Sep 19, 2012

The power of Music



Arvind moved to Denmark from India about a month ago. He switched jobs to earn more money. Not good at making new friends, he's been feeling lonely out there.

Bored of sitting alone at his house on a Friday night, he decided to take a walk in the neighborhood. It was snowing outside. The breeze caused the snow flakes to move around randomly. They brushed his face and lifted his mood up a bit. "Each snowflake is unique, I've read it somewhere", he recalled. As he walked further with a lighter mood, he started reflecting on his decision to move out of India and about being social.

He spotted a pub on the way. He stopped and observed the pub from across the street as he lit a cigarette. It looked like a happening pub. People coming out of it seemed happy and people going in looked excited. Everytime the door opened, he could listen to the song that was being played inside. The music was pop, his favorite genre. The song being played was also one of his favorites.

He finished his cigarette and threw the butt away. "What will I do inside alone?", he thought and started walking again. He took a few steps further but then suddenly turned back towards the pub. The DJ enticed him by playing one more of his favorite songs.

He sat at the bar and ordered drinks. He spent a couple of hours there, soaked himself in to the music, got moderately drunk, but spoke to none.

Pop music had set the mood for the party. At midnight, however, the DJ surprised everyone. He played a Bollywood song - Mayya Mayya. The song had Hindi lyrics, an Arabic feel and a global treatment to it. 

People looked at each other with amusement and started enquiring with each other about the song. Thirty seconds in to the song, many started enjoying the fresh sound. Two minutes in to the song, they started shouting "mayya mayya". They were alien to the lyrics but they could anticipate when "mayya mayyawould come in the song.

Arvind sat there smiling, observing the new body language of people. He could sense the exhilaration. "Such is the power of music", he thought. A girl walked up to a smiling Arvind and asked, "Do you know the song?". "Yes", said Arvind. "Can you please write it down for me, I have to download it", the girl requested. "Of course" said Arvind and wrote it down for her. She introduced him to her group of friends. Arvind spent the next two hours with her group, discussing about Music, India, Denmark and the song Mayya Mayya.

At around 2 am, he came out of the pub and started walking back to his house. It was still snowing.

"After all, I'm not so bad at being social", he thought.

The snowflakes brushed his face again. "They may be unique in structure, but they aren't actually that different from each other", he said to himself.

10 Comments:

avsc said...

Interesting and mystical...I sense a Paulo Coelho in making :)

Mohit said...

How was this not a karaoke :P

Vinay Sharma said...

AVSC - Interesting and mystical tak hi theek tha yaar :)
Moti - LOL!

Kshitij KK Khurana said...

Nice :) You are writing deep stuff due.. but good stuff.

And all your stories are starting with these fictional characters and fictional settings. I know that's what happens in fiction. But there's something else you do. Can't put a finger. But when I read, I know it's you writing.

I enjoyed the post. Snowflakes to human comparison is pretty good.

You know what - I think you should participate in this BAT (blogaton). I am sure you know what's it all about - people deciding a topic, writing a post on it on a specific day.. and then voting for each other to determine a winner. That way, TRUST me, you will write more posts. The topic of this BAT is 'An Untold Story'. The date is 7 Oct. The link is www.blogaton.in

In case you want more info, do connect. You can write your post beforehand.. just have to publish that day.

And in case you do decide to join, you must first become a member by liking the page. Very easy. Go for it.

Especially when India has crashed out ;p. Sob sob. Where's the tissue.

Vinay Sharma said...

Thanks dude. I always look forward to your comments.

Let me give this BAT a try. I already have "An Untold Story" in mind :)

Kshitij KK Khurana said...

Thanks.

Alright! I will see you then. Do read their rules, they're easy to follow. Connect if you have any q.

prathamesh said...

couldn't agree more...

Unknown said...

Missed reading your blog for a long time.
Don't know why but feel bit relaxed after reading :-)

Unknown said...

Missed reading your blog for a long time.
Don't know why but feel bit relaxed after reading :-)

Vinay Sharma said...

Thanks, Ajay. Why don't you connect (google) with the blog. It'll get you the updates :)