After that rather unexpected but absolutely amazing lunch, we got back into the car and resumed our journey towards our original destination for the afternoon. But, as is often the case with our Saturday outings, the plan wasn't quite done changing.
We decided to take a slight detour towards Gariahat Market.
Now, finding parking around Gariahat on a Saturday afternoon is hardly something you look forward to. We drove around for a bit, looking for that elusive parking space which, in this part of Kolkata, can sometimes feel like you've stumbled upon a rare archaeological discovery.
Eventually, we managed to park and made our way into the market.
And then came the surprise.
Gariahat Market had changed. And changed quite dramatically.
The first thing that hit us was the sheer amount of space. The second was how clean it looked.
In fact, for a moment we were a little confused about where we were.
This was Gariahat?
The market that I remember as a glorious maze of shops, people, merchandise and, most importantly, shopkeepers extending their displays well beyond the boundaries of their own shops?
It was almost unrecognisable.
For years, the common areas had gradually become extensions of the shops, with clothes, footwear, bags, household goods and pretty much everything else spilling out into the walking space. Navigating through the market often meant squeezing past displays, shoppers and fellow pedestrians, all while trying not to knock something over.
But this time, most of that had disappeared.
The shops had been pushed back into their proper spaces and suddenly there was room to actually walk through the market.
And what a difference that made!
I had heard that Minister Agnimitra Paul had visited the market and conducted a clean-up drive, but hearing about something and actually seeing the results in person are two very different things.
This was impressive.
Of course, old habits die hard. We did notice some shops already beginning to inch their merchandise back into the common areas. Just a little here... and a little more there.
I suppose they'll discover the consequences of their discretion if and when she comes back for another inspection!
But for the moment, shoppers can actually walk around comfortably, browse the shops and, quite remarkably, see the floor of the market.
Hopefully this isn't just a temporary makeover.
And while we're at it, perhaps the same treatment could be extended to the pavements around Gariahat and Rashbehari Avenue.
Now that would be something.
Imagine being able to walk along those pavements without having to constantly dodge shop extensions, parked vehicles, hawkers, people and whatever else happens to have occupied the footpath that day.
One can dream!
Anyway, our business at Gariahat was done and we got back into the car and continued towards our next destination — Metro Cash & Carry.
And that's where we got our first real indication that the next big Kolkata season was just around the corner.
Right at the entrance was a Durga idol.
Yes, that time of the year was already beginning to make its presence felt.
The Durga Puja shopping season is almost like a festival before the festival itself. The moment the idols, decorations and Puja-themed displays start appearing, you know Kolkata is slowly beginning its annual transformation.
Interestingly, though, once inside Metro Cash & Carry, we were quite happy to discover that the Puja shopping frenzy hadn't quite reached there yet.
Unlike Gariahat, where the signs of shopping for the month ahead were already very much visible, things inside Metro were relatively calm.
Which suited us perfectly.
We had our weekly grocery shopping to do and managed to get that out of the way without having to fight our way through hordes of Puja shoppers.
And since we were already there, I decided to take advantage of the opportunity and squeeze in a little Puja shopping of my own.
After all, if Kolkata is going to spend the next few weeks getting ready for Durga Puja, I suppose I should make some contribution to the process too.
So, from an unexpected craving for Chole Bhature, to sandwiches, a surprisingly transformed Gariahat Market, and finally our weekly grocery run with a little Puja shopping thrown in...
What had started as a simple Saturday lunch was turning into quite a packed afternoon after all.
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