Among the thousands of good and bad memories of life, some seem so fresh as if it was yesterday only. I still love to revisit them down my memory lane. Today, I am writing about three of them.

• 1    - 

 When I was three or four years ol,  my Phoolpishi gifted me two large rubber dolls on my birthday. I was so overwhelmed to get them! I had never seen such big dolls before. The two dolls were a girl and a boy. The girl wore a beautiful dress. I still can’t forget how happy I was to receive them. I named them ‘Kajri’ and ‘Bolga’. I used to have a great time playing with them. But a tragedy occurred that year during Durga Puja while we were going to Jabalpur. I spent a lovely time playing with them during the two days train journey. But we forgot to take Kajri while getting down the train and the very next day I realized that my Kajri was missing. Due to the grief of losing my dear Kajri, that Jabalpur trip was ruined completely for me. Even today I remember the grief I felt for losing Kajri.

• 2    -

 I have some really happy memories with my Grandma. Every day after returning from my neighbor’s house where I used to go for my tuition, leaving behind my school’s tin suitcase, I would run to my Grandma to see what snacks she had kept for me from her portion. The food that was kept was not the priority. What I eagerly waited to see was which colored paper packet carrying the food was waiting for me. I still remember her stained, red lips from eating paan and can still smell the Baba Zarda odor that used to come from her body. 

• 3   -   

My neighborhood friend Rajashree has a very different, poignant place in my heart. We were of the same age and studied in the same school till class two. Rajashree had both of his hands crooked and weak, his legs were very also short. Hence, on a regular basis, it became my habit to open his tiffin box during lunch break, carry his school bag throughout the day and help him while getting off the bus. Even after changing schools, our friendship remained an unbreakable one.

 A few years later, I went to Asansol to complete my graduation. But when I came back, I came to know that one winter night while returning from a friend’s house by cycle, Rajashree was hit by a dumper and he was no more. I was shocked to hear the news. I still find hard to believe this tragic end of my childhood friendship.

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Today I took a stroll down memory lane. Although I am saddened by recollection of a few of the memories, I am grateful for the happy ones I shared with them, be it a person or an object.

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