The Girl on the Train- A book Review

I just completed my latest read “The Girl on the train” by Paula Hawkins. Since my younger days I was always fond of reading thrillers and adventures. Nancy Drew, The Famous Five being my favorites. Hence as expected the idea of reading this one had thrilled me in the first place. And then when I went through its review and knew of its popularity, I was sure that I was heading to some good thrill.

Rachel the main protagonist or rather one of the main protagonists is a compulsive drunkard. She is a regular commuter of trains, which is an integral part of her life. Every day the train speeds past some suburban homes and the inmates of those are a part of her defeated life. At least she thinks so. Until the turn of events actually make her one. She watches an evidently perfect couple everyday but one fine day she discovers the imperfections and soon the lady goes missing. And Rachel eventually gets entangled in the un-nerving mystery of missing Megan, only to find darker to darkest secrets. The tale is narrated by the female characters and their point of views. Rachel, Anna and Megan are very different. They have very different lives with very different thoughts. But are they really so or there is an unknown, uncanny resemblance in their life journeys? Are they all riding the same boat and deceived by the same shadow of goodness and attractiveness? That the novel will tell you, when you read it. Disclosing more for a thriller, will be injustice to the creator and the creation.

The novel is beautifully written and the plot slowly grows on you. No wonder it is a best seller. The twists and turns are intriguing and complicated at times. While the readers take ride to solving the puzzle, he is also treated with an emotional, romantic saga. The soft, palpable emotions of human. Real, extreme and vulnerable ones. Overall it is a must read for the people who love to be trilled and remain haunted for a couple of days after finishing the read. As a reader I really enjoyed the experience.

Aritra Chakrabarty Sengupta

For a cup of tea by the waters

Nature beckons me, lovingly and passionately. I have always been like that at the bottom of my heart. I dreamt of witnessing many exotics across the globe. I dreamt and dream big. But that does not stop me from appreciating the minute sources of immense beauty around. Since I shifted to Thane, I have  heard a lot of the Thane Creek. They say flamingoes come there in huge numbers and construct a frame absolutely beautiful to behold. But I have not been being lucky enough to experience that yet. However just last Sunday, I went there, to Thane creek. No there were no flying beauties, yet it was beautiful, very, immense. Mumbai is a visual  treat when the rains hit the Ghats and turn them to green extravagance. 

The drive from my house to the creek is a mere 15 minutes. But it was fulfilling. The sky was overcast with occasional downpours. When we reached the place, it was a menacing grey. Water filled the body to the brim and was deliciously tranquil. It was drizzling and the breeze with the droplets of water in it smelled sweet and fresh. Many anchored boats with the fishermen in it, floated rhythmically with the wind. It looked splendid, the water, the surrounding mountains and the boats. Many families had gathered for tea by the waters, and so were we. 

It rained, we sat inside the car getting mentally drenched in the incessant downpour and drinking tea. That is what I call bliss! Some pics taken by me, I have shared. Have a romantic monsoon!

Beautifully etched pictures of Nature

Aritra Chakrabarty Sengupta

Emotional Saga-Bajrangi Bhaijaan

This Friday I was completely off mood. My husband forced me to come along and see a movie. But which one? The 250 crore make, exorbitant Bahubali? Well I am sure people are liking it but not me. Bajrangi Bhaijaan? I was really not in the mood to witnessing some cliche dialogues and supermanly action sequences. But the later was what my fate awaited. And there I sat watching the 10:40 pm show of the movie with a poker face. Gosh! Only God knows what awaits!

To my utter surprise and a kind of happiness I would say, my fate did not betray. The movie right from scene one was intriguing and emotional. Started off in Kashmir, the part of it that falls in Pakistan with a poverty stricken family and a super adorable baby girl who lacks the luxury of speech, to her getting lost in India. It keeps you emotionally hitched to the plot that lovingly and wondrously unfolds on-screen. Salman Khan's first appearance is also subtle compared to the rest of his recent Bollywood so called block busters. 

Bajrangi Bhaijaan, directed by Kabir Khan and produced by Salman Khan is one of the best cinematic experiences provided to the audience, by the Khan of Dabang fame. They say whenever Salman Khan or Shahrukh Khan does a movie, it gets place in the 300 crore club. But I believe if they seek public consensus and if that really matters to these big shot, super rich stars they would know the reality. The reality is, while a huge population goes gaga over their names, there are many who want to see them doing some meaningful stuff. After all I believe me and my readers must have loved Shahrukh more in Chak-de or Swadesh than in any big budget Farah Khan movie league. And with the kind of resources and experiences they come, I am sure, they can do a bit  better than Dabang or Happy New Year. This time Salman has done his bit.

Bajrangi Bhaijaan is the tale of a 6 year old baby girl from Pakistan lost in India and Pawan a Hanuman Devotee who eventually takes the girl to her Nation against all odds. The little girl played by Harshaali Malhotra and her relationship with Pawan or Bajrangi played by Salman is the most impressive part of the movie. You know certain issues never misses to tickle the emotional side of the audience. Indo-Pak relationship or communal harmony on a bigger scale are examples of such genres. The story unfolds laminarly with its comic relief and humoungous messages. "Love knows no religion" or "Goodness or Badness has nothing to do with our religious beliefs" are few of the many unsaid realities conveyed. The taboo of hatred between the two nations is also beautifully washed away by the universal acceptance of love. Nawazuddin Siddique and Kareena Kapoor also do immense justice to their roles. Siddique's acting in the last scene of the movie, when he shouts for Bajrangi Bhaijaan followed by tears, touches deep within. Overall the cuteness factor of the kid, candidness of Salman and the great storyline gifts you moments to be overwhelmed and cherish the emotional outburst within. It forces you to think, do we really hate them so much or are our minds forcefully moulded to do so? Lastly kudos on the choice of title for the movie, which has flavours of both the religion and is apt for a script like this. 

Aritra Chakrabarty Sengupta

Vacay at Lavasa

All work and no play makes me dull, absolutely dull. So I wanted to have a weekend of all play and no work. And if you want to have something this awesome, during the monsoons in Mumbai, what else will you indulge in besides a weekend getaway to some nearby western ghat extravagance. We all know of Lonavala, Khandala, Mahabaleshwar etc. but not everyone knows of Lavasa. At least I did not know of it before coming to Mumbai. So our getaway was to this semi famous supercalifragilisticexpialidocious (meaning extraordinarily good, just got to know this word accidently and thought of using. Try pronouncing, just for fun) place, Lavasa. And as I always mention, one important ingredient of the recipe of great vacations is good company and that we had. My husband Avishek and I were accompanied by our besties Nilesh and Shalaka and off course their awesome camera, which contributed to embellishing this narrative.  

Journey Begins

We started early last Saturday in their car. As Mumbai is seeing a dearth of adequate rains this year, we dreaded the unwanted warmth and humidity in atmosphere. However the day was pleasant with drizzles to occasional downpours from time to time. The sun was playing hide and seek, but was quite mellowed down and sober to our respite. The journey on the expressway is always the best part, giving you chances for a click or two from time to time. The car drove past lush greenery and mountains, making its way through the huge number of its species, all taking the occupants to hiatus. The person at the steering changed from time to time, and we kept moving ahead to our destination. A small break for breakfast and then another one amidst the green carpet for tea.

The four of us

The later I loved more. The breeze flowed past setting us free from the fetters of stress, norms and regulations. We were breathing and truly so. Steaming tea, chat and hair playing on my face, I loved the euphoria. I was so me at that moment. Then before our destination, we stopped near a small waterfall. Monsoon beautifies this region immensely to the traveller's delight, we enjoyed these little gifts of nature.

Posing near the waterfall

The guys

Just before lunch we reached "Waterfront Shaw", the resort which awaited our nearing steps. We all are really thankful to Nilesh for the awesome choice. He had booked a suite for the four of us. Two bedrooms and a drawing room with kitchen, and the best part was the terrace with the dining table. The apartment had the jaw dropping view of green mountains with looming clouds and the tranquility of a water body at the feet. Oh what a view! An awe and poetry inspiring view I would say!

The view

The view

"As I stare at the sparkling waters,

Incessantly time moves on unaware.

I look at the rains and grey clouds,

If only I had more than a life to spare.

The colourful umbrellas and the happy faces,

Roaming around with smiles as broad.

I examine them with my dreamy eyes,

And admire the luxury of respite that I have got."

We had lunch, real hungry souls we savoured greedily every iota of food we had ordered.Then we savoured the beauty of the day transform, the lights went from dim to dimmer. Each phase majestic than the other. And soon the lights of the Lavasa city enlightened the spirits within us. Not to miss the rejuvenation nap we took in between.Really, it was respite. Respite from work, respite from city life and respite from the mad race. I was loving the evening. The drizzles, the cups of coffee and then the roaming around, completely at our wills. After a sumptuous dinner of biriyani, we watched movie till very late at night. What an awesome way to spend the weekend.

Avishek and I

Shalaka and Nilesh

Evening fun

Next morning was splendid, the sky etched with blue and grey patches, colourfully dressed people loitering around. Candy floss, roasted corn and the smell of rain took us back to our college days. We giggled, chatted, ran around, made faces.We lived the moments that had gone by. The return journey had the heaviness of returning to reality, yet it was fun. We stopped for a snack of roasted corn, while it drizzled deliciously.

Reliving the college days

Vacations are not short or long, they are injections of life. The right people, right atmosphere and happiness within makes a vacation worth living. Lavasa, though a bit expensive than the other nearby getaways, is worth a visit. Because it actually is a synonym to rejuvenation and perfect leisure. Happy monsoons to all my readers.

 Ingredients for a perfect vacation

Aritra Chakrabarty Sengupta

Pics courtesy Nilesh, Avishek and  some people we happen to meet

Compassion knows no religion

I don’t know how I did not write about this earlier. Or maybe my deeply embedded emotions were waiting for the apt trigger to show. Two years back, in the month of August it was a rainy day. Before living in this city of dreams, I always dreamt to live it’s so talked about rains. But when I actually experienced, my feeling were mixed of goods and bads. That day it recorded record downpour at least for the year. We had just shifted to Mumbai, and it was our first rains here. My husband Avishek was out of country on an official tour. I was in office, but management called it for the day, fearing gruesome floods. I lived in Kanjurmarg then, and my office was in Vikhroli. People who are aware of the place, they will appreciate the nearness between the two. But unfortunately it was not walkable, at least in that day of torrential rainfall.

The Sky was as if pouring incessantly to quench the never dying thirst of the greedy. City life was crippled completely. The so called life line of Mumbai, Locals had come to a grinding halt due to water on the tracks. The roads were jammed and water logging everywhere. I stood near my office drenched even with an umbrella, trying to get a means to commute. Cabs, Autos fled by, none would stop just like the rains. Suddenly the otherwise friendly city, turned insensitive. I stood for hours and it was nearing darkness. I thought I would walk, but seeing the water logging and road conditions I dreaded to start off.

Suddenly an auto stopped in front. By then my hands were tired gesturing them to stop. I evidently looked in despair. “Where do you want to go?” asked a man in his late twenties. When I told him my address, he hesitated for a minute or two but eventually said yes. When I got in, I saw a Burkha clad girl already seated inside. Her face was bare, she smiled at me. The guy sped past the water clogged city and the girl talked to me. They were a couple, going to visit the guy’s mother. On seeing my sad state they decided to give me a lift. But my house was not in their way, yet they decided not to leave me alone in the heart of the drenching city. “This city has seen floods madam, it is not safe to be outside at this hour” said the girl. I paid them more than the normal fare, which they took with lot of hesitation.

They sped past leaving me with an answer. With the growing intolerance of one Religion for the other, I always wondered whether goodness and compassion has anything to do with that. But now I know Compassion knows no religion.

Mahesh Lunch Home- our Sunday indulgence

When your cook is on leave and it is a lazy Sunday, there are two ways to happiness. Indulge into some awesome cooking or just pay a visit to a place with delectable cuisine. We narrowed down to the second option after a bit of introspection. We chose a place very near our house in Thane; it is called “Mahesh Lunch Home”. This one is a famous sea food destination, with five branches across Mumbai.  Unfortunately we had never been there before, though the distance is a bare 500 meters.  But as they say better late than never, we ultimately visited it for lunch today.

The interior of the Restaurant 

View from the place

Frankly, it was quite an indulgence I would have to confide. Starting with golden fried prawns as the starter, to Chicken Kadai with Apam and followed by my favorite desert caramel custard, we enjoyed every bit of it.

Yummy Golden Fried Prawns

Caramel Custard-caressing my taste buds still 

It is worth mentioning that the ambience of the place is great and food tastes heavenly, especially the sea food part. A special mention of the great quality prawns cooked with conviction. I loved the greatly cooked chicken and Apam combination, a first for me. But the yummy icing to the delicious cake was the caramel custard; I loved every spoon of this one. However in my next visit I would love to taste some more of the coastal extravaganza. But overall Mahesh Lunch Home made our Sunday special.

Happy after the meal

Both of us enjoyed the food

Aritra Chakrabarty Sengupta

Lost Humanity

Are we really humane? What is being human besides Salman Khan and T-shirts? Nothing…right? Well I believe we all are living in a fool’s paradise, a bubble, a myth.  After Salman Khan’s verdict, Janavi Gadkar, the high profile corporate lawyer’s drunken act claiming lives, now it is dream girl and Member of Parliament Hema Malini’s turn. Turn to show what power and money can fetch and it is nothing besides Inhumanity.

True this time the “star” was not at the steering of the killing machine, nevertheless the exhibition of disrespect, apathy and ruthlessness to commoners is no less. I was stunned that when the “MERCEDES” of a high profile person hits the meagre Alto of a common family, the medical practitioners care only for the life of the powerful. They can be inhuman to the extent of leaving a bleeding 2 year old to die without an iota of repentance. Are we human I ask again? But this time I answer my question myself. NO, humanity is extinct.

These are the people who depict goodness onscreen and we like fools pay our hard earned money to gift them undue and undeserved lavishness.  I feel cheated when I read that the baby who died in the Dausa road accident and her family  were left bleeding, while doctor attended Madam Malini, who I suppose was in complete sense. Medical aid fetched a lot later to the Alto boarders and that too of poorer quality. The reason why an injured baby succumbs in her mother’s lap is a price they paid for not being able to afford a Mercedes. No matter they are people who go to watch movies and create stars. No matter they are the ones who vote to choose them as leaders. Stars who shine but bestow no light, leaders who lead awesome lives but cannot lead the injured to the hospital. The era of divine 's vengeance is gone by my friend, condolences on Lost Humanity.

Aritra Chakrabarty Sengupta

Bela sheshe- A movie review

Trailer of the Movie "Belasheshe"

My recent movie watch was that of a Bengali movie. However I firmly believe that art is not bound by the fetters of language like us. It is universal and any creation that is commendable art should be applauded for whatever it is. “Bela Sheshe” meaning dusk is one such.  Directed by Nandita Roy and Shiboprasad Mukherjee, this movie gives the rare opportunity of experiencing veteran actors Soumitra Chattopadhyay and Swatilekha Sengupta together on screen. It is worth mentioning, that this rare occurrence happened 30 years back in Satyajit Ray’s “Ghare Baire”. The ensemble cast of this movie includes actors like Rituparna Sengpta, Aparajita Auddy, Monami Ghosh, Indrani Dutta, Kharaj Mukhopadhyay, Shankar Chakraborty, Anindya Chatterjee and others.

Relationships are really more than we can perceive. Rendezvous with one’s own expectations sometimes leaves a lingering feeling of dissatisfaction and emptiness. Years cannot breach the gap, commemoration, empathy and blissful understanding are the medicines to this ailment. We are human and very much so. Rising above ourselves is never an easily accomplished goal for us. Marital life is an example where strains are often felt in relationships due to gaps which can be mended but how. Bela Sheshe dwells on the realms of those human emotions, portraying the issue through couples of varied age groups and varied degree of incompatibility. It kind of gives a clue to that “how”.

When a couple after 50 years of togetherness come on the verge of separation, taking their kids by utter shock is a situation, not very common in the Indian societal structure. The west may term it as “Silver Separation” but we Indians can barely deal with it. Soumitra Chattopadhyay plays the man who decides to separate from his wife played by Swatilekha, just before their 50^th wedding anniversary. The events turn in a way that they go on a trip to Bolpur, as a last try to keep the knot intact.

The perception of love varies from one to another. The couple comes to terms with each other’s perception which 50 years of living together could not get them. But along with them their daughters and son and their respective partners also learn to appreciate the bliss of being blessed to be together. Acknowledging each other’s goods and accepting the bads. The story manages to flow laminar with its turbulent depiction of relationships. An intricate family drama that ends with an unsaid message, which forces you to hold your partner’s arm! The essence of Bengali life and living is also a treat to behold.

Acting wise everyone is just as natural as a blooming flower in dawn, but Aparajita and Kharaj steal the show with comic relief. Overall it is a must watch.

Aritra Chakrabarty Sengupta

An ever lasting Smile

Me n my smile

pic courtesy: Avishek Sengupta

Sparkle in the diamond eyes,

Let the effervescence above dismay rise.

Laughing lines on cheeks do appear,

Frowns of meloncholy are ugly sheer.

Some glow with a naughty smile,

Some laugh aloud in style.

Whatever may be the way of expression,

It frees from the fetters of depression.

The sun flower kisses the rays of sun,

A mother after feeding her baby is done.

All these dawn with magical smile,

As if happiness appears after a long exile.

Spread this happiness all around,

Darkness of hatred will no longer to be found.

Let the cloak of love embrace my world,

Like the fragrance of tuberose in a night as pearled.

Aritra Chakrabarty Sengupta