Extended Winters
Kolkatans have, perhaps, never had it so good. Just when the mercury had startedrising and people were mothballing their woolens, cold winds started sweeping inonce again, sending temperatures plummeting. It has even started raining,sending Kolkatans into paroxysms of shivering. And a cursory look at thestreets, or people walking on them, would make any observer believe it's snowingin this city. Wrapped in thick woolens from head to ankle, including theregulation monkey cap, most, however, have just a pair of slippers on. "Thandalegey jabey" (you'll catch a cold) is the most common refrain amongBengalis--and it's usually over-insulated women who belt out this cautionaryline to their children/husbands, sending the latter squirming into another layeror warm clothing. It's a treat to watch the morning walkers, or at least most ofthem: they quite resemble Eskimos in the height of the Arctic cold. Pray, why doKolkatans have to transform themselves into jokers every winter season? Whycan't they simply enjoy the cold instead of going to such great lengths to wardit off? Because, well, 'thanda legey jabey'. As if catching a cold means the endof the world; but then, try saying that a Bengali woman.
Mismatch
This has become a sickening ritual--industrialist comes to town, is requested byBuddhadeb Bhattacharjee's minions to meet the CM, the meeting continues beyondthe scheduled 30 minutes during which Bhattacharjee reels out areas ofinvestment and the sops on offer, industrialist emerges 'impressed' to beconfronted by a gaggle of reporters and flashbulbs, makes some vague promisesabout giving the idea of investing in Bengal a serious thought, sings paeans toBhattacharjee's "dynamic", "bold" and "visionary"leadership (wonder why all the moneybags use exactly these terms; are theytutored before they meet the media?) and are driven away like VVIPs in amotorcade complete with siren-wailing and red light-flashing police escorts,most never to be heard of again.