Monday 18 August 2008

Daal, tadka laga ke !!!

The places might be thousands of kilometers apart… but the feelings are so close to be as one. The circumstances stark different… but not the view.
The mind races faster to connect two seemingly insignificant events into what might be a pleasant walk done memory lane. The power of thought or the memories of the days gone by… hard to judge. But it’s strange isn’t it? Why are old days always good? Is it because we are so occupied that we forget our greatest joys… our existence? Is it the promise of a better tomorrow that strains us from admiring the present? Or are some incidents in life meant to be savored from the future?

The time 10:15 PM.
The place: Naini Chauraha, Allahabad District.
The Period: April 2003

Our end semester exams were quite close and the frequent power cuts along with the chaos around us had become a part of our lives. The yellow lamp did little to sway our concentration… I had never loved studying as I had in those days. After having allowed the mosquito coil to trouble me more than keep the mosquitoes away, I glanced around. Ravi was humming one of his favorite songs while he focused his attentions on one of the algorithms. Dinner time was close and reluctantly we got ready to make the move.

The Naini Bazaar was a small town in itself. The money was short and the hunger resilient as we settled in one of the dingy restaurants. “Bhaiya, char roti aur bhindi ki sabzee do jaghe mein” Ravi said over the counter as we found an empty bench to ourselves. It was quite dark out there, cannot expect much from the street lamp or the lantern hanging near the wall. We seated ourselves among all who came from various walks of life… mostly truck drivers. The garam garam rotis instead of receding our hunger had flared it more. “Ek daal tadka laga ke yahan par” said one of the drivers and we held onto the aroma for a bit longer. A minute passed by and then another, “Bhaiya yahan bhi do daal tadka laga ke” I said as I looked at Ravi. It would cost us seven rupees more.

The time 10:30 PM
The place: My room, Schumacherweg 47, Zurich.
The period: August 2008

The day was tough, a client meeting ensure I had enough work to keep my coffee breaks and lunch as short as possible for the week. But I was at home. A half an hour call to my sweetheart with a cup of hot tea made the day lighter. A cursory glance over the financial sites told me that the day was lackluster with no wild swings. Orkut showed me a couple of friends’ updates. Gradually it was time for dinner. “Sourav, khana khayega?” Libin asked me. “Kya bana raha hai?” I asked. “Mujhe to bus ek hi cheez aata hai… daal, tadka laga ke”.

The places are thousands of miles apart… but the thoughts are not. That evening while walking back with Ravi to our room we would have discussed about either the exams or a movie. Could I ever in my wildest dreams expect the “daal tadka” memory to make such a remarkable comeback when I would have least expected it.

Old days are always good and so are the memories. One day… one day, I would want to go to the same restaurant… sit with the same people in the lantern lit place while I would say, “Bhaiya, teen daal tadka yahan par”. Ravi, lets relive the old days. Libin, a bit of Ganga jal will do you no harm.

19 comments:

Arijit said...

This is simply awesome. I enjoyed reading this blog as much as you enjoyed writing it. Sometimes we feel nostalgic moments are best expressed with songs-never-sung or words-never-penned, but I was wrong. This piece of blog you have written gave nostalgia flesh and blood. Keep going!!! YOU HAVE SELECTED A WRONG PROFESSION...

BY THE WAY - SAY HI TO LIBIN...

Unknown said...

Bhai kya likha hai...Yaar aap ko to script writer ban sakte ho..galat industry mein apna career barbaad kar rahe ho..Wah kya connection nikala hai...maan gaye..."agar likhne ki chah ho to saara aasma hai kam bayaan karne ko"...Well i really liked the way you linked two chapters of ur life...

LIBIN BHAI..yaar agli baar apne words soch kar bolna..pehle pooch lena kahi sourav bhai ke man mein koi story to nahi chal rahi hai...ha ha ha..

Just kindding bro...keep writing..

Preeti said...

One of the dandiest blogs i have read after a long time, it takes you through the lanes of memory as though you yourself are a part of it. Its stupefying is all i want to say :-D

Preeti said...

One of the dandiest blogs i have read after a long time, it takes you through the lanes of memory as though you yourself are a part of it. Its stupefying is all i want to say :-D

Unknown said...

Thats a fantastic snapshot of the part of life linked by one simple thread. Its feels great to look back doesn`t matter whether life was good or difficult, it gives a sense of belonging. Personnally I keep touch with old friends just to relive those past momments.

Shantanu Gupta said...

kya baat hai sourav....how sweetly and nicely connected....

LostinDreams said...

Itna sab koi likh chuka hai, ab main kya likhun... But haan your writing reminded me of chetan bhagat... Don't you think? Anyways, a bit of ganga jal never did any harm to anyone, maybe, I can use it to make daal tadka the next time :)....

Unknown said...

Too good. Its good idea to take a pause in rat-race and look back to those wonderful old days. This blog is definitely a good food for thought. Keep it up.

Unknown said...

Too good. Its good idea to take a pause in rat-race and look back to those wonderful old days. This blog is definitely a good food for thought. Keep it up.

Calicoaster said...

That was simply amazing Sourav!!... Beautifully connected!!

Tina said...

hmmmmm....abhi to aadat si ho gayi hai aapke blogs ki...atleast there is one thing with which you will never stop bugging me :-D

Unknown said...

I believe u are referring me while writing this blog. waise kaafi accha likha hai. tu saale aato naini phir apan wahi usi shop pe khaayenge and dhamaal machaayenge.

SWEETS said...

Gosh- Aren't u just too good with your frnds...a veryyy nice read...haaye India yaad a gya, tadka daal sunke...

SWEETS said...

Gosh- Aren't u just too good with your WORDS...a veryyy nice read...haaye India yaad a gya, tadka daal sunke...

Anonymous said...

I don't know, how to describe it. How to describe my feeling about it. It's not that you have written a few words, a few lines. It's more than that. The moment I read it, I feel it's not you, it's not what you felt. It's ME. It's my thought. It's the way I feel. Somehow you have stolen every thought, every moment, every feeling from me. But I can promis you I will not feel bad, if you steal everything and put in your blog. It's great Sourav.

renzo said...

Maan Sourav! IT's the profession for you. Where else would you be able to pursue your passion n gift for writing such excellent blogs n gettin paid a few big CHF on d side! Jus jokin. Good going buddy! Ciao.

renzo said...

Maan Sourav! IT's the profession for you. Where else would you be able to pursue your passion n gift for writing such excellent blogs n gettin paid a few big CHF on d side! Jus jokin. Good going buddy! Ciao.

Someone Somewhere..... said...

Gr8 Sir............i really loved the way u narrated ur day............seriously dnt write coz ur sweetheart wud b in trouble thn .........i dnt how many wil fall in love wid u ..........i wud b the first....;-)

Pushpak . . said...

One thing's for sure. and I'm not just commenting on this one article, this Sourav also has a passion . .