As I lay there sitting on the sofa, the memories, always hidden so far away suddenly rushed to life.It was a place, all too familiar to be forgotten;but over the years it had kind of subdued by itself. Those were the days when we all were struggling – we are struggling still,striving even harder may be – but those days were all the more special.
We were trying to get on the footboards of our careers.
Salary was secondary, but a good job proved to be the most elusive thing.
Mornings began with a long walk from the PG at Lake Gardens to Rash Behari – a walk stretching itself to almost 2 kms. Most taxis refused to go that short distance, and even if they agreed, the meagre salary did not support the luxury of spending 20 ruppees a day at the month’s end.At RashBehari, the jostle for shuttles used to take us sometimes to Hazra and at times almost touching Deshapriya Park.Breakfast was Bapuji cake,a cup of tea and a king sized cigarette. Work and play used to define the office hours mostly.
Some days, while returning back home,the wife(then girl friend) used to accompany and we would finish up the Jaljeera and then tuck in Biryani at Bedouin,Dover Lane (now closed) as early as 7 in the evening.Maintaining a proper diet never really came to the mind.And to ensure that the taste of the Biryani does not fade away, the bland dinner at the PG was a complete no no.
Days went and then months..
..And as I lay there sitting on the sofa of my old office, all of these memories floated to the surface, reminding me of the struggles of the beginning years , which at times we tend of forget.
Now – the taxi stand at Lake Gardens has gone away, shuttle fares have shoot up to more than 3 times,the Bapuji cake breakfast is long gone, the girl friend became the wife – those moments have gone into a world, only to be remembered but never to be repeated!
