" Let me take you far away, you'd like a holiday" - Holiday, Scorpions
My introduction to Scorpions was merely coincidental.My first year in college and I got exposed to bangla rock very soon [ That was the golden age of bengali rock]. And while enjoying the Bengali rockers, i wanted to increase my rock knowledge by listening to english alternative and hard rock. Though our class was very much culturally inclined, among the 43 people only one used to know to play guitar. That was Piku...Abhinandan Ghosh. All of 5 feet 2, piku was a powerhouse of enthusiasm. He is the one who had given me the audio cassette called 'Best of Scorpions', and he had specifically mentioned about the song 'Holiday'. The song is 11 minutes long and the prelude itself is about 3 minutes. A masterpiece in its own right, 'Holiday' takes you to the peak of escapism and then suddenly brings you back with a ray of hope. The song took no time to be one of my favorites, and so did Piku...This song is always for you my friend...
Piku used to be with me in almost everything that I did in college, Be it playing battleship sitting at the last row in UB sir's class, or visiting chandni chowk after college hours and eating beef biryani in A K Alam restaurant. Watching a movie in the Rs. 15 balcony of New Empire, or tryin to prove his fast bowling skills in Harish Mukherjee park, piku was the best companion anyone could get. The best thing about Piku was, he was always there whenever any of our other friends needed him. For Kingshuk, he was the younger brother, for Philomel, he was the best friend, for Souvik, he was the philosopher and guide, for me... I was just lucky to have met someone like him, in the first day of our college.
Coming from a small village, studying in kolkata, was a big thing. Moreover, i was studying English literature, without proper spoken english skills. Piku understood that in the first day itself, and he put forward his helping hand at the first meeting itself. Time flew by, Piku came home sometimes. Be it playing cricket or the food my mom used to make, he thoroughly enjoyed it. After college life he went to Chennai, and me Bangalore. Then also whenever both of us are in Kolkata, he made it a point to meet me, either over dinner at scoops,
esplanade; or a quick bite in KFC lindsay street.
From college days, piku wanted a girl in his life badly, tried his luck many times, never suceeded though. The last chat I had with him, standing near Rabindra Sadan metro station,; that he wanted to get married by december 2010.That was January 2009, we went to buy Kingshuk's wedding gift together, we were waiting for Philo and planning his marriage. Little did I know, that would be my last meeting with him. He passed away in May 2009, following a road accident. I didn't believe it, I still dont believe it, I am scared to go to Kolkata now. Every place in Kolkata will remind me of piku. His presence lingers in my everyday life, be it the first number in my mobile phonebook, or the first name in my facebook friend list. Still at nights when I check my orkut profile, I open his scrapbook and try to write something, try to talk to him, but my wet eyes never let me do that.
Piku... wherever you are, I am sure you are happy and enjoying the holiday, i will come someday to spend the holiday with you. I owe you a packet of Davidoff cigarettes, will give you once we meet. Miss you a lot bro...
My introduction to Scorpions was merely coincidental.My first year in college and I got exposed to bangla rock very soon [ That was the golden age of bengali rock]. And while enjoying the Bengali rockers, i wanted to increase my rock knowledge by listening to english alternative and hard rock. Though our class was very much culturally inclined, among the 43 people only one used to know to play guitar. That was Piku...Abhinandan Ghosh. All of 5 feet 2, piku was a powerhouse of enthusiasm. He is the one who had given me the audio cassette called 'Best of Scorpions', and he had specifically mentioned about the song 'Holiday'. The song is 11 minutes long and the prelude itself is about 3 minutes. A masterpiece in its own right, 'Holiday' takes you to the peak of escapism and then suddenly brings you back with a ray of hope. The song took no time to be one of my favorites, and so did Piku...This song is always for you my friend...
Piku used to be with me in almost everything that I did in college, Be it playing battleship sitting at the last row in UB sir's class, or visiting chandni chowk after college hours and eating beef biryani in A K Alam restaurant. Watching a movie in the Rs. 15 balcony of New Empire, or tryin to prove his fast bowling skills in Harish Mukherjee park, piku was the best companion anyone could get. The best thing about Piku was, he was always there whenever any of our other friends needed him. For Kingshuk, he was the younger brother, for Philomel, he was the best friend, for Souvik, he was the philosopher and guide, for me... I was just lucky to have met someone like him, in the first day of our college.
Coming from a small village, studying in kolkata, was a big thing. Moreover, i was studying English literature, without proper spoken english skills. Piku understood that in the first day itself, and he put forward his helping hand at the first meeting itself. Time flew by, Piku came home sometimes. Be it playing cricket or the food my mom used to make, he thoroughly enjoyed it. After college life he went to Chennai, and me Bangalore. Then also whenever both of us are in Kolkata, he made it a point to meet me, either over dinner at scoops, esplanade; or a quick bite in KFC lindsay street.
From college days, piku wanted a girl in his life badly, tried his luck many times, never suceeded though. The last chat I had with him, standing near Rabindra Sadan metro station,; that he wanted to get married by december 2010.That was January 2009, we went to buy Kingshuk's wedding gift together, we were waiting for Philo and planning his marriage. Little did I know, that would be my last meeting with him. He passed away in May 2009, following a road accident. I didn't believe it, I still dont believe it, I am scared to go to Kolkata now. Every place in Kolkata will remind me of piku. His presence lingers in my everyday life, be it the first number in my mobile phonebook, or the first name in my facebook friend list. Still at nights when I check my orkut profile, I open his scrapbook and try to write something, try to talk to him, but my wet eyes never let me do that.
Piku... wherever you are, I am sure you are happy and enjoying the holiday, i will come someday to spend the holiday with you. I owe you a packet of Davidoff cigarettes, will give you once we meet. Miss you a lot bro...
this is by far your best...
ReplyDeletei mean i dunno... i just made me.. almost cry!
beautiful...
that's why i hate friends... they always make you cry..
I completely agree with Noyon. This is just excellent. I had tears in my eyes (and my colleagues were giving me strange looks)
ReplyDeleteits excellent!
good one mate
ReplyDeleteam all tears. made me remember so many things. Still now whenever I visit park street the first thought that comes to my mind is about Piku. I miss you so much. I miss those moon lit nights when you over the phone used to describe me the beauty of the night and i used to listen ardently...and the long walks in park street and landsdowne. Miss you abhi.
ReplyDelete