Friday, September 11, 2009

MUSIC-Is this just a five letter word for me?

I was as fascinated by the rising and falling of notes along with a few words here and there as any other kid would be. It started with 'baa baa black sheep' and ''twinkle twinkle little star'. You can't really call them songs, but they did introduce me to the world of melody, or for that matter any 4 year old child, other than those who are made to join music classes at an early age (my kids surely will!). I listen to the recordings of my and my bro's singing on tape and laugh to myself about the level of confidence with which i used to sing without even knowing what the lyrics meant. I didn't even pronounce them correctly! I made up words which I don't know made what sense to me but I enjoyed it nonetheless! I used to pester dad to buy cassettes of 'Maine Pyar Kiya' and 'Saajan' kinda movies and listen to them on and on.

But that wasn't the starting of my addiction to music. We had a small tape-recorder with a few cassettes, and that was it. When I went to high school, my perspective changed a lot. Music was something which suddenly became very important. I started linking songs with people or incidents. Yeah, that's how it began. Being a teenager isn't easy. You start becoming aware of many things which you didn't really care of as a kid (Isn't a teenager also a kid?I feel so now when I look back at myself!). My emotional instinct got stronger, and music gradually became my best companion. I needed it right after entering the house, while studying, while relaxing, I wish I had music in classes too! At least some background to make them a little more interesting.

Dad had to get me a music system finally. And it belonged to me! Nobody else was as interested. Fast songs, slow songs, loud while mom and dad weren't at home,not so loud otherwise! When I was at home, I had it on most of the time. Mom used to get pissed off at times, but I never paid much attention.

Today, when I'm sitting in office and breaking my head over a piece of code or trying to analyze a bug, there comes a point when I just can't go on with it and I need something to take my head off it for a moment. It's music. When a take a walk outside and it's drizzling lightly, I have a soft romantic song playing near my ears. It's a heavenly feeling. When I'm travelling to or from work and I see the busy world outside with worried faces, music secludes me from them and takes me to a land of my own- peaceful and serene with no worries. When I'm in a damn good mood, I listen to fast beat songs and celebrate! These are only a few moments I can describe. There are many many more. I enjoy slow music when I am alone or with a bunch of people who want to listen to it the way I do. It's so relaxing! And when it comes to fast ones, it's better to have a group of friends and sing or dance along.

People sometimes ask me what the most beautiful moment of my life is. I can think of only one thing. I was on my way for some tuition when I was in 11th standard. It was a chilly night with lovely breeze. I was walking and suddenly, my ears were stirred by the plucking of guitar strings. I hadn't heard such wonderful melody before. I wanted to stand and listen. It was a perfect combination, with the moon playing hide-and-seek with the clouds and the light wind blowing at my face. I had to hurry up as I was getting late. I wish I could stay.

I have been speaking a lot about music. The readers must be wondering if I have ever made efforts to learn something. I learnt the piano for a couple of months when I was in 6th standard(I can hardly recall anything now!), and then the basic chords of guitar from my bro(who, by the way is an excellent guitarist) and some Rabindra Sangeet from an aunty in my neighbourhood. Nothing really lasted, sometimes because I was lazy and when I wasn't, I had some other commitments to follow. I will blame only myself, though. I wish I had a little more will power to carry on what I love. But here I am, sitting on a chair the whole day long and staring at the computer screen, speaking to clients, etc.

Music is something which has built a relation with my soul, it has not come in my blood or as a legacy. I get goosebumps when I listen to a song which touches something deep inside me. People walk in and out of my life but music never found its way out. I don't think it ever will. I don't want it to. When I am lonely, all I have to do is feel my pockets for my iPod. And then, enjoy the company of my best friend. It never deserts me. It has been my favorite way to live life till date.

Thursday, September 3, 2009

Trip To Niagara- Dedicated to You...MAA

All set and geared up for watching the Niagara Falls! I didn't sleep all night in fear of not waking up early. We had to be in 219 Quincy Ave before 6 a.m. We had everything ready- tiffins with variety of snacks, chips and biscuits flicked from office, water, camera. We reached before time. Our journey is something worth mentioning.

Bus 1 picked us and waited somewhere in Boston for about 20-30 mins. Then we were transferred to Bus 2 which broke down in the middle of a highway,2 hrs after starting. Our tour guide told us that another bus was coming from Boston. So you can guess how long we were supposed to wait. I don't remember how many hours passed by, but suddenly I felt the bus moving really really slow-like a tanga. Seemed like we were being towed away, but just a few inches. There was some murmur and excitement in the bus and we saw another bus coming to pick us. We assumed it to be Bus 3, but it was Bus 1 again! This was our temporary conveyance to a Mc D corner till Bus 3 arrived. An hour or two at Mc D, and finally we carried on with our real journey in Bus 3.

Photo sessions here and there-No, this one didn't come right, take another one! Right from 219 Quincy Ave till we reached Niagara and back to Windsor Gardens, the clicking never stopped. When it's time to take a snap, we usually wonder why we should take the pain to pose in front of the cam. But if we don't, we regret later. So it's better to capture these awesome moments as we encounter them. We don't know if we'll ever return.

We were supposed to go to 1000 islands first, but thanks to hopping in and out of buses 1,2 and 3, our plans got reversed. We reached Niagara. Lo and behold! There it was. I was amazed at its first sight. It was a huge mass of never ending water and white sprays with rainbows forming here and there. I looked at it and thought of the person who should have been here-Maa. The only thing I know about this falls is its name and that it is one of the biggest. Maa knows more than just that. I can paint a picture of her expression when she sees anything about Niagara on TV. I wonder what she'd feel if she actually went there. Will I be able to take her ever?

We took the Maid of the Mist ride. We were wearing blue raincoats and looked like cartoons. Yet we didn't miss a chance to click! We went a lot close to the falls till we had water spraying all over us. It was out of the world. Heavenly! I don't think I'm using the proper words to describe it, coz there aren't any. The falls has formed over thousands of years and is one of Nature's marvels.

The Maid of the Mist was followed by a walk up to the nearest point we could get to the falls. We took off our raincoats and allowed the sprays to moisten our faces and clothes. It was so refreshing! And of course, more pictures...

I bought whatever I thought would be the most fitting souvenir for Maa. The night view was enthralling, but in a different way. In the chill of the dark-blue, green,yellow and red lights flashed on the gigantic falls. Somehow reminded me of the rainbows formed during the daytime. All colors in VIBGYOR are fragments of one color- white. White- the color of Niagara.

Tired and cold, we crashed in our cozy hotel room. But we couldn't catch more than 3 hours of sleep. It was an early morning start to 1000 islands. We had an hour long boat ride. I didn't pay attention to the tour guide. I was enjoying the breeze and the view of the islands which didn't contain huge architectural monuments, but houses which were unique in some way of the other. There was a castle inside which I was dying to sent foot but couldn't. It's not because entry was restricted. These are the impositions of a packaged tour. It doesn't give us the freedom to explore on our own. Also, there was a house which was tilted at an angle and half immersed in water but never fell inside. The guide must have mentioned why, I was too busy wondering to listen.

We had a long drive back home. We were dead tired and waiting to get to our warm beds. We managed to catch the last train home. Missed the previous one by inches. If only the bus hadn't stopped to take some 'rest' in between. At least that's what our guide told us!

Niagara is a sight I'll never forget. You have to see it Maa...I'll make sure you will.

The Hard Way of Life - Just Move On...

There comes a moment in our life when we are forced to make a decision which our heart doesn't approve of. The battle between the heart and the mind is something familiar to every human. It has been going on for centuries now and will never end.

There is something called 'being practical'. What is it? We convince ourselves to be practical when we allow our mind to win. I don't think that is wrong. When we come to a point in our life to be able to distinguish between (a)what is good for us and (b)what is appealing but will not last long, we should be sensible enough to make the right choice. And I don't think I need to specify which one that is.

God I hate it when I face such a situation. There used to be a time when I listened to my heart and only my heart. Wow that sucked! It took me a really long time to realize how to say STOP AND THINK.

And now, that hour - when we learn to prepare ourselves for the decision we have taken. It is tough and we know that our life is going to change. But we also know that this is for our best. We need to make ourselves strong. How much ever we want to turn back, we should have the will power to move on.

The song below describes to a great extent in very simple words what our mental state would be in such a situation-

I BEGAN TO DRIFT AWAY
LISTENING TO THE SOUND OF FALLING RAIN
COULDN’T WAIT ANOTHER DAY
THERE WAS NO OTHER WAY

SAID MY GOODBYES AND NOW
THIS JOURNEY’S JUST BEGINNING
TIME TO MOVE ON AHEAD AND DRIVE

IT’S RAINING NOW,BUT I KNOW IT’S JUST A MATTER OF TIME
LET IT POUR,I’LL SOAK IT IN & I’M READY THIS TIME

IT’S SO UNREAL,YET I KNEW IT ALL ALONG
I BELIEVE YOU NOW, YOU DON’T HAVE TO SAY A THING
NO MORE TEARS TO CRY, NO MORE NEED TO LIE
RIGHT NOW I’M LEAVING FOR ME

SAID MY GOODBYES AND NOW
THIS JOURNEY’S JUST BEGINNING
TIME TO MOVE ON AHEAD AND DRIVE

IT’S RAINING NOW,BUT I KNOW IT’S JUST A MATTER OF TIME
LET IT POUR,I’LL SOAK IT IN & I’M READY THIS TIME

This song is by an Indian Band called Dream Out Loud. I love it.