Few years back … all the nasty people were my so called friends. They would be my friend till they get their work done or till they get another friend.

In Rome … i got my first n last  BEST  friend.  At that time i never realised how true her friendship was. She used to tell me … when i will lose her then only will i realise -  what i lost !!  And truely it is so … i’m still looking or say searching for her. Didn’t find her on facebook either.

I actually misplaced her address …. then i went to South Africa - got her last letter … she  thought  i didn’t get her letters - so she stopped writing !!

Her name Mao Mao Cheng … she was from China. Her mother worked for the FAO (Food n Agricultural Organisation). Her father was a painter. Don’t know how to contact her … God knows where she is now !

i sometime wonder … is she  looking for me too ?

After  Mao Mao …. i never got a true friend. Do i miss something in life … accept her - nothing much really !!  Now a days most of my “Friends” are either younger to me or older than me. i find it easier to maintain the friendship relation with them only.

I finished my graduation years ago … n have friends (Piyali n Shilpi) who’re in 1st year now … they both are unique (in their own way) n are full of life.  Piyali … even though she is quite young but still have the sense of maturity - but that doesn’t make her sound or look over aged … she is lovely n lively - have good sense of dressing too.

Whereas Shilpi … is totally like a bollywood masala movie … endless entertainment !! Recently  … i went to our second house after a long time - she said “Mani (my pet name) didi - why didn’t you come all these days … you know everyday seems to be so big … so big as an Ostrich” !!  i just couldn’t stop laughing.

I also have a friend who is not of my age yet not so younger than me. She is good too … we have a nice bonding.

One thing that’s common between me n Kamal is that …  we both are confussed n deppressed most of the time. when we go for shopping or for a walk  … we always have a great time  - we more or less have same thoughts and thinkings. Except  … she is a person who can do anything for her friends  and by anything she means absolutely anything.

For me it’s difficult to think it that way … but yes i can always be there when my friends want to pour their heart out. Listen to their problems  the whole day … comfort them !! Suggest them to do this or that … but physically i do that much as it is possible for me …

We have differences n things in common too … over all we’re good friends

Last night it started to rain (the way i like - thunder shower) at around 3 in the morning and it’s still drizziling now n then …. even though the road are flood with rain water n it’s all “pich-pich” …. but still i like it !

I actually love rain … in different places with different enjoyment !!

ROME  …. the wet cold rainy days n nights were memorable. Love the warmth of my room … the clean roads … the greenness … the cozy feeling … the hot chicken curry …. n off course - the thunder lightening - added thrill to all these !!

In my hometown  Kolkata (actually i live in the suburb : Barasat n Andharmanick)….

BARASAT …. it’s  Beautiful. Love to sit on the window slab n watch the rain … the whole day. One can write poetry - it’s such a amazing feeling (i too have written but in bengali ..” brishtir char din”). Once we were in Barasat  … it continuously rained for 3 days n nights. It was the longest peroid of time i had seen in my whole life.

ANDHARMANICK …. laying in the swing in the varanda n watch the rain … it has it’s own beauty !! Rain drop dripping down the teracotta tile roof n the smell of the wet earth. The sound of the rain falling on the leaves n roof … wOw ! i miss it so much !!!

SHILLONG … went to visit my uncle  - the house he got from his office was on the hill top. From its varanda could see the town … n mountains at a far distance. Itself the scenario was beautiful and in rain it looked amazingly wonderful. Mostly it rained at night … but at day time the rainbow after the rain looks equally stunning. Had a mesmerizing time

DURBAN (south africa) …. it was surprising how suddenly a hot sunny day turned into cool windy wet day. Our house was on a hill top … the house had a huge glass window - through it … could see the whole city - the harbour - the blue sea (turns grey when it rains). All of a sudden the whole scenario would get covered in drizziling mist … those dreamy days !!

DELHI … brings back the life - relief  - the joy. It’s like starting of  a new begining … now lets see if my plants (those brought from Assam) do survive - i actually have lost hope as they are on the edge of dying !!

Yes … fall in love with the city Rome (Italy) when we went there to stay for 3 years (1991-1994). Some of the most  beautiful memories in my life are of Rome.  It had all the things to fall in love with … yummy food - amazing architecture - mesmerizing nature - gorgeous people and awesome climate.

I still remember there wasn’t any particular rainy season … but in winter it used to rain more. The whole night it would rain n in the morning it would be all gone … leaving  behind wet n beautiful roads n trees.

Remember sitting in the warm room - would hear the rain fall n sometime the thunder too … which made the glass window vibrate. Sometime when u open the window … wet n cold wind would embrace u. You close the window n get back to ur bed (which is just next to the window) and carry on doing ur homework …. maybe a sketch  for the Art class … while still hearing the rain pouring down from the dark grey sky. It was while staying in of  Rome -  that i began to love rain.

From our school (St.Gorge’s English School at La storta) … we went to many places in the countryside - unfortunetly can’t remember the names  anymore … saw rivers - palaces with French influence - gardens - mountains … in which caves were made. How did they reached there ? We were made to think by our teacher … why aren’t anyone living in the village at the top of that mountain anymore? … Did they left/died because of the deadly disease “Plague”.

But at that time i couldn’t think what the teacher wanted us to think  …. i used to get lost in the beauty of the nature. Lost  gazing at the river that’s rushing down the not so steep mountain. The birds busy chattering as if it’s the only day left in their life. The cool breeze whispers in ur ears ..  in an unknow language and still u can feel it … love it !!

The more i write - the more i long to go back  ….

Trip to the city is as splendid as exploring the countryside. Rome is full of amazing intricate artwork …. be it the churches - the squares (piazza as they call it) - the bridges - the mesmerizing paintings … everything !!!  It’s Rome that made me love and admire the beauty of architecture n artwork.

Top left : Piazza Navona  - Top right :Piazza della Rotanda - Bottom :Palazzo del Grillo … once residence of the famous marquis .            p.s. all these photos are by Giancarlo Gasponi ..

Sometime u could hear ur neighbours having a get  together …. drinking - eating - playing guitar and singing … they’re full of life. But the music was never too loud … as they cared for their neighbours too !!

While talking about Rome … i can’t miss out on pizza - cheese -  pasta - wine (which i never tasted … never even thought of it either). For breakfast  … most Romans had pizza which was very simple with cheese n tomato topping - and believe me .. it tasted like “heaven” .. Nowhere in the world can match it’s taste … :)  They had their pasta simple too .. again with grated cheese n fresh tomato puree. I never has the courage to taste it  … always had my pasta with yummy n creamy sauce - n the taste  ….. Oh God ! depot me to Rome - the Heaven on earth !!