In the run for
living, world has become very busy and contractual. And the nature is revolting in
various shapes and forms devastating lives. When the neighbour cries a part of
you stands to empathize and rest once more starts running behind the lust for power
and pleasure. Yes, only a few have thankless time for others. In the spree of
giving others happiness often they give right gift, right time and turn them
precious.
It was early summer 1992. Yes, I distinctly remember. Am
sure many of my generation would remember the ‘Dhak Dhak Karne Laga…’ fever. I was by then familiar with the home demographics
of my close friend in the engineering college. She was a semi day scholar; I say
so as she used to stay with her grandparents way away from her home where her
parents lived. Off course a generation break creates a sense of sweet
indulgence that only grand relations know it the best. Her grandmother was
remarkably friendly and was terribly patient to bear demanding granddaughter’s
mood and occasionally bear her friend – that’s my presence for hours before the
college semesters. Her steaming tea during those preparation hours and
blessings had helped us manage some numbers more than the ‘ask’ for subjects where
we stood borderline case.
I had boarded the bus and tram of various routes with her
and visited almost all her immediate aunts and uncles house in Kolkata,
predominantly south of it. One among them was her fun loving uncle ‘Chayan Pishe’. Yes, that was the
relation. Some people can break all barriers very fast and be a friend very
soon. He was one like that. They had a neat house with a few fancy stuff. The
home had a touch of elegance of her aunt and simplicity of her uncle. The
missing element was a child in their family photo frame. I sensed how they
indulged guests especially young ones. May be that was how they filled in
the unseen vacuum in their life. Being a hostel dweller you crave for that little
homeliness and extra was simply a delight.
And the great offer came when “Raju meet Saraswati”. Anil Kapoor and
Madhuri starrer block buster Beta got released. He promised to sponsor us a
matinee show at Menoka on Deshapriya Park, heart of the city. I had to add a
name into the sponsored list and she was with whom I shared my hostel room. Three in a team - we reached the cinema hall
and as instructed by Chayan Pishe had to meet a man who was essentially
loitering in front of the ticket counter. Then on, it was a royal treatment. The
red curtain unfurled and romance ushered. The real was even better than the scripted
one. Three course snacks covering crispy fish fry, saucy chicken rolls and
spicy Muglia accompanied with aerated drinks of our choice reached our chairs. Cineplex
experience will faulter for sure. Clueless we digested all that came our way.
On screen the
battle between the step-mother and the step-daughter-in-law ensued and we were
buried in hospitality of a man behind the scenes. The evening got embossed with
memories of food, fun and friendship. It was for months that we recapped the
experience and several times plotted to bag a similar sponsorship for the rest
few years we spend together in the university. The strategies never got
executed. The peppy number of Madhuri
remained specially connected with this gentleman who fueled all ingredients to
unveil a precious afternoon among three friends, which only time can treasure.
We graduated and
life moved on. As friends stayed connected predominantly digitally across the
dream country of the generation we live, Silicon Valley of India and the city
today I dare to call a city of joy. It was yesterday that over texts learnt
that our friendly uncle was over with his script. Dude stay happy where ever
you are!
In this whirlpool
of life one happens to cross some such personalities who takes a mind space for
a special afternoon fiesta that youth loves to flaunt with and time can only
cherish. They are never lost as they keep a little bit of fun and frolic in
lives of many in their own way. A small tribute for the lofty sponsorship that
we received back in university days and treasured.