Daddy's Day Out

It was daddy’s day out. But it was kind of planned by daddy himself. He had received a mail about a tree sure hunt organized by a non-government organization (NGO) at the famous Lalbagh. Lalbagh the name of the biggest park in the city may sound a misnomer when one thinks of it as it is a verdant green space. So, I went into the history of how it got named that way. It was built by Hyder Ali and perhaps named after his wife Lal ji.

So, the daddy got excited about going to this park since he hasn’t been to this place for more than a couple of years. These days history is divided into the pre-COVID and post-COVID eras. The daughter too said yes but the wife had other engagements towards service to her old mother.

Daddy thought it would be a good idea to cycle down to the metro station four kilometers away. But the daughter thought otherwise. Mother too advised the daddy it would be too much of an exercise for anyone to cycle up and down eight kilometers and walk around during the tree sure hunt. So it was by a car that one went.

Daddy got up early as usual and prepared breakfast as only snacks were promised by the NGO at the end of the event. Except for the journey to the metro station the experience of traveling by metro was European by way of experience as daddy was always fond of describing. There wasn’t much waiting to do and the daddy-daughter duo got a place to sit. They got down at the majestic station and transferred to another line and a few stations ahead was Lalbagh. As the metro hurtled near the station one saw the tree line canopy as if it was from a poster.

The entrance to the Lalbagh bore a festive look. It was thronging with people of all age groups. Some dressed in sportive attires flaunting their muscles and some others flaunting their cellulites. Some busy vendors in their converted van were busy selling’ thindis’ (tiffin) and coffee on the opposite of the road.

Participants came in by the indefinitely stretchable time (IST) and we were on to our tree sure hunt. One of my teammates identified the African Balboa tree from the picture and described it as one that saves the animals during drought. As the tree grows it hollows out inside the trunk and stores water. A full-grown tree can store up to one thousand liters of water, a blessing indeed for the animals during drought. Many such wonders one learned during the walk and subsequent de-briefing. The event turned out to be a treasure trove of information.

By the end of this event, my right knee wrongfully reminded me of its existence by showing pain. The sitting break helped the ease pain. We marched on to our next leg of the schedule to Church Street not to pray but to prey on pizza. We found a bakery that makes sour-dough pizza, that was their unique selling proposition. The poster claimed that their dough fermented for nearly forty-eight hours and that was the secret of their flavoured and soft base. Once in while their pizza made out of sourdough was worth our dough in the pocket. One doesn’t feel like the fox vis-à-vis the sour grapes.

My daughter wanted me to show me one of the premises that they sell as office space. Her company works to make others work in their office space. They have come out with a variety of deals for individuals, start-ups, and even bigger companies to rent out their office space. For me a different generation used to simplicity in the office, the office space seemed something like outer space. There was a place for work, for leisure, to smoke on the balconies, chill out in the evenings, and wonder at the stars on the terrace. It all comes at a fancy price as she informed me. Yet their occupancy rate is one hundred percent and there is demand for more.

By this time, it has been nearly six hours of the day out and the day had warmed up considerably and the energies were down. It was time to head back home and rest, well-earned though. I enjoyed crossings’ words in the newspaper and tasted success.

It was a good end to the day when I wrote out this ode

Enter I did in the park

Greeted by the call of the lark

In the morning I saw people did bustle

However, no one did hustle.

I went into the silent space I heard the leaves rustle.

A runner timing the pace and toning up her muscle

Went on a tree sure hunt, admiring the tree standing in front

Never looked at a tree like this before, and my thoughts get on a spree.

A green park, where your woes you can park

In silence can ideas spark, my verses you can mark

For the lungs, breath of fresh air, for a change I am in no despair

Splendid nature here, I am aware, somewhere the children's cackle I did hear

How the time went no clue, from blue the moods took on wings and flew

Fruit salads served, salad days once again, a morning spent well, it was all one gain.