Ghosh Babu

“How much for the fish” he asked in a gruff voice and went on to examine the fish without bothering for a response. The fish seller with an otherwise sharp tongue and outspoken speech chose to remain silent.

Ghosh babu is very clever; no one can dare to mislead him.

He picked up the fish and pressed the flesh, it was firm and shiny, and the first stage of freshness was successfully cleared by the poor dead fish. He then went on to smell the fish; it didn’t smell “fishy”. Another stage cleared. The eyes and the gills were then scrutinised by the veteran. The bright red gills and the slightly bulging eyes of the fish brought faint smile on the face of the specialist. The fish seller knew that the scientific test is not yet over, Ghosh babu would also check fillets and steaks of the fish once cut and if the meat separates the sale would be abandoned followed by an array of offensive remarks. It must be some good deed of the fish and the fish seller in the past that the fish was finally purchased by the connoisseur. Regarding the price, the fish seller knew that Ghosh babu would have already scanned the market so offering the best rate with thin margin would have been the only respite. The fish now securely placed in the plastic bag, Ghosh babu strolled with a slight limp into the other part of the market.

In his early fifties, Ghosh babu is a long-familiar face in his neighbourhood. He often turns as political and sports commentator in the local club in front of the youngsters. He is always disagreeable about others’ views and is seen as an “insufferable know it all” fellow. He is undismayed by people laughing behind his back as he remains consumed in his own world of glory.

A cool breeze brings respite to most people but annoyance to Ghosh babu as his hairs get swayed exposing his baldness. He is however quick to extract his permanent companion, a comb, to arrange his hair. The long side hairs are combed the other way so as to cover the entire centre hairless scalp. Another inseparable companion of Ghosh babu is his black umbrella. If someone visits his office and not finding him in his seat, one can certainly assume that he must be somewhere around if his umbrella is found resting on the chair back. Talking about food is his favourite pastime.

“Aahha , darrun fish curry khelam!!!” could be heard every morning while he is seen enlightening a group of curious comrades.

Ghosh babu displays a lion like behaviour when he is in his locality but gets transformed to a wet cat when he ventures to any unfamiliar place for he knows that no one would marvel his self acclaimed cleverness there. Every evening while returning home, he is the swiftest to alight from the metro train and sprints towards the exit to catch the first auto rickshaw. Looking at him running then can even put Usain Bolt feel mousy. It is not that his wife would be waiting for him; it is just for some inexplicable reason, maybe to get into his own den so that he can roar and claim an unchallenged supremacy. However, just for information, his wife considers him to be not more than a thorn in the house that only eats, talks and complains and that too in large magnitude.

The same Ghosh babu becomes snail paced on his way to work. If he ever reaches office early, he prefers to while away time drinking tea in the nearby teahouse rather than starting to work early.

On few occasions when he gulps few pegs of whiskey with his friends he breaks into singing “Coffee houser sei adda ta, aaj aar nei….” Not that he misses visiting the Coffee House; he had never been there despite being in the same city all his life.

Another song that he sings with tragical sobriety is “Ke tumi, ke tumi, aamai dako, keno dure thako…” again never ever in his life has any girl..err..now maybe grandmothers’ age had ever called him romantically. However, the listeners to his soulful songs would get the impression as if he is recollecting his life’s beautiful memories.

Someone asked me curiously, who is this clever Ghosh babu. Well, I said you would find one in every turn if you happen to be in Kolkata!!!