The olfactory receptors register memories in a better and customized manner. A particular smell exudes a long-lost memory resting somewhere deep inside the mind. I’ve experienced it a number of times. Like the flickering of a bulb, the memories have come to take me away with them….to some lonesome afternoon or sometimes a cheerful visage makes my heart happy as it resurfaces from the days of the childhood.
Last week, I visited a friend’s house, a small one-storey one situated a little far away from the humdrum of the city. It was a great afternoon spent sitting in the cozy armchair with a cup of tea and homemade delicious onion fritters. A vast stretch of the sky was visible from the balcony at the backside of the house we were seated, two frangipani trees were cradling the cerulean beauty. The trees were blooming with flowers and the occasional whiff resuscitated my memories of days long past.
Summer vacation was that time of the year when I was supposed to spend a few days like a free bird with no strings attached. That is, no regular study, no mandatory maths during the afternoon, and to top it all, no constant supervising by maa. Yes, summer vacation meant visiting my maternal grandfather’s house with happiness and independence galore.
There was a small garden in front of the house and, that was my very own heaven. I used to observe the beetles climbing up the stems, gossamer web of spiders reflecting rainbows when were kissed by sunlight and, the unknown, unrecognised, beauty of tiny wildflowers.
My favourite spot in the whole garden was under a big frangipani tree. I had spent long summer afternoons with a book and a bowl of sliced raw mangoes sitting under that tree. That tree knew many a secret of a teenage girl…her joy and pain. That tree was aware of her first crush, Feluda, the super sleuth of Satyajit Ray. And, the smell. The intoxicating smell of frangipani…. mellow, mellifluous, mature.
That day at my friend’s place transported me under that tree. Unknowingly, I stopped talking as I kept staring at the flowery branches. She asked me about the abrupt silence. A mild jerk and I were back to the present. I nodded and smiled as to assure her.
Some memories, some moments, can be cherished only with your own self. Once shared, the enchantment is lost. Those childhood trinkets, let it be.
A beautiful ode to your memories Maniparna–i loved it.
For me it is ‘raat ki raani’ which takes me back to my first home.Some connections are unbreakable.
Some memories must be protected and kept safe in our minds and hearts. Others, as you shared here, can bring us blessings of helping us to remember our own special trees, fruits, flowers and first childhood “crushes,” Maniparna.
You won’t believe what you did to me girl! Brought back so many happy memories of childhood and summer vacations, family times and teenage hysteria…thanks 🙂
So deeply evocative, what with the frangipani flowers, raw mangoes and balmy afternoons, that it stirred a nest of memories within, of school vacations gallivanting around vast tracts of palm fringed terrain studded with a variety of trees and ponds, of days spent in climbing trees, swimming in the ponds and relishing mangoes, jackfruits and sapodillas. Fifty years down the line, those ancestral properties have undergone radical transformations having passed on to outside interests. But the memories remain, leaping out like jack-in-the-box at the slightest touch, yours in this case…best wishes.
Childhood memories, they always remain with us, in the deepest core of the heart….ready to resurface at the slightest emotional touch. And, we generally enjoy this nostalgic feeling 🙂 thank you so much for such a wonderful comment…. 🙂
The fragrance of frangipani flowers transporting you back to your childhood days, when you would sit in the garden with a book and raw mangoes makes a lovely read Maniparna. Reading the post I recalled my summer holidays with my cousins, when we would get up in the morning and rush to the garden to pluck flowers for making garlands. 🙂
And btw like you, I too had a crush on Feluda.The character must have been the heartthrob of many girls I think. 😀 😀
Ah! memories…so dear, some of them so achingly precious, they cling to us, warm us like sunshine, brighten our hours, sooth our nerves, stir our souls, moisten our eyes, enliven our days, keep us alive…
I have written much about these friends who are always ready to welcome us into their clasping arms.
Your beautiful memories have stirred many such: I am sharing an excerpt from one of my poems from my book:
Life was filled with innocent joys
Childhood pranks, fascinating toys
Lots of friends, dreams so dear
Aspirations and goals to cheer….
So, beautifully written Maniparna, I was swayed by the flow of the narration. Indeed it is nostalgic and we all go through these bouts of recollection and reflection of good old days, the full freedom and the entire time at your disposal, especially the summer holidays. Most of us would have visited either the paternal or maternal side, the village or a small town where the life had its pace and the place had those rustic charm.
This is a beautiful feeling which cannot shared with all and everything we experience also cannot be fully shared, there are secrets and there are special moments which we preserve for ourselves only. We do talk to ourselves, and it could be anything and some may appear very silly today and some are so profound we may question how matured we were those days, was it me?
Yes, the tree, the flowers, the smell, the place, the whiff of breeze, the balcony wide open to the open sky, childhood memories and I liked the way you have put the “secrets of teenage girl…the joy and the pain”, we all have our little secrets and these always remain with us.
Thanks so reminding me of my good old memories…it was indeed a good feeling reading the post. It posted back to my past…
😀
Your comment always makes me smile… 🙂 Nostalgia and memories…they always dig up the best in our mind. I’m so happy that my words instigate your feelings of old days..of moments you cherished long ago… 🙂
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Deliciously evocative, and such eloquence too! Many congratulations on your writing; it is excellent.
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Thanks a lot. 🙂
I tried to open your site, but I think it’s temporarily down or something…couldn’t comment on the photographs… 😦
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Sorry about that, though I just clicked my name in my comment above and all worked perfectly well.
Anyway, all best wishes, Hariod.
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Maybe..I’ll try later… 🙂
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As you wish . . . 🙂
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Beautiful read Maniparna, and as usual lovely pics by you!
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Thank you so much… 🙂
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Beautiful memories and beautifully written 🙂
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Thank you… 🙂
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Lovely. And yes, some memories can only be cherished with our won self. Nostalgic indeed. 🙂
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own* self
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I got it… 😀
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Thanks, dear… 🙂
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A subtle Topic so well narrated.. Thanks for sharing, Maniparna!
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Glad you liked it….thanks for stopping by… 🙂
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Beautiful flowering tree.
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A beautiful ode to your memories Maniparna–i loved it.
For me it is ‘raat ki raani’ which takes me back to my first home.Some connections are unbreakable.
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Really…some connections never fade… 🙂 Thanks, Indu for stopping by… 🙂
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Beautifully written. :-). I have suddenly become nostalgic,
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Oh..glad you find it appreciable…thanks… 🙂
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Fabulous narration! Loved it Maniparna:)
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Thanks so much, Amitji… 🙂
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Is is just like experiencing Heaven on earth! O:) Very beautifully put dearie 🙂
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Thanks, dearie…glad you liked it… 🙂
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Written beautifully.Lovely memories and shots.:)
Cheers,
Sriram & Krithiga
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Thanks to both of you, Sri & Kri… 🙂
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Beautiful read Maniparna, and as usual lovely pics by you!
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Thanks, Indrani… 🙂
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So great that we can experience heaven on earth!
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Isn’t it? ^_^ …
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Yes – I think I can smell the frangipani now 🙂 My favourite flower fragrance.
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Mine too, along with Jasmine… 🙂
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true – and jasmine 🙂
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Some memories must be protected and kept safe in our minds and hearts. Others, as you shared here, can bring us blessings of helping us to remember our own special trees, fruits, flowers and first childhood “crushes,” Maniparna.
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Right, such memories can make us smile even in the toughest of time… 🙂
Thanks so much, Robin… 🙂
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Sweet smells of the tree and flowers! Thank you for sharing your sweet memory, Maniparna. 🙂
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Thanks a lot for stopping by, Amy… 🙂
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Oh I love this tree maniparna right from the time I didn’t know it’s name. The smell of the flower is so subtle and the tree looks so elegant ..
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I love it, too…and I love jasmine. Don’t know why I never feel much attraction to the queen of flowers, rose… 😀
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Beautiful writing Maniparna, you remind me of my childhood memories now 🙂
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Thanks, Indah….glad I could rejuvenate your memories… 🙂
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The sense of smell is deep within us and is the first to bring the memories. Very nice personal story that you tell us. 🙂
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Thanks, friend…childhood memories are always treasured. No matter how old we are…. 🙂
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You won’t believe what you did to me girl! Brought back so many happy memories of childhood and summer vacations, family times and teenage hysteria…thanks 🙂
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Thanks to you too sweety…nothing gives more pleasure when one can relate with my writings..:-)
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The pleasure is all mine dearie 🙂
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So sweet of you… 🙂
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Memories.. now that has made me nostalgic too ..reminds me of home
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🙂 nostalgia is highly infectious…. you know… 😛
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Yes.. and I am sure you know it does not take long or much to take me back..
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🙂 …
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captivating writing. something that touches the senses can activate those nostalgic memories. as if you could reach out and touch them.
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Exactly..it all seemed so real when the air became fragrant…. 🙂 Nostalgia..perhaps we could never get enough of it… 🙂
Thank you so much, Tom…
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you’re most welcome.
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🙂 …
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So deeply evocative, what with the frangipani flowers, raw mangoes and balmy afternoons, that it stirred a nest of memories within, of school vacations gallivanting around vast tracts of palm fringed terrain studded with a variety of trees and ponds, of days spent in climbing trees, swimming in the ponds and relishing mangoes, jackfruits and sapodillas. Fifty years down the line, those ancestral properties have undergone radical transformations having passed on to outside interests. But the memories remain, leaping out like jack-in-the-box at the slightest touch, yours in this case…best wishes.
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Childhood memories, they always remain with us, in the deepest core of the heart….ready to resurface at the slightest emotional touch. And, we generally enjoy this nostalgic feeling 🙂 thank you so much for such a wonderful comment…. 🙂
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The fragrance of frangipani flowers transporting you back to your childhood days, when you would sit in the garden with a book and raw mangoes makes a lovely read Maniparna. Reading the post I recalled my summer holidays with my cousins, when we would get up in the morning and rush to the garden to pluck flowers for making garlands. 🙂
And btw like you, I too had a crush on Feluda.The character must have been the heartthrob of many girls I think. 😀 😀
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Those were the days, na? Those mornings will never return..sigh…
Yes, feluda was a crush for long 😀 followed by Holmes..somehow, though I liked Byomkesh a lot, he was not the ‘crush’ type for me… 😀
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Okay, Sherlock or Byomkesh Bakshi were not the crush types for me, though I liked both a lot. 😀
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I think it’s time to write a blog post on our crushes…. 😀 😀
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He he…and don’t you wish the real ones get to read that. 🙂
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Aha..let them read… beneficial in both ways…a bit more traffic for the blog and, the confession would evidently make them happy…. 😛
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Hmm, smart thinking ! In that case can have some real but imaginary crushes as well. ..you know what I mean. 🙂
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Yeah, yeah…. I know…. 😛
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gorgeous 🙂
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Thank you… 🙂
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Ah! memories…so dear, some of them so achingly precious, they cling to us, warm us like sunshine, brighten our hours, sooth our nerves, stir our souls, moisten our eyes, enliven our days, keep us alive…
I have written much about these friends who are always ready to welcome us into their clasping arms.
Your beautiful memories have stirred many such: I am sharing an excerpt from one of my poems from my book:
Life was filled with innocent joys
Childhood pranks, fascinating toys
Lots of friends, dreams so dear
Aspirations and goals to cheer….
LikeLiked by 1 person
Indeed..the excerpt says it all for childhood memories.They are the sunshine…warm and joyous…:-) Thanks so much for dropping by… 🙂
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So, beautifully written Maniparna, I was swayed by the flow of the narration. Indeed it is nostalgic and we all go through these bouts of recollection and reflection of good old days, the full freedom and the entire time at your disposal, especially the summer holidays. Most of us would have visited either the paternal or maternal side, the village or a small town where the life had its pace and the place had those rustic charm.
This is a beautiful feeling which cannot shared with all and everything we experience also cannot be fully shared, there are secrets and there are special moments which we preserve for ourselves only. We do talk to ourselves, and it could be anything and some may appear very silly today and some are so profound we may question how matured we were those days, was it me?
Yes, the tree, the flowers, the smell, the place, the whiff of breeze, the balcony wide open to the open sky, childhood memories and I liked the way you have put the “secrets of teenage girl…the joy and the pain”, we all have our little secrets and these always remain with us.
Thanks so reminding me of my good old memories…it was indeed a good feeling reading the post. It posted back to my past…
😀
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Your comment always makes me smile… 🙂 Nostalgia and memories…they always dig up the best in our mind. I’m so happy that my words instigate your feelings of old days..of moments you cherished long ago… 🙂
Thanks a lot, Nihar… 🙂
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Thanks so much for sharing such a beautiful post. It took back to my good old days…indeed nostalgia and memories are brings about special feeling…
😀
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Absolutely…:-) have a nice week ahead, Nihar… 🙂
I’ve started reading your book..my thoughts about the first few chapters: Excellent… 🙂
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Hope you had a good weekend.
Thanks for taking your time to read the book. Always a pleasure to receive your views and reviews.
😀
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🙂 Thanks to you too…
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😀
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If tress could talk, About every time it offered you comfort and shade, I imagine it could tell many many tales 🙂
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Right you are, Andy 🙂 they are the silent listeners….
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Listeners exactly 🙂
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I just love the divine smell of frangipani flowers!
http://Www.docdivatraveller.blogspot.in
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Me too… ❤
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