Life in Khurda Road was changing, but not in the way Meena or her family had hoped. The air felt heavier, as though the town itself was holding its breath. Conversations at the local tea stalls grew hushed. The communal harmony that had made the neighborhood feel like one big family seemed to be fraying …
Part 10: Journeys Without Kasturi
The first morning without Kasturi felt unbearably quiet. Meena stared at the ceiling, hoping the hollow ache in her chest would fade with time. But the silence that had settled over her world was deafening. Breakfast was a subdued affair. Mrs. Ghosh placed a plate of luchi and aloo tarkari in front of Meena, but …
Part 9: In the Last Embrace
The day Kasturi was set to leave arrived faster than Meena could have prepared for. The Tripathis’ house was no longer the lively place it used to be. Boxes were stacked high, furniture covered in white sheets, and every corner seemed to echo with memories that would soon feel distant. Meena, who had been avoiding …
Part 8: Heartstrings and Horizons
It had been a week since the Tripathis had made their decision: they would move to the U.S once Kasturi's school session ended. Mr. Tripathi’s excitement was palpable—his brother had everything arranged, and this felt like the break he had been waiting for. Kasturi’s mother had begun making lists of what to pack and what …
Part 7: Grappling with Goodbye
It was a regular Tuesday evening in the Tripathi household. The sun was just beginning to set, casting a warm orange glow across the neighborhood. Kasturi sat at the dining table, scribbling in her school notebook, the smell of Chenna Poda (a dessert made from caramelized grated cottage cheese) wafting from the kitchen where her …
Part 6: Forays into School Life
Meena and Kasturi went to the same Government school as the other children of the neighborhood. They had their own gang with Meena, Kasturi, Bhola, Sukuma, and Narayani. Meena, in Class 4, and Kasturi, a year older in Class 5, weren’t in the same grade, but that never stopped them from being inseparable during recess …
Part 5: Experiencing Friendship
For Meena and Kasturi, friendship didn’t need grand declarations or extravagant gestures. It thrived in the small, unassuming joys of life, like sharing meals that felt like warm hugs. Sundays became Meena’s secret rebellion against routine. She would tiptoe out of the house, pretending to go play, but her destination was always the same: Kasturi’s …
Part 4: Discovering the Neighborhood
The thing about Khurda Road was that it wasn’t just a place—it was a living, breathing entity with a personality of its own. The streets were narrow, shaded by towering palm trees, and the houses that were identical in design but distinct in spirit. They stood like nosy relatives, always up in each other’s business. …
Part 3: Connecting with Kasturi
Moving into a new neighborhood wasn’t easy, especially for Meena. She missed her school friends, the familiar rhythm of Kolkata’s streets, and even the annoying sound of the fish vendor yelling under their old window every morning. Khurda Road felt quieter, slower, and, most of all, unfamiliar. Her first day exploring the neighborhood was more …
Part 2: Beginning at Khurda Road
The day the Ghosh family officially moved into their Khurda Road house, it was anything but smooth. With its red-tiled roof and a mango tree swaying in the front yard, the house seemed to breathe with an old-world charm, as if it had stories to tell. Inside, chaos reigned. Boxes lay half-open, furniture sat awkwardly …

