GTG Pats76 - Nayan Ghosh, me @ Sabir's Hotel, Chandni Market, Kolkata on 2019-12-18

Believe it or not, I boarded a Kolkata Metro after a whopping gap of 34 (yes, THIRTY FOUR) years yesterday, 2019-12-18.
My last ride was in mid December 1985, just 4 months after I joined Castrol India (then, Indrol Lubricants and Specialities Ltd) as an Executive Trainee. Thereafter, it was touring India for work with very little stay in Kolkata. I got delivery of my own  white LML Vespa 150 NV sometime in mid 1986 and that signalled farewell to Kolkata Metro rides.

Spent over 6 hrs of quality time with St. Patrick's School, Asansol buddy Nayan Kumar Ghosh (Bua) settled in Ras Al Khaima in UAE on Wednesday, 2019-12-18 from 2.30pm to 8.30pm.
We relived our young days of 1980s while in respective colleges in Kolkata.

I was really so excited the moment Nayan suggested that I leave my personal transport at his place in Chetla and take the Kolkata Metro for a to and fro ride to Kolkata's CBD.

First it was a short auto-rickshaw ride from Chetla to Rashbehari crossing. Then it was an underground metro ride from Kalighat to Chandni Chowk. The young men at the ticket counters were superfast in their job. The small round plastic token tickets, the sensor machines which allowed me access to the downwards flight of stairs, the baggage scanners, the signages, the arrival of the North bound train sharp at 3.05pm as per schedule, the sliding doors of the trains opening and shutting in about 10 seconds, the cool air conditioned interiors of the compartments, the escalators to climb up from the platform, the machines with slots to drop the plastic tickets which allowed ne to exit the Chandni station left me spellbound.
Young college girls, young couples, not too young men and women were clicking selfies in the compartment with gay abandon. We too clicked a selfie inside the moving train.

Next was a hearty lunch of Tandoori Rotis, Chicken/ Mutton Rezala and Firni, a treat by Nayan at Shabir's in Chandni Market. It would have been so wonderful if my buddy's wifey Shampa and their kids were there, too.
At Shabir's, we couldn't miss the customary photo sessions.

After lunch it was a pretty long walk to a spectacles shop in Bowbazar Street. Thereafter, it was a looong walk to the books market off College Street near Presidency University and meeting two of Nayan's friends from his stay in private hostel days. Then it was the unmissable roadside sweet milk chai sitting on a bench laid out in an already narrow alley, off Surya Sen Sftreet.

We still had the energy to walk further down to the Central Metro station to board the return ride to Kalighat Metro station, a journey of only 17 mins. I was even lucky to get a seat, although Nayan wasn't 😊. By car, it would have taken me a minimum of 40 - 45 minutes in evening rush hour on a working day  😭.

After exiting the station at Rashbehari crossing we were lucky to get an empty bus which took us to Chetla in about 7 mins only.

After reaching Nayan's place, it was a long adda session with Sandip Samanta in Asansol over the phone.

Finally, it was a solo ride back home near Salt Lake Stadium in my 28 yrs old faithful via Alipore, AJC Bose Road flyover, MAA flyover.

An arrogant lady is adamant on feeding street dogs within the Lodha Society, Thane (sometime in late 2019)

Instead of creating a ruckus, the lady can always opt to feed the street dogs outside the Lodha Society, Thane, Maharashtra. 

The street dog loving lady in the video whose face we can't see, doesn't have to show herself off as THE good samaritan and feed the mongrels inside the apartment complex. These street dog lovers/ feeders are arrogant and have a single point agenda to show to the world that they are way above everyone. 

Just because a street dog has been vaccinated (even if it's true), does NOT mean that one will allow the dogs to bite or tear up children and/or adults. 

I can assure you that in real life they aren't good people. At times of need, expect no help or sympathy from them. They will wiggle out of the situation under some pretext or the other  😡😡😡

I am a daily sufferer for the past 5+ years. 

There's no way I can send you the putrid smell that I have to live with 24*7. But I can send you scores of photos of the daily mess 😡😡😡 

I have tried to reason out the issues with the lady. She refuses to bring in any change. 

Santanu Ganguly's daughter Radhika wedded Gaurav at Chowringhee Banquets on 2019-12-11

Santanu Ganguly and myself grew up studying in the same class and section in St. Patrick's School Asansol since 1970.
On Wednesday, 2019-12-11 evening it was Santanu and Nilanjana's pretty daughter Radhika's marriage with Gaurav.
I was there for the marriage with wife Diya and daughter Diksha at Chowringhee Banquet on Bishop Lefroy Road in Kolkata.
Dear Santanu and Nilanjana, the arrangements and spread of food was simply awesome. We enjoyed every moment of the evening.
We wish the little girl who grew up so fast a very happy wedded life.

Pigeons lovers basking in the sun on the window parapet

While basking in the sun the lovers did not even give me a second glance on Tuesday, 2019-12-10 afternoon  😉
They were as shameless as the humans inside Jadavapur University campus, Victoria Memorial or Vivekananda Park!
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* Just Like That

Shivaji Gupta Roy's elder daughter Shrishti wedded Sujoy at Princeton Club in Tollygunge on 2019-12-05

Shrishti Gupta Roy, the little creative girl of Class 4 in early 2000 at Ashok Hall Girls' School in Kolkata who started participating in #Powerplay, the first and only one of its kind yearly National Intra and Inter-School PowerPoint Presentation Contest conceptualized and executed by me those days, has grown up as a bright young professional in 2019.

She got married to Sujoy Banerjee in Kolkata on Thursday, 2019-12-05.

Dear Shrishti and Sujoy, we wish you a very happy married life.

Shivaji da and Sonali boudi, congratulations on your new social status as 'sasur' and 'sasuri' 😊.

Dada, how time flies. It was as if only the other day, Diya and me left Jubilee Park in Tollygunge accompanying you as 'borjatri' for your marriagemarriage 😄.

It was excellent arrangement made by you'll at Princeton Club on 5th evening. The spread of food and the preparation was too good. Diksha, Diya and me thoroughly enjoyed every moment of the evening.