First Post. Last Love.

Oh boy. This feels like first day at school. I am sure I am getting the “Who’s the new kid on the block” look. But for me, this has been long pending. There are innumerable times when I thought to myself “Okay this is it! Today is the day I shall finally get down to writing  my blog” but never got around to doing so, either due to dongle non cooperation, sometimes a bout of laziness or maybe because I found a Jab We Met, Wake up Sid or a Terminal running on the idiot box. So, finally I make a move forward and in the next moment I look at the web page asking for the “Title of the blog”. I mentally smile. This is one of those things which I had decided long back, just like you decide what number you want for the first car you purchase or the tattoo you want /where you want it (provided you get a chance AND courage of getting it done!)

Mélange- Doesn’t it sound like a delicious looking dessert? Like a big fat water filled yellow balloon? Doesn’t it remind of you of a very festive sunny day? Of a brush still thick and wet with paint? It is such a happy word. Technically it means a “mixture of incongruous elements”. And that is what my blog is going to be all about. A motley of coal and clouds. A punch of Vodka and Tequila. A juxtaposition of the happy, weird and surprising. What makes it perfect is the fact that it becomes all the more better when you break it up. Have a look:

Me:      I, my, self, myself
Lang:    Short form of the word “language” (Yes, it is actually a word)
E:        Letter denoting everything that is electronic (E-mail, E-commerce and the like)

So if we do a 2+2, it would mean the words and thoughts penned by me electronically. :D

This is as perfect as how ironical the letters U-N-M-A-D are. When pronounced in Bengali it would mean being crazy and when spelt in English it would mean the state of not being crazy.

Quite some time back, I had written a note on the reasons why I love Calcutta. Sharing the same (with a few additions of course) and hoping that I have one hell of a ride on this bandwagon.

1. It gave me my lifelines. Friends & Family.
2. My school. The fantastic 14 years and all the fiasco associated with it.
3. Durga Puja. Those who haven’t witnessed one here haven’t lived at all.
4. The "Adda" feeling. *Bliss*
5. The Book Fair. From the dust to the crowd to the collection.
6. Phuchka. Call it gol gappa/paani puri, whatever you want. But nowhere does it taste better.
7. The Autos. Breakneck speed with speakers that would put Bose to shame.
8. Victoria Memorial. The topmost white icing on the Calcutta Cake.
9. The Hooghly Bridge. A purple delight post sunset.
10. Rosogollas. Little sponges of heaven.
11. The Coffee House. Not a coffee lover. But it doesn’t negate the fact that this place is legend
12. Law School Tutorials at Deshopriyo Park. A concoction of education and eccentricities.
13. Peter Cat. The mouth watering Chelo Kebabs. Not to forget, extreme pocket friendliness.
14. Tea from the road side stalls in the finger burning bhaars with the weirdly tasty biscuits.
15. Oxford. The wood furniture and smell of books. Time just flies!
16. Politics and the caricatures that follow. Nothing beats it.
17. The Alipore Zoo. Love it despite the reducing number of animals and the increasing stench.
18. Public bus. Saviour when you’re late. Ledij seat. Over braking. The experiences never end.
19. The Roll. Nizam. Sher-e-punjab. Egg mutton.
20. Biryani. God's gift to our taste buds.
21. Dakshineshwar. The holy buzz it gives out.
22. Park Street. Glitz. Glamour. Class. Get it all.
23. Kochuri aar Aloo'r dom with Jilipi from Tasty Corner.
24. The Lake. The Masala Sprite and the uncensored sights!
25. Mishti Doi. Melt in your mouth happiness. Fighting for the top layer of the “shawr”.
26. Science City. Time Machine. Earthquake zone. Makes you forget age.
27. Saraswati Pujo. Overdose of dressing up. Bangla valentine’s day.
28. Rabindra Sangeet. Love it, hate it but you can’t ignore it.
29. Mall Magic- Forum, Camac Street, South City, Gariahat Mall, City Centre, Mani Sqaure & the latest- Quest Mall. Chilling out at its best.
30. The loose kurta and the jhola bag look. So Calcutta.
31. Fish Frenzy- Ilish, Pomfret, Chingri, Papda, Bhetki, Rui and many more.
32. Maddox Square during Durga Puja. Open license for innocent flirting!
33. Shantiniketan. The place of Rabindranath Tagore. Music & Literature defined. Holi-days are the best ;)
34. The famous monkey tupi aar muffler during winter.
35. The traditional shada sari lal paar and the dhuti kurta donned on Ashtami.
36. Christmas and New Year. Calcutta becomes a Christmas tree with Park Street as the Bethleham star.
37. Luchi aar aloo bhaja. Hands down.
38. The Dhaba. Lip smacking'!
39. Gariahat Bazaar. There is nothing that you won’t find here that doesn’t fit your budget.
40. Typical Bengali Sarees. Dhakai being the favourite.
41. Bata and its hawai chappal. Long live!
42. Poila Baisakh. New clothes. Bhaalo Khabar. Lots of Blessings.
43. The light, sound and water show at Millenium Park. A sight to behold.
44. Khichuri aar Ilish maach bhaaja in borsha kaal. How it livens you up.
45. Lep kombol muri diye ghum in winter.
46. Bishorjon on Dashami and the strains of "Aasche boshor aabar hobe!"
47. Tangra. Haven for Chinese food lovers.
48. Flury's. An early morning breakfast.
49. The tram. Mark of our city.
50. Nicco Park, Aquatica, Wet o Wild. Fun unlimited!
51. College Street. Para for bookworms.
52. Writer's Building, Race Course, Red Road. Feel of old British Calcutta.
53. The Taj, HHI, Grand, Hyatt, ITC Sonar Bangla. Luxury Defined.
54. River Cruise on the Ganga. “Amar mon cheyeche aaj hariye jabo”.
55. Nightlife. Moulin Rouge, Trincas to Sheesha, Venom, Underground.
56. Hilarious Bangla Channels. Hats off!
57. The Circus. Spells out childhood.
58. Carpool system. Absolutely unique.
59. Kosha mangsho and bhaat on Sunday.
60. The city's love for music and movies of any kind.
61. Eden Garden. Cricket is food for life!
62. The theatre. For those who can appreciate talent.
63. The little street kids that surround your vehicle when stuck in a traffic jam.
64. Long drives at wee hours in the morning or late in the night.
65. The Sai Baba temple I frequent near Deshopriyo Park Petrol Pump.
66. Although I don't understand much but east bengal and mohon bagan are the souls of football lovers.
67. Movie catching at Priya, Menoka, Inox and Fame.
68. The slow contented feel that you get from the city.
69. All the memories Calcutta has given me for the last 25 years.
70. For the simple reason that it is Calcutta.... My definition of home.

Calcutta is like a kaleidoscope. Every time you look at it, it appears differently colourful, shiny and picturesque. Sometimes I feel Calcutta is a Taurus man. Taureans are fiercely passionate, committed and loyal. They are home makers. They love strong roots. They have the innate ability of making you theirs forever. Calcutta, you fit the definition aptly. One can’t think of another, once they’ve been touched by you.

Yours till the very end,
Hopeless me.