Pishemoshai - the Illusionist

Missing my one and only Pishemoshoi immensely. He departed for his Heavenly abode exactly 4 months after my Dad, this month. Feeling sad that I didnt interact with him as much as I should have, after growing up. Spent innumerous summer days during my visit to Kolkata at my pishis house in College street. As best put by my own sister - "Pishemoshai created a world of intrigue and imagination around us, which is tremendously attractive to any child." We followed him  like  the rats followed the pied Piper of Hamlin, into the Ghodi/Clock room, full of all kinds of age old watches and clocks. It created an impression of the past in that room for us.  He would play with us - tag, hide and go seek, ludo, whatever game we were up for. He would bring very rare Seafood, fruits and vegetables for us to try out. He created a mysterious world for us and made those childhood memories so precious. He never scolded us for making a mess. He would say  in Bengali - "Bachchara to korbeyi" - "kids are kids, let them be". His home was never a typical Bengali "Lakhishri home" because it was infested with children/kids from the neighborhood. He would help us build a stage for all kids performances too in the the bylane they lived at.  He would make all kinds of tasty treats for kids and for those adults who had a heart of a child. My pishi would  scold him sometimes for participating in all the pranks with us :-). He never questioned our likes, dislikes or wants and understood exactly what kids love most - to be accepted for who they are.

Dedicating this quote to him for all the cheer, joy and precious memories he brought to us:

“Do not train a child to learn by force or harshness; but direct them to it by what amuses their minds, so that you may be better able to discover with accuracy the peculiar bent of the genius of each.”

― Plato                 
You  will be missed! May your Soul rest in peace!

My Ma

From time to time I will focus on some of the closest people in my life and how they have affected my personal growth and well-being. Who else but my own Ma! whatever I am, I am because of her and my Baba too. Kinda getting emotional while writing this. She has been my strength and support through life. I never expected an instantaneous and correct answer from her, but she would always come back with an awesome and logical answer to all my questions. Very spiritual in her own upbringing, her sweetness has percolated in many people's life. She was one of the best teachers of her times and her students still adore her and reminisce those bitter-sweet days. She had just the correct balance of toughness and resilience about her. Yet there is this childlike nature to her where she never stops learning. Am so proud of her!

I am amazed how she has, very deftly adjusted with time and from a very strict mom has converted to a wonderful friend who I can lean on, most anytime. During my hard times, whenever I have talked to her she has tried to comfort me with her wisdom and shown me how I have overcome hardships in the past, imbuing me with more confidence in self.

She has such great talent in the arts, which she has never pursued(as a career, just because she wanted the best for her 2 daughters to begin with and was happy to just be a great mom) in a way where she could establish herself as a household name in society. She could have been an awesome dress designer. She would spend innumerous hours stitching dresses for me and my sister(for events and festivals) until we both went off to college and she even stitches for us now whenever she finds time. She always has a unique touch to home decoration and its classy. She has a beautiful singing voice, but never pursued singing in a way where she could make a name for herself, but she always encouraged me to pursue it. All she wanted was for her daughters, to turn out to be beautiful human beings inside-out. Because of my parents and their sacrifices I now sit here and recollect those beautiful childhood memories. I realize now, how hard parenthood is, cause I am a mom and its a humongous task to be a parent. The decisions you take as a parent affect your child directly. so you have to be cautious. Noone actually teaches you to be one. What kinda parent you are is your own choosing!

Today I called her since I was feeling low due to a shortcoming. She was disappointed on my account too, cause she feels my pain, but after a few minutes she readjusted and gave me her suggestions and advice to get on and not look back at what has already happened. I am lucky and thankful to have few such wonderful people in my life who I will mention in some of my future posts.

Its her greatness that she accepts, whatever she did as a parent might not have all been right. But yes she was much younger and inexperienced and did what she felt was right. Well! we turned out fine! So I think it was all good. Allz well! That Ends Well!!

I would always want my Ma to be my mom in all subsequent rebirths. Shes the best and I love her dearly! Shes my pillar of strength and I think I know that from the time my heart beat synced with hers, in her womb.