Conversation with Myself

Lately I have been listening to Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam songs because of the movies I have been watching. I came across a Tamil or Telegu (I haven’t been able to differentiate between the two languages yet) song sung by Shreya Ghoshal, her voice does have that estacy that takes you to a melodious trance. But, the song she was singing, something was lacking. That accent of a native speaker, which isn’t acquired just by singing the songs in the language or knowing the language in conversational capacity. This reminds me various established Bollywood singers like Arijit Singh, Mohit Chauhan, Shaan, Sonu Nigam, Sunidhi Chauhan, etc singing in regional languages like Bengali, Gujarati, Malayalam, Tamil, and, Telugu. Immediately, India’s recent famous phrase comes to my mind, vocal for local.

Why would the people producing the music in regional language want to collaborate with established Bollywood singers and bear their high cost and tantrums in the process, when they have beautiful talent in their own locality. In a speedy need of creating only viral songs with more channels to sell their music it is more natural for the music composers to work with established singers of different language to attract their loyal fans. It is similar to a growing business, after we have acquired local market, we move to neighboring market. But here, are the loyal fans listening to the music?

We have been consuming the music that we have been served. Some songs catch attention of the audience very fast and some take time. There are many players in the market, many mediums of accessing music, that the audience just consumes what ever is provided to them complaining about lack of good quality of songs lately. Songs sung by singers with no native language skills would make it difficult for the audience to connect with, sending the vibes of an outsider singing the song. We know that we would only listen to that particular song sung by our favorite singers in any other language and might not continue exploring the music of that language. It is not like the established singers would be the introducing factor to the music of other languages. I am nor against the growth of the market of the established singers, I am more for using the local talent more than having to import them. It would save so much of cost, efforts and time if the following questions are answered before any external resources are acquired for making the song,
– Does having established singers of different languages increases the reach of the song?
– Do these singers bring their audience along with them? Do these audience stay?
– Do we not have best alternative talent with native language skills locally?

Red wine and Pineapple cake

I love the way winters enter the daily day slowly and silently and make a place for all the warmth in the world. Just the way he enters my mind. The only difference here is, winter is replaced by warmer days and thoughts of him are replaced by daydreams about him. Today is one such day where I am missing him a little more than I do every day. Such is the only time when I wish that we both lived in the same town. Either I had chosen to study in the city he lives in or he chose to work in the city I am studying in.

It is a December night and I am sitting on the water tank on the terrace of our building. I was waiting for my sister to fall asleep so that I could come here and sit with a bottle of wine and pineapple cake. If she were awake, she wouldn’t have let me get out of my blanket, thanks to the cold outside. The peace I find here at this time of the night, I haven’t found it anywhere else. And the new terrace cafe opened in the building close to our building is adding to the feel-good factor of this night. Their guitar day today is filling the void of music I was feeling till now. The chilled air, wine, beautiful music, and his favorite pineapple cake gives the trance I would want to live in a little longer.

“I exactly knew where to find you at this hour if not in your bed,” He said sitting beside me. At first, I thought it was the wine and missing him feeling that I was hallucinating him. When I saw the half-full glass of wine go empty inside him, I realized he was here for real. Though I don’t trust my eyes yet, I wanted it to be true.
“Am sure you spoiled my sister’s sleep for this information,” I said looking at him confusedly not yet able to process what was happening.
“What? Why are you staring at me like this? Am I interrupting your ‘me time’? I can go back if you want to?” he prepared to get up to leave. My instant reflex was to pull him down and let him sit again and this time a little more closer to me. He takes my left arm in his and I rest my head on his shoulder.
“It is my ‘me time’, but you don’t surprise me like this very often that I would let you go.”
He gave me the wine glass refilling what he had emptied. The music from the cafe was getting faster, their customers are very responsive to the music they are playing. Along with faint chatters, I hear the cheers and support the guitar player is getting for what he is playing and his partner singing. The night is so silent that I could even make out some words within the faint chatters. Now, he beside me filled the void of him I was feeling a while ago. We, taking sip after sip from the glass, were talking about various things around. I could suddenly feel chills on my face. It took moments for me to realize that he had applied the cake cream on my face.
“Very playful” I irritatingly tried to fill his face with cream but ended up filling mine. Our laughter made the faint music just disappear. Playing with each other and when I got tired of laughing, I laid on my back facing the sky breathing heavily and he followed the suit.
“So… Why are you here?” I asked him.
“You know why!” I think I knew it.
“I don’t know why you are here!”
“You’ll find that out soon.”
“Tell me, why are you here” I demanded this time.
“Just to remind you something”
“Remind me what?” I was losing my patience now.
“To remind you that, you have a life outside me too. Till when will you be talking to a soul”
“You know how good I feel when you are around. I don’t want it from anyone else.”
“I want something from you. Will you give me?”
“You had never asked for anything when you were alive, now what do you need?”
“Just tell me yes or no? This is the first time I am asking for something from you…” I couldn’t say a no. It was the first time he had asked for something from me. But I know it already what he is going to ask for.
“Should I take that as a no?” He very well knows how to get me to say a yes.
“No no… what do you want me to do? tell me” and I gave in.
“Let me go Aarzoo. Let me go from you. Till when will you keep talking to me like this and prove the world that you are mad!”
“You know it, that I have tried to. And the world has to say something annoying for anything we do. And if talking to your soul is madness, I don’t care.” I sit up and take the cake box, bottle, and glass to leave.
“That night wasn’t your mistake, it was an accident Aarzoo. How much will you punish yourself for something you didn’t do?”
The sounds from the cafe suddenly disappeared. I could hear the sound of empty glass bottles being picked up. This empty silence has been talking to me again. I silently walk back home not ignoring what he said. No one stays forever.

When I bumped into my Ex

Finally, after a long time I could hit the club. The loud music there doesn’t allow me to listen to me. I needed some time away from me, from people I knew. Thanks to my junior who accepted to complete my incomplete work. I owe him one. I just hope I don’t bump into someone I know. That is why I am trying this new club away from the city.

The club is good, not bad. Music is loud enough. I directly head to the bar and ordered a drink. The club was not a busy one. Meanwhile, I checked my phone for any messages. The screen saver of my phone makes me smile. Always. I had saved one of her beautiful display picture and set it as my screen saver. I kept staring at the photo until the waiter came and got me back to the bar. I thanked him.

I was enjoying my drink. This is what de-stresses me. A drink and some music which manages to make me get lost into them. I was looking around and I cursed myself for looking around.
But wait, what on earth is Ashwini doing here! I just ignored her and buried myself in my phone. Thanks to my screen saver. I was just staring my phone and ignored Ash.

“She is beautiful. ” I heard Ash telling.

“She is none of your business. Now if you please can leave me alone. ” I tried to keep myself cool.

“I think you need a company tonight.” Wait? I need a company? Why is she trying so hard!

“No thanks. I am expecting someone.” Wait, why did I just lie? Shit, what is going on!

“I thought you are still single!”

“And you even thought I am waiting for you? Grow up girl. I am dating a girl who loves me and not my money. She will be here any moment.” Wait, since when did I become so weak that I need to lie! For god’s sake I was supposed to meet no one here.

“So, since how long are you guys dating?” why doesn’t she leave me alone?

“Listen. My life and my stories are none of your business. Sharing you my life stories would be the last thing I would do! Just leave before I’d strangle you.” I said her angrily. I mean how she could even think of talking to me after cheating on me.

Before could she react, I felt someone hugging me from behind. How many people are interested in spoiling my plan! Wait, this is a girl’s hand! Who is she?

“I am very sorry to keep you waiting Bijoy.” She knows my name! I don’t remember hearing such a sweet voice before. I looked at Ash. At one look, I found she wasn’t happy with this. I thought of taking a revenge sort of.

“It is alright sweetheart. My ex gave me a company for a while.” I smiled and said pulling her front of me. I badly wanted to know who this girl is.

She came to my side wrapped her hand around my shoulder and kissed on my cheek. I was shocked on seeing the beautiful face. I was staring at this same face a few moments ago on my phone. She had the same face, same charming smile, and same beautiful hair. This put me into thinking on how Kriti reach here. I was confused. She knew where I was, but she lives in a different town. How could she fly here in moments! Her voice brought me back here.

“So, she is the one who made me lucky. Thank you Ashwini, for leaving him…” now, she looked into my eyes and spoke “Or else, I would have never found a reason to smile” She pulls my hand behind her back, I hug her.

“I am glad you feel lucky to have me, Kriti.” And I hugged her. This hug was like, I never had before.

“Let’s get out of here honey. I want some fresh air.” Kriti said pulling my hand “Please excuse us” she said facing Ash. I could see surprise and jealousy in her eyes. I felt like, revenge finished.

Kriti pulled me out of there. I had many questions to ask. Once we reached the empty car park, she left my hand and started walking away. She was smiling. She winked at me and then disappeared! Wait, where did she go?

Just then my phone vibrated. It was a message from Kriti.
“Hello busy man. Don’t over drink there and drive safe.”

Pic source : Google