Mainak Biswas 1 Ananya stepped off the train at Howrah Station, her senses instantly overwhelmed by the cacophony of honking cars, hurried footsteps, and the faint aroma of incense mingling with street food. Kolkata during Durga Puja had transformed into a living, breathing festival. The streets glowed with colorful lights, pandals stood like temporary palaces adorned with intricate idols, and the air was thick with the rhythm of dhak drums and chants. For a moment, she simply stood there, letting the city wash over her, a strange combination of familiarity and estrangement tugging at her heart. She remembered the narrow…