The Doe-Eyed Damsel

“There is a lot to do in life rather than zeroing in on the perfect color of crimson for a wedding trousseau”, thought Tanaya, sitting on the porch of her palatial villa, in Ballygunge Circular, one of the most posh localities in the heart of Kolkata. It was just a couple of months to go before she got married to the perfect man any girl could ever get as a life partner. Being a typical case of born with the silver spoon, Tanaya was not a typical brat, with her head in the clouds. Her parents had left no stones unturned, to turn her into the clichéd, high society diva. The convent educated, piano playing, globetrotting beautiful damsel was everything a 24 year old wanted to be, but her heart lay somewhere else. The wealth, the glitz and the glamour of her own high society life made her feel claustrophobic. “I wish I could be me!” thought Tanaya.

Later that evening, Tanaya and her family went out for dinner to Park Street, the place for the party people in Kolkata, with some of the best pubs and restaurants, in the city. They entered the Blue Fox, and ordered Chinese. “Tani…” said Mr. Basu, Tanaya’s dad and an MLA in the ruling party in the State, a well know businessman and a socialite in Kolkata, “what are you thinking of dear? Almost every time I try to talk to you, you are lost in your own world...What is the matter?” Tani, who was staring at the contenders of the table beside hers, turned to look at her dad, and with same thoughtful manner she uttered, “Do you really love me Baba?”, “Not again Tani...why do you keep asking me this, you know sweetheart, how much I…”, “ Whatever…can we order some drinks as well?” said Mrs. Basu “…and what boring music are they playing here, it would have been better if we could have been to the Manchanda’s party instead of coming here, for a so called family dinner”. Tanaya looked over at the family she was looking at all this time, just like her family, a father, mother and their teenage daughter, eating, laughing and feeling each other’s emotions without being nudged to do so. Tears started welling up her pretty eyes. After forcing the food down their throats the Basus went back to their daily lives. Mr. Basu to his office for a meeting, Mrs. Basu to her friends late night party, and the doe eyed Tanaya to the Nandan.

Nandan, the cultural capital of Kolkata, the place for art exhibitions, musical programs, Film Festivals and poetry recitals. The only place where Tanaya could connect, in the entire city’s hustle-bustle. Here people were really not bothered, about what others say or do, there were people from all walks of life, students, teachers, professionals, lovers but all with a true passion, a passion for creativity and passion to preserve the culture of this old city of Kolkata frozen in time. This was the place which rendered to Tanaya the peace that she yearned for. In this tantalizing world of opportunities, rarely do you get to do what you really wish to, but Nandan unleashed that person in every such tormented soul to come out of their trepid souls and be what they really are. Tanaya took out her handmade diary, from her jhola, and started penning down her thoughts. Her own soul and Nandan’s ambience seemed to be speaking to each other:

Life is a puzzle, pretty and fair,

Take it on and live it, everyone does dare,

Some find solace, and some despair,

But life moves on, coz it can’t stop and care.

Look into your eyes, and see what they say,

Could you win this game and be the Master of this Maze,

Or would you sit in a corner, eyes in a hollow gaze?

It may seem too much of a trouble to make,

A place in this world, with so much at stake.

Sit back and think, does it make sense,

To brood over matter and make it more dense?

Live life to the fullest coz you get it once,

Think over it, do you want to miss this chance?

Life is a gift that you earn every day,

Why not make the most of it,

In a happy and desirable way!

She read through her lines once again, and in her own words she found the answer to her questions...her questions about life and love. The answers to the despair and gloom she felt, and a whole new life unfolded in front of her. She looked up at the sky with gratitude in her heart, and alacrity in her soul to start a whole new life in a whole new way.