A Bengali who is today a German

Here is the seventh unforgettable character in my life …

It was a meeting after more than twenty years – I was apprehensive, as was my brother. The person in question had his own distinct set of values that he treasured. He had been in Germany for many years and has a German wife. The two of them are known in the neighborhood as unsocial because they did not mix with others. When he peered at us, recognized us and opened the gate of his bungalow, it was a relief to us.

His is a story of opportunities gone waste. In his college days, he was a star NCC cadet, had won many laurels. It was his ambition to join the Army. But, his height was the factor that denied him the chance. He, therefore, went to BHU and did his degree in Agriculture. At that time, a group of Germans had come to BHU on some student exchange program. He became friendly with them and, they helped him go to Germany. He was working on his Doctorate but his research fell into the wrong hands and he was disillusioned and disappointed.
In desperation and for survival, he joined a Bank. Later he got married and stayed on in Germany. After the death of his parents, he came back to his home on a permanent basis and brought with him a whole lot of physical assets as memories. Among them was a huge casket that used to be popular in the time of sailing ships and pirates – the casket belonged to the grandfather of his German wife.
They do not have any children and, at an age of nearly eighty, both are always on their feet. They look after their garden that stretches from the ground floor to the second floor. When he brings home chicken, he carves out the boneless portions and sends them upstairs to his wife – she prepares it in true German style. He, however, cooks the remainder with plenty of spices and relishes the preparation, Indian style.


Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org

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