I was born and brought up in central Calcutta, schooled in central Calcutta, but then grew up to become the core Bengali who had an American childhood! — Originally published at https://www.quotidiantales.com on October 1, 2022. We Bengalis know the characteristics etched in someone from central Calcutta. Her strings are pulled from both ends. …

A place where they (the elderly) too can be as preoccupied as their children and grandchildren and a time where they too are alive and not merely living. — Originally published at https://www.quotidiantales.com on September 11, 2022. “You do not know what it is like to be lonely until you spend time alone wishing for companionship.” These words uttered by one of my favorite changemakers, Ratan Tata, in the recent past finally stimulated me to serve up those thoughts…

So find out what drives you and maybe at a crossroad, you too could get lucky like Kamran and meet yourself!… But beware in this inward quest, you will incessantly face the fundamental fact: “ Why am I here? “ and the sway between delirium and deliverance. — At a time when each one of us is seeking for some sort of inspiration to be able to connect with her inner self, ‘Kamran on Bike’ surely drops the penny in the precise spot. Now who is Kamran? Last weekend, casually, my friend had chanced upon him through a…

It will seem bizarre for many, but sure enough, I wanted to put it down in writing! — Several of my acquaintances work on a laptop or use a keypad. Being a software professional, I also spend a large part of the day on my computer. …

Undoubtedly, the journey from the vulnerable to the fortified self had not been an undemanding one. Nonetheless, it was possible only because Ashima found friends, almost discovered them, here and there and everywhere by changing, not only her perception but also her perspective towards attachment and association. — The digital clock on her phone screamed nine o’clock! As her thoughts raced to collect all that she had missed in the past couple of hours, Ashima struggled with the obstinate slumber that still slowed her down. Indeed, she was getting reckless by the day. Streaming through series up to…

I must admit here that when we were “on the threshold of being no more,” we succeeded in being more…..Unwittingly, the ‘eye’ preceded the ‘I’ and for the first time, we realized what it means to not take this life for granted. It seemed to be over. The doctor had…

There have been so many years of living through it that it doesn’t seem newfangled for another year of late worship and festivals to set in! — Over decades immigrants like us have traveled and settled on foreign land and subsequently rested their religion and beliefs. New places of worship sprouted everywhere around the world, and along with that, changed the ways and terms of prayers and reverence.

A perpetually hard thing to resist I have stayed alone in an apartment for five months. I interacted with people only over the phone or when I was outside for work or shopping. Nothing seemed unbearable, though my close ones advised me to be more social. I slept and woke…

…their faceless identities empowering the subtle more than the substantial… Their tours were not actual but virtual! It’s been a ‘trying’ time for most of us. I mean in both parts of speech. Exhausting and experimental. I was losing a semblance to my preferred self and succumbing mostly to domestic…