When I started writing about Chandonnogor, I believed I could finish it at one go, but then I ended up visiting the town, and the experience was so momentous that I decided to turn it into a 3 part mini-series. It begins at my decision to center my novel on this historical town and then visiting it to unearth a way deeper connection to the town. I believe it is a novella in itself.
Writing about my visit to Chandannagar is nothing short of overwhelming. I was in two minds about going because I was traveling alone, I was visiting the town for the first time, the weather forecast said cloudy with a side of rain. My resolve was dissipating with time.
But before Chandonnogore, which was the dessert in this 3 course affair, I had to meet my maternal aunt( in many ways I love her as much as my mom) and my cousin sister.
I was in Kolkata for my convocation and I had the Sunday to myself and I had chosen the day to channel my inner Vasco De Gama.
Perks of traveling in your hypomanic phase is that you believe the entire world is your oyster.
I landed in Kolkata on the night of Friday 1st, the convocation was scheduled for Saturday, Calcutta was unimaginably humid which was a minus, but then I was at my favorite aunt’s so it was balanced.
Saturday was quintessentially Kolkata i.e, both wet and humid. In the afternoon, I were greeted by torrential rains and thunder yells. My heart sank in the former, I wasn’t so sure about traveling to an unknown city in such horrid weather.
Anyway, I left my aunt’s for my Institute, and fell asleep under the crushing weight of my sinking heart.
The convocation was eventful and after a ‘spirited dinner’ in our honor, I went off to snooze.
The morning was sunny, and intended to jolt me towards starting my journey to Chandannogor.
Was I scared? Yes, absolutely, completely, unequivocally!
Why? Because I haven’t really solo travelled in a while, not after the lockdown, the quarterly trips to my parent’s or my in-law’s notwithstanding, I mean I’ve travelled with my partner and with the extended fam, but not alone, barring a few forgettable office trips.
So, I wanted to make the most of it and also was terrified by the supposed toll on my health ( I was coming off of a severe bout of viral fever).
I had numerous intrusive thoughts and then something very strange happened, so strange that it made me believe in destiny.
(To be continued….)
Fingers in symphony 