At some point in life and according to priority, Bengalis have this desire to own a home in Kolkata or surrounding areas.
Mr Ray did not own a sprawling ancestral home in India. Of humble origin and from the rural part of Bengal, he was proud to have made a modest living in the US. And in the nineties he bought two acres of land in a picturesque village in Bengal for a negligible sum of dollars. He built a house on it - his pride and joy.
The construction of the house was completed by 2005. It dwarfed the landscape of a semi wooded area next to a red dirt lane, flanked by green paddy fields of the shared crop holders. The winding dirt lane went on for a few miles before merging with the village main street. From his balcony Mr. Ray could see the occasional hand pulled carriage or rickshaw kicking up red dust, and also the sandy pebbled beach of a river that meandered along the village. The village boys playing truant from school gathered by the river on sweaty afternoons, and jumping into the water from high ledges seemed to be a favorite dare. The occasional cart drawn by cows crossed the river on the shallow side. Mr. Ray would puff away on his cigar till the evening bells echoed from a distant temple, and the villagers came in small groups to take a dip before the prayers.
Mrs. Ray, originally from Kolkata was unable to figure out the intensity of her husband's attachment to their country estate. She however was not inclined towards the rural, preferring the city of her youth.
The red tiled two storied house nestled in an extensive garden, surrounded by mango, guava, coconut, and jackfruit trees. The pond was stocked with fish, and Mr. Ray visualized bringing home a fresh catch every morning. He loved the way his wife cooked the fish in mustard gravy, and was at a loss to understand his son's preference for spaghetti and meatballs. After the struggle of making it in the US, it was time to relax and have tea under the shade of the mango tree! He had a little wooden table and two little benches placed in the shade.
Mr Ray did not own a sprawling ancestral home in India. Of humble origin and from the rural part of Bengal, he was proud to have made a modest living in the US. And in the nineties he bought two acres of land in a picturesque village in Bengal for a negligible sum of dollars. He built a house on it - his pride and joy.
The construction of the house was completed by 2005. It dwarfed the landscape of a semi wooded area next to a red dirt lane, flanked by green paddy fields of the shared crop holders. The winding dirt lane went on for a few miles before merging with the village main street. From his balcony Mr. Ray could see the occasional hand pulled carriage or rickshaw kicking up red dust, and also the sandy pebbled beach of a river that meandered along the village. The village boys playing truant from school gathered by the river on sweaty afternoons, and jumping into the water from high ledges seemed to be a favorite dare. The occasional cart drawn by cows crossed the river on the shallow side. Mr. Ray would puff away on his cigar till the evening bells echoed from a distant temple, and the villagers came in small groups to take a dip before the prayers.
Mrs. Ray, originally from Kolkata was unable to figure out the intensity of her husband's attachment to their country estate. She however was not inclined towards the rural, preferring the city of her youth.
The red tiled two storied house nestled in an extensive garden, surrounded by mango, guava, coconut, and jackfruit trees. The pond was stocked with fish, and Mr. Ray visualized bringing home a fresh catch every morning. He loved the way his wife cooked the fish in mustard gravy, and was at a loss to understand his son's preference for spaghetti and meatballs. After the struggle of making it in the US, it was time to relax and have tea under the shade of the mango tree! He had a little wooden table and two little benches placed in the shade.
Last month Mr. Ray was diagnosed with a terminal illness and since then has been thinking of relocating to India. But his children want him here since leaving their jobs for months and moving to India is simply not an option. For his part, Mr. Ray loves being a part of their lives, the scamp of a grandson practically lives with him.
With time not on his side, Mr. Ray has been unable to decide on a course of action. Should he return or just stay in this country which has been his home for long, but always craving the feel of a place he sees even in dreams?
2 comments:
I can visualize the setting & nice write up.
Thanks!
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