blow, blow, thou winter wind

A good cold has come upon Kolkata. Busy areas generally sniff out cold only after midnight and cold lingers about until a morning dawns. The scenario, however, is completely different here, thirty or forty km away from proper Calcutta (Kolkata). The temperature differs around two or three degrees. Here where we live lazily lays a fair amount of greenery. Cold, therefore, is felt and can never be rejected coldly.

Yesterday I was out to be a part of the enlarged night. I had a poor shawl that begged of mercy from Nature. I tightened the rings of shawl to face the cold boldly. But mistakes were left. Some caves and cavities were wide open, and cold zephyr began tunnelling through them adroitly. I had nothing to do but console myself and push me forward with steady gaits. The roads were mystified, better to say "mist"ified. The high street-lights dimly hung. Cars were not at their breakneck speed. Familiar faces, unfamiliar by mufflers and monkey caps, were only recognized by shivering gestures. Somebody waved at me and piped out, "Evening walk?" Not at all!

I defended the cold quite well and returned home at about 10:15 PM. My mother doled out dinner. As soon as I swallowed it, a delicious slumber swallowed me.