Alone in Muscat - Not anymore

They say that time flies. And they say the truth. It really flies. Because, today, sitting here alone in a room filled with darkness, I can see the times flying back at me. The party is just over, and the rumbles are turning into rustles. And what a party it was! It was my Farewell Party from Muscat!

Alone in Muscat, not anymore? Not anymore in Muscat, to be precise! And as the last 14 months rushes towards me to engulf all my emotions, I stood there speechless and all I could utter was "Thank you very much"! That's all! Yet I had to say so many things, too many for me to handle into one small speech. And "Thank you very much" is all I could say.

The day I landed in Muscat for the first time on 31st August, 2008, one Mr Sanjoy Sengupta, my Sanjoyda, visited me on the same evening and found me a house. Where as for the same task, Sayantan spent 2 and half months during April to June. I was blessed from the first moment itself.

I made many friends as time went by. But none better than Guddi, Sayantan's daughter, who is now almost three. It was as experience to see her grow by the each passage of a moment. Yet it reminded me what I missed for being away from my own son!

Alone in Muscat, yet not so lonely! There was Somnath, in a sense my first family member in Oman. The flat I got was as a family man, whose family was to join soon. Somnath moved in with me instead! I really do not know, what my landlord thought about me and my family! And even when Somnath had to leave Muscat under unfortunate conditions, my second family member Manomayda joined in! "For Heavens's sake, Debo! Not another one!" was what my landlord thought, but he was open minded enough to let us stay through. And that we have done till date. And My landlord's heart was strong enough to take the news that Somnath is now back in Muscat, and has stared staying with me!!

So many glorious moments flashes across. Anirbanda becoming a proud father, is one of the major ones. I remember seeing the little angel for the first time in the Atlas Hospital.

Sharing our thoughts across the blog with Sujatadi, whose comments, criticism and praise again inspired me to take up the weapon mightier than the sword with renewed interest.

Mademoiselle Toshali and Monsieur Saumya and our grand trip to the Al Sawadi beach, or may be one of the many rendezvous with Sheesha at the Al Shatti beach or even the ice cream scoop at Cold stone.

Arya Sarkar and his India TV, Sujitda with his "Bloody" and "Haramjaada", Luchi at Sayantan's house, Rupa and her list of unseen Hindi movies or Manomayda with one of his most impossible made up stories!

Be it testing the recipe of Pollo con dos Caballos or be it hopping around some buffet tables anywhere in Muscat for Lunch.Walking with the crowd through the Ruwi High Street or the late night stroll around Al Akhtam. May be creating a storm in a tea cup or redefining the universe on the Lunch table!

Finding solace on lonely evenings at Sayantan's place, or may be freaking out on a shopping spree before a planned vacation.

And the very fresh memoirs of the Nizwa Fort.

And in between the frequent visit to Kolkata!! And Coming back from Kolkata only to plan the next one!

We not only keep on collecting memories along our life path, we keep on gathering friends as well. Alone in Muscat - Not anymore really, as now it feels that the journey through Muscat was not that lonely after all.

Alone in Muscat! Not Anymore!