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!