Not very warm
Overly not chilly either
Vibes of the wind
Evoke a
Mildness that
Becomes the weather
Edicts of the season
Remind winter’s here
Written for Luisa Zambrotta’s invite for writing an acrostic on November
This is in response to Esther’s Weekly Word Prompt
Today’s Prompt is : Glass
***
Glass House
I live in a Glass House
With glass windows
To look at the world
Comfortable and contented
I pass judgement… make opinion
Create my own image for others
To venerate or vitiate
My neighbour lives in her Glass Chamber
She looks at me with brittle laugh
She too comments and criticizes
Through the glass…
But sometimes we have to walk on the road
And stare at others …those unknown
Without a roof of their own
Its then that we make haste to rush back
To our shield of glass to be safe from
The pebbles their glassy eyes pelt at us
Lest we crack up in their weight
And melt as glass does under fire
Lately I am wondering how to position oneself in a relationship to be emotionally safe. Is it at all possible? Or is it just a candid manifestation of one’s vulnerability?
I guess it is. But at the same time is it not challenging to find that one delicate spot where one is able to anchor oneself and enjoy the dynamics of a relationship without getting too involved?
It is definitely not a crime to save oneself from getting hurt. Or is it a must to nurse wounds of the heart to validate an involvement? How important is it to ache and feel the acuteness of pain and for how long?
To be in love with a broken heart is masochistic. To hurl pain in vindictiveness is sadistic. Then is it not more prudent to test the grounds and entrench oneself in a place where one is neither too attached so as to not able to defend oneself nor too detached to be indifferent to any mishap?
Am I being pessimistic? A relationship can be smooth, stimulating and evolving – a permanent happiness inducer. Sure. But is there any guarantee of permanence ? The chances of getting hurt and humiliated in the course of time cannot be overlooked either.
Positioning does not mean being encumbrance free. It means one is able to retain sanity through emotional turmoil. Rationality through blinding pain. The capacity to sensibly analyse the situation and take a decision to respond appropriately when the other party is being inconsistent.
Anguish increases with lack of comprehension. The shock of the first assault will nonetheless be traumatising. It will take time to adjust and to reel back to senses. But it may take less time if one is already prepared beforehand and in a position to judge from a distance. But can one really be so astute as to gauge when the equation is going to boomerang ? Life has its own surprises.
As I write I become aware of the implausibility of the scheme. Humans, given their intrinsic nature, let themselves be either weakened by others or be so iron strong so as to be called heartless. Is there anything in between?
Relationships are complex. They have extreme results. They may impassion one or make them so dispassionate as to render quite incapable of feelings. Balance of mind is very crucial. And that act of balancing seems questionable in a relationship.
Perhaps that’s because it’s a two way act. As much depends on oneself as it depends on the other. So where do we arrive? Do we forgo safety when in any relationship? Or is the concept of safety itself a chimera?
I started this post with questions and ended the same way. Do you have any answers? Or you are as clueless as I am?
Nevertheless, I have at least been able to open the pandora’s box ? Now I believe we have to peep in to see what’s inside …
This is in response to Esther’s Weekly Word Prompt.
This week’s Prompt is : Edge
***
Let’s make pain a part of memories
Let’s fold and keep it in a corner
And unfold it when the night deepens
Till it’s edges get frayed and prints light
Edging through the curvy paths of life
Edging past the landmarks and milestones
Let’s make it an edge-of-the-seat drive
A process to know oneself , one’s tenacity,
Resilience and the indomitable spirit to rise
Let’s make pain a close friend for life
With whom you can share your plight
Weep in delight or in shame or in slight
Let’s make pain a second name to soul
To make you rough at the edges or a whole
Let’s endear and embrace it so tight
So that it can neither leave nor be put aside
Let’s make pain our very own mirror of mirth
Let’s let it rule , rebel , rouse and come forth
Let’s make pain a part of our sentient being
So as neither let it hurt , break or make us vain
The Research Wing of New Life Pharma Company is headed by Director (Scientist), Dr. Sandeepan Mitra, who is distantly related to Diganto Deb, a self styled sleuth and Professor of Bangla Literature.
One late night while returning from a family get-together in Digonto’s house, Dr Mitra’s wife, Rita, is attacked by an unknown assailant disguised as a beggar. His face is blackened with soot. Rita has a narrow escape. The attacker runs away pillion riding a bike. The biker can also not be identified as his face is covered in a black helmet.
A few days later Dr. Mitra calls Digonto to his Office on urgent basis. But before Digonto reaches the office again a biker in black helmet tries to run him over in front of the University where he teaches.
Later that afternoon, a baffled Digonto comes to know from Sandeepan that a confidential Formulation Report of a cost effective drug to cure diabetes has been stolen from the latter’s chamber. This was a formula on which three Scientists were working for the last four years under Sandeepan’s supervision. These three Scientists are Shankar Nag (who has drafted and delivered the Report personally to Sandeepan’s room), Manash Basu and Ronnie Roy.
Shankar Nag is a miserly bachelor, Manash Basu has struggled hard in life to come up the social ladder, Ronnie Roy is arrogant and always short of money. No one in the Office knows about the secret formula not even Prateek Gorai, Dr. Sandeepan’s trustworthy personal secretary.
Sandeepan is dead sure that the thief has not been able to carry the Report out of the building. Within twenty minutes of coming to know of the theft he had given strict instructions for thorough frisking of all the inmates (including their mobiles and personal belongings) at the exit. The entire premise is also under extensive CCTV surveillance. The footage of the day has been scrutinized by Sandeepan himself and nothing suspicious has come to light. That means the Report is hidden somewhere inside only.
Digonto has nine days in hand to locate the Report and catch the culprit. On the tenth day is the Company’s Board of Directors’ Meeting wherein Mr Alam, Sandeepan’s boss, wants to present the Report to the Board. Mr. Alam knows about Digonto’s exploits as sleuth through his cousin, Mr. Shahjaad Hussain, in the Kolkata Police Department. He has full faith that Digonto will be able to lay his hands on the stolen Report.
Sandeepan does not want to approach the Police as he is not confident that they will be able to conduct the search discreetly. (He also wants to keep the theft away from publicity). But Digonto advises him to involve them as it will help in the interrogation. He requests Dr. Alam to use his cousin Mr. Hussain’s good offices to put Digonto’s friend, Ajit Bose, in charge of the investigation. Alam readily agrees.
Now it is Digonto’s and Ajit’s responsibility to bring the culprit to book. But who is this biker in black helmet constantly tailing Digonto? Who is this shooter dressed as a beggar just waiting for the right opportunity to make Digonto his next target? Who has the Formula and where? Are the threesome involved with the research of the new drug as ethically upright and dedicated to the cause of making a low cost medicine available to the masses as they appear to be ?
Gabeshonagaarey Guptochor or Spy In The Laboratory by Dipanwita Roy is a thrilling story for young adults and adults. She comes up with a very engrossing whodunnit pivoting around rivalry amongst pharma majors. Digonto Deb is her sensible and sensitive detective on an overdrive of the grey cells to solve the mystery within a stiff timeline. Will he be successful in finding the mastermind behind the crime ?
For certain medical reasons I am putting less strain on my eyes and listening more to audio stories. I heard this story again on Radio Mirchi Sunday Suspense Series on You Tube. Surprisingly, I am enjoying this experience with audios.
Dipanwita Roy is my latest find. I find her stories very contemporary, stimulating and share worthy. She has already been translated into many Indian languages. I hope her stories are made available to international readers as well by way of translations in English and other languages of the world.
I see contradictions within and around. If you are righteous with an extremely strong sense of justice you will be more and more infuriated seeing injustices being done.
I see people fleecing the faithful and roaming at large. Fleecing is not only cheating but also breaking of trust and emotional betrayal. Nothing gets done but merely fuming inside because the cheater is well versed in twisting the laws of the land and ‘befriending’ the law enforcers.
In a system where there is minimal chance of getting justice one feels vulnerable within but puts up a brave front. If you show your weakness you will be taken advantage of more. It’s a vicious cycle.
Those who are trusting are thought to be gullible. Kindness is taken as foolishness. If you have a soft heart there will be a horde of people worming up to you for favours till you are bankrupt.
Goodness does not have a loud voice. It is always humble and submissive. Always scared of being taunted as the wrong doer. Whereas it should be the other way. The betrayed is quietened by the consolation that perhaps s/he had a karmic score to settle with the betrayer from a previous birth. A consolation which does not have, to my mind, any rational base. If it were so what about the karmic account of the betrayer?
Somebody said that is the best way to get over the ‘loss’ otherwise there is no end to the guilt and anguish of the sufferer. Guilt of the crime of putting faith in those who are not worthy of it and the anguish of one’s idiocy being proven without doubt.
Forget and forgive. There is immense power in forgiving. I agree. But does any virtue hold good for the perpetrator? Are they to be forgiven because they do not know what they have done? Are they to be forgotten and set aside as one of those chapters of minor frivolity ?
Then the mantra of gratitude which is peppered over every injury. Be grateful for what you have. It can be worse. But not for those committing the dastardly act. No mantra is applicable for them. They are above the law, above all morals and above all preachings.
And like God they are omnipotent and omnipresent.
Where do the good and the virtuous go then ?
To hell…?
Took this snap after it was dark. Even in the darkness the varied shades of green are prominently displayed. Nature always has an upper hand.
Can the park light subdue the moon?
There is a haze around the moon due to smog.
The unmistakable redness in the sky is due to pollution.
No stars are visible. I do not know whether it is due to the smog or pollution or just that it’s not yet time for them to be glistening on the canvas of the sky. These snaps were taken right after the evening. Maybe I should visit the park later to see whether the stars are twinkling or not.
Better luck next time.
Priti Tunda, wife of business tycoon, Akhil Tunda, arrives in Kolkata. She is set to grace a lavish party, thrown by the Tundas, in commemoration of the brilliant performance of their Company, E-gate, operating in Kolkata. The celebration is taking place in Hotel Marina. Priti is also staying in Room No. 705 of the same Hotel.
As per family tradition, she wears the Mikimoto Necklace, a family heirloom, for the occasion. The necklace is believed to bring good fortune. She leaves the party early. Before retiring to her suite she orders coffee on room service at the reception. But when the waiter comes up with the coffee Priti is found unconscious in her room and the necklace is gone.
Though the guests at the Hotel are thoroughly frisked at the exit the necklace is not found in any of their possession.
Digonto Deb is a Professor of Bangla Literature and an amateur private investigator. His wife Anjali is a journalist. Digonto’s childhood friend Pranoy is with the Kolkata Police Department and involved in the investigation of the missing necklace.
Pranoy seeks Digonto’s assistance to resolve another peculiar complaint by one Mr. Niloy Sarkar, a bank employee. Digonto, having read about the theft of the Mikimoto Necklace, is very much interested in investigating the case. But he cannot say no to his buddy and asks Niloy to come over to his place.
But what Niloy Sarkar has to say intrigues Digonto no less. Niloy suspects that someone is stalking him. He does not know why. He is just a peace loving family man who does not like to mess with anyone. But Digonto’s tentacles rise up when Niloy tells him that he was in Marina celebrating Children’s Day with his family on the very day the Mikimoto Necklace was stolen.
Is there any connection between the two cases? Who is stalking Niloy and why? Is Niloy as innocent as he appears to be ? Will Digonto be able to solve the mystery of the stolen necklace?
Mikimoto Necklace by Dipanwita Roy is an engaging story for children, young adults and even adults. I heard the audio version on Radio Mirchi’s Sunday Suspense Series on You Tube.
Bengalis have a fetish for detective stories. It’s no wonder that a whole series is dedicated to the genre. However, at times the contemporary storytellers lack the finnese required to build up the plot of a whodunnit. Dipanwita Roy is an exception. Her narrative is interesting and the line of detection lapse free.
Those who, like me, are not conversant with the term “Mikimoto” it refers to the founder of the cultured pearl industry, Kokichi Mikimoto (1858-1954), and the luxury Japanese brand (particularly Japanese Akoya Pearls) founded by him, known for high-quality cultured pearls. Kokichi Mikimoto is credited with creating the first cultured pearl in 1893 revolutionizing the pearl industry. The brand has its own proprietary grading system for its pearls.
A Little About The Author
Dipanwita Roy is a Bengali children’s writer and journalist. She did her comparative studies from Jadavpur University. In 2024 she was awarded the Bal Sahitya Puraskar by Sahitya Akademi. She has been widely published and translated in other languages.
This is in response to Sadje’s Weekly Writing Prompt on #Whatdoyousee
There’s a thread which binds you and me
A delicate, gossamer thread…
The thread that does not let me let go
A delicate, gossamer thread…
Yet the spell there was…is no more
The wind has taken it so far away
I do not wish for it to fly back
The wilting petals follow though
But the thread remains hanging still
A delicate, gossamer thread ….
Once the vagabond caravan returns
The promises will swim back ashore
Promises that you never made…
Promises that I never kept…
In memories alone the haunting stays
Of a flame that never rose…never died
Do you think this thread shall let it glow
A delicate, gossamer thread…
Is it the branch that croons the song
Or is it the leaf that yearns for the bygone
There’s always a myth, a saga, an avalanche
Whether it’s you and me growing apart or
Its the leaf and the branch still entwined
When the knees pain
And the bones crackle
And the spine has that
No nonsense chuckle
Chime in winter bells
When cough and cold
Says not to be bold
Sneezes and splutters
Make me shudder
Summer casts it’s spell
When head reels
At every swerve
Shoulders freeze and
Oh! My nerves
Give the death chills
Seasons take a tumble
When the shivers begin
With that stinging bite
The sing song lullaby
Of mosquito nights
Wind’s sharp howl
The drizzles drown
Lashes rains’ cymbals
Through the year
My body bears
Season’s every call
Oh dear! There’s a
Goof up here
By none other than
The Maker Superior
Who in His haste
Human He made
A weathercock instead
