| The 13th. of March 2010 arrived as a glorious Saturday morning, and the class of Digital Imaging (Advertising and MCMA students) assembled, somewhat bleary-eyed, yet lacking no excitement, on the steps of Campus 7 of AIUB. Transports were ready; after everyone finally made it, and a few rounds of tea to perk us up, we rolled out at nine-thirty at Niaz Sir’s (our course teacher Mr. Niaz Majumdar) signal. The sun was shining true and bright, the wind was gentle and cool. And we took the scenic route: Ashulia through Uttara, then through the EPZ area. After cutting through some highway traffic, we finally managed to reach our destination: a heavenly garden on earth. As soon as we entered the garden, it felt as if we had been assaulted (visually) with the equivalent of an aesthetic war hammer. We were speechless. Once we overcame our initial shock from the sheer beauty of the place, it was no holds barred. And after a snack of hot shingaras and tea, we were out again, refueled and rejuvenated.
Students arched back, squatted down, reclined, raised themselves on tip-toes, and twisted themselves to get the best shot possible. We clicked through the area like a bunch of vagabonds: we were drunk on the beauty, and even lost at times. It was simply a matter of following the sounds of laughter and chatter to join up with the main group again. This ritual continued for the remainder of the day, and Niaz Sir, with the patience of a saint, didn’t berate us for this.
The photographing, laughing, walking, sweating and enjoying never stopped. By the time we made our way back to the cottage, we had been on the field till almost three in the afternoon. Thoroughly dehydrated yet completely high on the celebration of life, we returned exhausted and spent, having taken at least a few thousand pictures between all of us, and everyone with a smile on their faces. The day just couldn’t get any better. But Niaz Sir took us to the next level by an awesome lunch, cooked by the traditional mud-stove: two varieties of saag, fried fish, chicken curry, bhuna egg, daal, veggies.
To call the entire day divine would be an understatement. We had no idea that a beautiful place such as that cottage existed anywhere near city limits. It was breathtaking, the place manicured to each blade of grass, every flower blooming and absolutely glorious under the clear blue sky and sunshine. We had one of the best Saturdays of our lives, and no one really wanted to leave! But all amazing things do come to an end. And the memories will be preserved, in our hearts and minds, and of course, on image. We are extremely grateful to Mr. O.K Chowdhury and his wife Mrs. Nina Shaheen Chowdhury (owner of the Garden) for allowing us to be there and their kind hospitality.
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