Remembrances of Baba Ghosh

Baba - one whom I adored and feared the most. I remember when I was a child I always used to escape to Dida , when Baba was looking for me .. maybe I had done my homework.. or something like that.

During my higher studies, Baba always used to accompany me with the study materials and he was very instrumental in various phases of my life.

Even when I started working, Baba used to take daily reports from me, what I have done.... if I used to say the same thing again , next day he would say me ..."Eta to kalkeo korechis, aajke natun ki korli tahole" and scold me. As Baba had come to know something by interacting with me everytime, he also questioned me about various aspects in software engineering.

I never used to take care of my planning .... I knew Baba would do it for me.

I last spoke with Baba, when I was in Mumbai... before FIFA World Cup 2006 on the phone .. it was regarding the inagural match ... Germany vs Costa Rica .

I was telling Baba, I shall stay awake and watch the match ... and I remember Baba saying to me, in a taunting voice .... "Tui janish Costa Rica kothai .. oder match dekhar jonyo tui raat jagbije". .... little did I know that time that this would be my last conversation with Baba.

I got a call from my home at Kolkata after a couple of days, that Baba is not well . Ritu also told me I better go to Calcutta.... she could comprehend it.

I hastily went back to Kolkata to see Baba in a state of coma .. he had suddenly suffered from cerebral haemorrhage.... the same state continued for the next 5 days .

Within the 5 days I saw Baba's hand coming up and down and was very happy and told it to Ma.On listening Ma turned very happy too.... "Tahole bol Baba fire ashte pare"... we were so happy... But Sejokaku told otherwise, he said this is happening because of pain.

21st June 2006 - It happened to be my birthday . Our phone rang around 7:10 am ..... Ma received the phone and called Sakakaka. I hastily woke up and took up the receiver ... the caller on the other side said something which I still have to live with .

Baba HAD LEFT for the heavenly abode.

........
And I'm underneath the streetlight
But the light of joy I know
Scared beyond belief way down in the shadows
And the perverted fear of violence
Chokes the smile on every face
And common sense is ringing out the bell
This ain't no technological breakdown
Oh no, this is the road to hell

And all the roads jam up with credit
And there's nothing you can do
It's all just pieces of paper flying away from you
Oh look out world, take a good look
What comes down here
You must learn this lesson fast and learn it well
This ain't no upwardly mobile freeway
...... Chris Rea - Road To Hell ( Part II )

The Missing Frame

It has been more than a decade when Timmi left us ( 6th March 1998 ).

There has been many incidents after the date; passing away of Baba (21st June 2006 ), coming of Sonamoni ( 1st December 2006 ), passing away of my mother in law ( 22nd October 2007 ) ; I was fortunate to share some of my ups with my parents, Ritu and our family .

I have moved to Bangalore with a better job. I have got married and have a kid - both of them are very supportive in their own ways. There are somethings Timmi wanted me to become - I hope I have met some of the expectations of her and my parents.

Ma has come to Bangalore and is presently staying with us . She spends her time playing with Sonamoni and is in a better condition than what she was earlier. It has been around two months Ma is staying with us ; but Baba's coming remain unfulfilled .

As everyone of us get busy with our day to day activities , we just find sometime to look back .

Forward troubles Illinois, lock the front door, oh boy!
Look at all the happy creatures dancing on the lawn.
Bother me tomorrow, today, I'll buy no sorrows.

Doo, doo, doo, Looking out my back door.
There's a giant doing cartwheels,
A statue wearing high heels.
Look at all the happy creatures dancing on the lawn.
A dinosaur Victrola listening to Buck Owens......

Credence Clearwater Revival - Looking Out My Back Door

Our Kolkata Visit

Last Sunday, we came back to Bangalore after spending one week in Kolkata. This visit to Kolkata was important for two reasons; first for Baba's first bereavement anniversary (17th June 2007) and secondly we shall me meeting Soumi after long.

One year has passed since Baba has passed away, leaving only his memories behind. Meeting Soumi was another thing we had in our mind. Even before leaving, I used to tease Ritu several times that I have made an appointment with Soumi beforehand, so I shall be the first one to see her .

Once we reached home at 9am on 16th June , we were met by Ma, Rangapisi, Chotokaku, Sakakima, Preeti and all the others. Puchki was so shy in meeting us, that he was hiding in some corner of the room. By the way, Preeti who always received a scolding from everyone for studying , has come out with flying colours ( 83% ) in her Madhyamik examination. After meeting with everyone, we had our breakfast , had our usual "Round Table conference" and then left for Barrackpore at 11am.

When we reached Barrackpore one hour later, we saw that Ma and Soumi was waiting for us at the gate. Soumi looked so sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeet ..... that words cant describe it. She was now seven months old and looked at us with her beautiful yet curious eyes. But this was short lived ; soon she started crying on seeing us.