Yes, these are the two sons of Arun Bose, younger brother of Ashok Bose. I have a photo of both the boys with Hyama San when they were in Tokyo. I simply cannot find it now.
It was 1973 or 1974 when Arun went off to Tokyo to teach yoga at Hanari San's centre. I think it was mid 1975 when he requested that his wife, Swapna and his two boys come to him. I remember Baba taking me aside one afternoon to ask me something. He asked - "What should I do? Should I let Swapna go with the kids?" The only other grandchild then was Icecream, my eldest son, and Mamoni was very attached to all her grandchildren. She simply doted on them. Yet I told Baba what I felt from my heart - "Every girl marries with a dream of running her own home with husband and kids. I am sure Swapna does the same. Why not let her go and live independently with her husband in Tokyo?" Mind you it was my thought, but I had seen Swapna so happy ever since that phone call came from Arun. Okay eventually, Arun sent the tickets and completed the formalities and Swapna flew off to Japan with Bablan and Bhumba.
1976, at New Alipore, Baba read out a few letters from Swapna. I shall not go into the details because they will surely upset some sentiments. Well, ultimately, Swapna returned from Tokyo with the boys. I was told that Arun was suffering from tuberculosis and the Japanese doctors had given up hope. TB? Not curable in 1976? And that too in Japan?
I forgot to mention this. Even before they arrived, Baba sat down and consulted with me as to which school to admit the boys. After much brain-racking it was decided Nava Nalanda was the best choice. Next day I was sent off to the school at the tip of Southern Avenue. By the time I came out I had already got Bablan and Bhumba admitted into the school, even without the candidates being present. Yes this a grace of God that I have always been successful in my pursuits, without any name dropping or money incentive. More on that in a some other blog.
Coming back to the story, soon after Swapna and the boys came back ( I was still living with my two sons on the third floor of the main building, the entire building was on lease to Reserve Bank for its officers), I heard Arun was coming back for good. He came and hardly lived for 15 days. No one was allowed to go near him or talk to him. Bhabani (she was the Nepali maid I had appointed with Mamoni's permission when Icecream was just born) would set his food at the door for him to pick it up. First few days Arun lived in the second floor room of Rooma's house, later he was shifted to the room behind the office in the ground floor.
I never saw Arun vomitting blood or showing any signs of TB. Yet he was totally secluded. I remember a Kasmiri shawl-walla came in-between and so did a typical bengali puja sari-walla. Baba chose a shawl for me, I still have it. When it came to sari, I chose a typical "garoder sari" with the red border. I was picking up one for Swapna, when she said in bengali - Ami oke khorchar khaitai like rekehchi. Ami ota nobo na." I was shocked. This was said in the presence of the father of the man she was referring to. Yes, isn't it funny that some instances and words get ingrained into the brain and you wonder why!
Those 15 odd days I became very friendly with Arun, because I insisted I would visit him and talk to him everyday. Of course, Rooma threw a tantrum and influenced her father to object, too. I was threatened that I would get the contagious disease and so would my two sons. I was willing to take the risk. Oh we used to chat so many things. First he would address me as Tutubowdi and aapni. Soon I became Tutudi and tui. We had lots of laughter, discussed drawings, sketching, painting, artists. Arun was a great sketch artist and I was steeped in it from childhood. My ideal was Pablo Picasso. hahaha! In one of those days I left to visit the jain temple alone. I sat there and drew the temple from a platform oiutside the main temple. That is where I also met the wife of the Japanese Consul General, who I had taught yoga for sometime. She recognised me before I did. It was splendid. Anyway, when I came home and showed the sketch to all, Arun was very appreciative. I remember he was sitting under the jamrul tree in front of the office - it was late afternoon. I wonder if Bablan remembers the jamrul tree his grandmother had planted for her grandchildren. Very sweet fruits.
I remember packing lunch boxes for the boys - Bablan, Bhumba, Icecream and Vimto. Getting the kids ready for school, making them drink their milk - you know the usual. My sons were attending the local St,John's , right across the road.
How Arun died is another story for later.
Bablan and Bhumba used to go for tuition to Kumkumdi next door. I believe later both of them were admitted to some other school due to poor performance. Wonder how! Both were very bright kids and Bhumba was terrifically sharp. After my marriage to Ashok, Bhumba got attached to me and would tell everybody - ami Tutr chhele. Ami Jethur chhele." Hahaha!
Bhumba had thick black hair and very thick lashes, i see he still has. Once I remember I was lying down next to him in the aftrrnoon when I saw some white ant-like things roaming around his lashes. I was alarmed and immediately called Mamoni to come and see, as he was fast asleep. They were white lice! Of course, medical action was taken immediately and we got rid of them. We were all so scared that his eyes do not get affected. Thank God everything was okay.
Both Bablan and Bhumba were quite alarmed when I had my first-born. Now I understand they thought now Tutu (yes they used to call me by my petname) will not love us as before. So natural when we are small and have siblings coming in the way. My brother and I had the same fears when our sister was born. What if Mama does not love us any more? But it passes with time in due course. I have so many photos of them holding on to me or Icecream, all taken by Bishu mama.
It was 1973 or 1974 when Arun went off to Tokyo to teach yoga at Hanari San's centre. I think it was mid 1975 when he requested that his wife, Swapna and his two boys come to him. I remember Baba taking me aside one afternoon to ask me something. He asked - "What should I do? Should I let Swapna go with the kids?" The only other grandchild then was Icecream, my eldest son, and Mamoni was very attached to all her grandchildren. She simply doted on them. Yet I told Baba what I felt from my heart - "Every girl marries with a dream of running her own home with husband and kids. I am sure Swapna does the same. Why not let her go and live independently with her husband in Tokyo?" Mind you it was my thought, but I had seen Swapna so happy ever since that phone call came from Arun. Okay eventually, Arun sent the tickets and completed the formalities and Swapna flew off to Japan with Bablan and Bhumba.
1976, at New Alipore, Baba read out a few letters from Swapna. I shall not go into the details because they will surely upset some sentiments. Well, ultimately, Swapna returned from Tokyo with the boys. I was told that Arun was suffering from tuberculosis and the Japanese doctors had given up hope. TB? Not curable in 1976? And that too in Japan?
I forgot to mention this. Even before they arrived, Baba sat down and consulted with me as to which school to admit the boys. After much brain-racking it was decided Nava Nalanda was the best choice. Next day I was sent off to the school at the tip of Southern Avenue. By the time I came out I had already got Bablan and Bhumba admitted into the school, even without the candidates being present. Yes this a grace of God that I have always been successful in my pursuits, without any name dropping or money incentive. More on that in a some other blog.
Coming back to the story, soon after Swapna and the boys came back ( I was still living with my two sons on the third floor of the main building, the entire building was on lease to Reserve Bank for its officers), I heard Arun was coming back for good. He came and hardly lived for 15 days. No one was allowed to go near him or talk to him. Bhabani (she was the Nepali maid I had appointed with Mamoni's permission when Icecream was just born) would set his food at the door for him to pick it up. First few days Arun lived in the second floor room of Rooma's house, later he was shifted to the room behind the office in the ground floor.
I never saw Arun vomitting blood or showing any signs of TB. Yet he was totally secluded. I remember a Kasmiri shawl-walla came in-between and so did a typical bengali puja sari-walla. Baba chose a shawl for me, I still have it. When it came to sari, I chose a typical "garoder sari" with the red border. I was picking up one for Swapna, when she said in bengali - Ami oke khorchar khaitai like rekehchi. Ami ota nobo na." I was shocked. This was said in the presence of the father of the man she was referring to. Yes, isn't it funny that some instances and words get ingrained into the brain and you wonder why!
Those 15 odd days I became very friendly with Arun, because I insisted I would visit him and talk to him everyday. Of course, Rooma threw a tantrum and influenced her father to object, too. I was threatened that I would get the contagious disease and so would my two sons. I was willing to take the risk. Oh we used to chat so many things. First he would address me as Tutubowdi and aapni. Soon I became Tutudi and tui. We had lots of laughter, discussed drawings, sketching, painting, artists. Arun was a great sketch artist and I was steeped in it from childhood. My ideal was Pablo Picasso. hahaha! In one of those days I left to visit the jain temple alone. I sat there and drew the temple from a platform oiutside the main temple. That is where I also met the wife of the Japanese Consul General, who I had taught yoga for sometime. She recognised me before I did. It was splendid. Anyway, when I came home and showed the sketch to all, Arun was very appreciative. I remember he was sitting under the jamrul tree in front of the office - it was late afternoon. I wonder if Bablan remembers the jamrul tree his grandmother had planted for her grandchildren. Very sweet fruits.
I remember packing lunch boxes for the boys - Bablan, Bhumba, Icecream and Vimto. Getting the kids ready for school, making them drink their milk - you know the usual. My sons were attending the local St,John's , right across the road.
How Arun died is another story for later.
Bablan and Bhumba used to go for tuition to Kumkumdi next door. I believe later both of them were admitted to some other school due to poor performance. Wonder how! Both were very bright kids and Bhumba was terrifically sharp. After my marriage to Ashok, Bhumba got attached to me and would tell everybody - ami Tutr chhele. Ami Jethur chhele." Hahaha!
Bhumba had thick black hair and very thick lashes, i see he still has. Once I remember I was lying down next to him in the aftrrnoon when I saw some white ant-like things roaming around his lashes. I was alarmed and immediately called Mamoni to come and see, as he was fast asleep. They were white lice! Of course, medical action was taken immediately and we got rid of them. We were all so scared that his eyes do not get affected. Thank God everything was okay.
Both Bablan and Bhumba were quite alarmed when I had my first-born. Now I understand they thought now Tutu (yes they used to call me by my petname) will not love us as before. So natural when we are small and have siblings coming in the way. My brother and I had the same fears when our sister was born. What if Mama does not love us any more? But it passes with time in due course. I have so many photos of them holding on to me or Icecream, all taken by Bishu mama.
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