The Everyday Pen

Original title: Omohide poro poro Directed by: Isao Takahata Some movies are just have to fun to watch. Others are kind of stick with you without making a big deal about it. Only Yesterday is definitely one of those. I really liked how slow and relaxed it felt, and how it finds meaning in everyday stuff. I loved the farming scenes, the gradual color changes, the school play, the family's first experience of eating pineapple, and the small emotions of first love. One moment that stuck with me really was when the boy didn’t shake Taeko’s hand. Nothing big happened, but that quiet moment said so much. It also left me thinking about how there’s no use stressing over missed chances. There’s always another opportunity ahead if you just keep going forward. By the time it ended, I wasn’t overwhelmed or anything. I just felt calm. And honestly, that’s sometimes exactly what you want from a movie. If you enjoy quiet, reflective films that find beauty in ordinary moments, Only Yesterday is ...

For the last few days, it had been raining almost every afternoon. While I was in the library, I used to notice that most of the rain was coming from the west. The wind drived the rain in same direction, caused the rain water was seeping the western windows. But today, now, I felt something different. The rain was no longer arriving from the west. The wind was blowing from the south, and the spray of rain started touching the parts of a nearby house that had stayed dry until then. It was a small shifting, one that could easily overlooked if one was busy. And yet these, the very details I always noticed. Growing up in a village, we didn't rely on weather reports to understand changing the seasons; we learned also from the nature around us. The direction of the wind, the scent of wet soil, the clouds in the evening sky and the sounds of frogs after sunset; these were our weather forecasts. As I watched the rain today, I wondered whether this was the sign of the monsoon finally arrivi...

It was around mid of 2005 when I first started visiting our town library. I used to go there with a friend who was one class senior to me. After school, we often stopped by the library before going home. The place had a quiet charm—wooden tables, old bookshelves, and that special smell of books that even now feels like peace. At that time, I didn’t have a library card. I only went there to read books inside. My friend had his card, and I watched how he borrowed books to take home. It looked like a kind of freedom—to choose a book, sign it in the register, and walk away with it. I thought, maybe one day I would have my own card too. Then in 2006, when I was in class six, I finally decided to ask. One afternoon, I gathered a little courage and went to the librarian. Everyone called him “Library Sir or  Nabi da ” He was strict in looks but kind in heart. I asked softly, “Sir, can I also get a card?” He looked up from his register and smiled a little. “Of course,” he said. “But you hav...

Some days don’t just end — they stay in your memory for a long time. The Annual Sports Day of our college in 2025 was one of those days for me as it was the last annual sports competition in my college. After all the events were over, a friendly cricket match was arranged between the students and the teachers. I joined the teachers’ team. I was a little nervous but also excited because I hadn’t played cricket seriously in years. When my turn to bat came, it was the last over. Everyone was cheering loudly. I got just a couple of balls to face — but somehow, I managed to hit a few fours! That moment brought a big smile to everyone’s face. Our team’s captain was so happy that he handed me the ball for the first over when we started bowling. It was like a small reward, and I felt proud to contribute. The game went on with laughter, small jokes, and friendly competition. Everyone wanted to win, but no one wanted to lose the fun. We all shared snacks and drinks like old friends during the in...

I remember an incident of last year when I was wandering after finishing my part-time photo print work in  Berhampore . The road was busy, and the market looked lively. People were moving in all directions, carrying bags, calling out to each other, and selling their goods. Among all the stalls and shops, one thing caught my attention—a man selling colourful wool. His stall was small, but the wool he displayed looked bright and beautiful. Red, green, blue, yellow, white—he had so many colours neatly arranged. I stopped for a moment to look closer. The man noticed me and smiled. I smiled back. There was something friendly about him that made me feel comfortable. We started talking. I asked him where he came from and how he managed to set up in this busy market. He told me he had been trying to sell wool for many years, but the business was not growing as he hoped. His voice had a little worry, but also determination. He said he always tried new things, trying to find what people like...

Some months ago I went to an insurance office to submit some papers. The room was crowded, and the line moved very slowly. The staff behind the counter seemed busy or maybe tired. People waited quietly. Some were standing, and some were sitting on the edge of plastic chairs. There was a woman, maybe in her fifties, standing near the counter with a small file. Every time she went forward, they refused her papers. They said something was missing or not filled properly. She looked helpless. I could see she didn’t know much about forms or office work. After a few minutes, I went closer and offered to help. She smiled a little and gave me her papers. Together we filled the missing parts, line by line. Just as we finished, the office clock struck one. “ Lunch break ,” someone said, and the staff got up, leaving everyone waiting again. The woman sighed. I told her to sit, and we both waited. I looked out of the window. The sky was bright and calm. A few pigeons were flying slowly over the bui...