in Chowrangee. He was exactly the kind of guy who the likes of “aatel” Mandira fancied. A
head full of unruly hair, torn jeans, and a jhola bag which among other things also carried a collection
of his “adhunik” poems. It was a recurring night- mare to Soumik that he was stranded on an island
with Roddur and his poems.
Roddur: “Chomke dilam? Pujoye ki plan?”
Soumik: “Not much, will stay near home- Mudiali’r Pujo, shibmandir, borojor Babubagan and
Ekdalia Ever-green.”
Roddur: “Don’t be a bore, North Kolkatateyi real Pujo, Metro ey chapbi, MG Road ey nebey
Mohammad Ali Park, then walk to College Square, Shimla byam samiti , Vivekananda Sporting ar
haatey somoye thakle Sobha Bazar Rajbaari ar Jorasanko. Tobey kothaye chili, gotow tin mash
patta neyi?”
Soumik: “Paris e gechilaam ekta two months projectey.” (He spoke the words “Paris” a little loudly
in order to attract the girl’s attention)
Roddur: “Pari”
Soumik: “What?”
Roddur: “Ota Paris noye, ‘Pari’, that’s the correct french pronounciation.”
Soumik was starting to get angry but sighed relief when Esplanade station came as it was Roddur’s
stop.
Soumik: “Well, Saptami tey Maddox Square aschish tow?”
Roddur: “Yes, eleven people confirmed. Onekdin por school-mates der get-together hobey, tata!”
Soumik looked at the girl and the girl seemed to have acknowledged his existence in the train as he
found her looking at him. A tiny glimmer of hope danced in his eyes. He subconsciously adjusted
his tie and hair in the glass panel of the train door. His destination station, “Central” would be the
next stop, and was he going to treat this as another of his unfulfilled romantic dreams or can he
make an audacious attempt to start a conversation with the girl. Maybe it was the festive spirit of
Durga Pujo that dawned upon him, because he chose the latter option. He rehearsed briefly but
carefully what to say and made his way towards thegirl.
VI
This will be the first pujo in three years where she will be “un-attached”. It made her a
little sad but at the same time gave her a sense of liberty. She didn’t know where Rahul was, she
hasn’t kept in touch since their break-up and now she felt a tinge of guilt. But maybe if this cute
guy on the train has the guts to talk to her, she can ask him what he is doing in this weekend. Well,
so much for the talk as it is time for her to get off the train in the next stop. Pinky looked at the guy
as if to look at him for the last time, but she was a little surprised to see him approaching her side
of the doors. “Ah, we get down at the same station,” she smiled to herself. But the guy was not
going towards the door but coming straight at her.
Central Ohio Bengali Cultural Association