Monday, October 03, 2005

Ousted from my room


After quite a few months of stay, I realised that my room partner Varun is a strange guy. How could I make such a grave mistake? How could such misappropriation occur in my judgement? It could be due to my desperate urge to leave the hotel as soon as possible. This guy had the habit of making a lot of promises and commitments, but fulfilling very few. The very habit which I despise very much. However, I was still managing to coexist peacefully with him. But the most offensive incidents occured after his marriage was fixed. Firstly, he invited me to attend his marriage ceremony as a 'borjatri' and also his reception ceremony (boubhat). He also asked me to confirm my attendance so that he can book tickets and make arrangements for me. I confirmed that I will be unable to attend the reception, but will surely attend the marriage ceremony. Then he went to his home to make the arrangements. But when he returned back a few days before his marriage, he blatantly stated that my invitation to his marriage ceremony is cancelled and he will be unable to take me as a 'Borjatri'. I was stunned but could'nt mouth a word of protest. I accepted it rather sportingly.
The next incident occured after his marriage. I was at my home at Siliguri, as usual, during the weekend. He just informed me that he was on his way back to Darjeeling. I invited him to visit my home at Siliguri, since it will fall on his way. He said that he is currently visiting his friend at Bagdogra(a mere 8 km from Siliguri) and he will visit my home in the evening. I waited for him but he did not turn up. I was'nt surprised much since I was somewhat accustomed to his character. But he did not mention anything about his wife. On the next day I returned to Darjeeling. After a tiring journey and a full day's work at office, I returned to my room. A great surprise was waiting for me there. On my knock, the door was opened by an unknown woman! Just think of it, an unknown woman in our bachelor's apartment! Varun appeared after a few moments and shyly introduced her as his wife. I was both stunned and shocked at this situation. I was fast considering my options about where to stay the night. I stepped inside the room to encounter more shocking sights. Both the rooms were filled with alien objects. Even my bed was dumped with them. It seemed that they had brought the whole lot of marriage gifts with them. After the brief introduction, I changed my dresses. Then I excused myself and went to Srikant's room. Srikant offered me to stay with him in his room. But I acted stubborn. I wanted to show Varun that I also have right to that room. So I decided to stay right in my room until an amiable agreement is reached.
So that night I stayed in my room along with the couple in the other room. It was embarrassing for all of us. On the next day, when other friends learnt about the situation, two of them also offered me to stay with them. One of them was Debasisda, our ABM, and the other was Rupen, who is an LIC agent by profession. But after considering the facts, I accepted Srikant's offer, since thus I could continue my fooding at the mess. So I stayed the next part of my stay in Darjeeling in Srikant's room. I continued staying in his room till the end of February 2006 when he came with his wife after marriage.

Saturday, June 18, 2005

Sherpa lodge






But I was waiting for my first opportunity to leave this place and move on to a better place where I can breath easily and move freely. In other words, have more freedom. The opportunity came at the end of the first month. At the end of may, one of my new friends, Dr. Srikanta(more of him later) informed me that there is a vacant room at a nearby house which may be just the thing I want. The house is called "Sherpa Lodge".
Subirda(One of my hotel acquintances) introduced me to Srikanta and suggested us to live in a single flat on sharing basis. But Srikanta was looking forward towards a marital knot as soon as possible. So he was unwilling to share a room for just a short period. However, he helped a lot in acquiring another room just opposite to his.
One fine evening, me & Varun (one of my hotel acquintances) moved on to our new home at Sherpa Lodge. It was a cosy little two room apartment constructed entirely of wood. We started staying here from the beginning of June. Sherpa lodge is quite a large house having five storeys occupied almost entirely by people of the academic community, mostly teachers & students. We got our room on the 3rd floor. Srikanta was staying in the room just opposite to ours. So our households carried on as a "milijuli sarkar". Here is a view of my room with Srikanta and Dibyendu from Jalpaiguri.

Sunday, May 29, 2005

Begin exploring Darjeeling


My exploration of Darjeeling began right on the first month of stay. I have greedily noticed that one of my office colleagues, Mr Dorje Lama, owns a battered Yamaha bike. Nothing could be better than this and also beggars cannot be chosers. It reminded of my own trusted bike which I could not take to Darjeeling due to some problems. So I coaxed him one day to take me to a joyride. The weather was fantastic. I just took my trusted Sony camera with me.
We quickly crossed the North Point (near Saint Joseph School) and continued further forward. The surroundings gradually changed from urban to the rural and the conjested and overcrowded streets of Darjeeling gave way to open horizon. Soon we passed the enormous pillars of the now defunct Darjeeling Ropeway. I was thrilled at the change of the surroundings so soon! The undulating sea of tea plantation on our left stretched to the horizon. The slopes descended to enormous depths, on whose precipice there seemed to exist a river. Dorje Lama told me that the river marks the border between West Bengal & Sikkim. Then it mus be thr Rangit. All land beyond the river belongs to Sikkim. Instantly I decided to visit Sikkim through this way sometime in the future.
We went to the Lebong football ground and watched an ongoing football match. Football is a very popular sport in these hilly regions. I had often seen boys and girls walking several hours from faraway villages just to watch a football match. One can have a view of the Toong Soong approach of the Darjeeling Mall from this football ground. Then we carried on further through the desolate road towards Lebong.

Sunday, May 15, 2005

Darjeeling


I began a new era of my life from 2nd May 2005, when I joined our Darjeeling Office. Darjeeling, as many already know, is a very popular hill station. It is affectionately called "The queen of hills". My original hometown is Siliguri, which is not very far from Darjeeling(about three hours motorable journey). One of my colleagues took me to a dingy hotel and said that my accomodation has been arranged there, on monthly rental basis. They will provide both fooding and lodging. I was very much disappointed to see the state of the hotel. I decided that I will have to change my accomodation on the first opportunity. In spite of the low standard of the hotel, I was quite happy because I was looking forward towards my stay at Darjeeling with much enthusiasm. The hotel is located at "Tungsung", which is about 7 minutes walk from The Mall. The bathrooms were horrible and the food matched them. But the good thing about the place is that here I got acquainted with many good people such as Srikant, Lakrada, Subirda & Barun.

Sunday, May 08, 2005

Introduction


Hi friends,

I am a dreamer of dreams. I love adventure & making friends. I live at Darjeeling, the famous hill station affectionately known as "Queen of Hills". I am intersted in making friends and going places with them, preferably a bit 'off the track' places. I like trekking, biking, white water rafting & para gliding. I am also interested in Hobby engineering and digital photography.

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