Sauntering down the narrow alleys of North Calcutta’s Nagerbazaar, Durga pulled the end of her aanchal over her nose. The stink from the open drain was too much. God knows why the Municipality people did not have the sense to cover these! Muttering to herself, she turned the corner of the club and stopped at Maniks Da’ grocery. Her younger son was still down with his tummy ache and Durga simply had to continue the once-in-a-day dosage of doi cheere. Eesh bechara! What a sad alternative indeed to his regular platter of sweets!
These days in Kolkata, Durga remained too worried about her elder son. Moving around in the dark lanes of North Calcutta posed quite a risk. Friends and God knows who else he hung around with till late, Durga could never be at peace till the boy got home at night. That way, even if they bicker a lot, her two daughters have always been a decent pair. One of course spent most of her time, head buried in books or playing some instrument…such a romantic her Saru was! Quiet and a loner, happy in being immersed in her own world. Not so for her other girl. That one was quite the opposite. Pragmatic and down to earth, she was worldly wise.
Having collected a library book Saru had asked for, Durga headed home. It was getting dark. March end and it was time for Kalbaishakhi. The sky did ring warning bells once in a while. There was a sudden streak of lightning. Durga looked up. Seemed like the heavens had opened up. What a spectacular sight! The shopkeepers were hurriedly pulling down the shutters. In all but an instant, the tiny street seemed devoid of life and light. The lone street lamp flickered and switched off. In the darkness, Durga looked up again, searching for something she knew was up there, hidden behind the clouds and the veil of light. A familiar feeling at times beckoned her on nights like this. Much like the appeal of a home. Light years away from this damp dark street, was there something she was a part of? Did she and her children once belong there? Was it home?
