The last few months of local train journeys have been enjoyable. The reason: my IPod. Immersed in music, it's easy to forget the heat, sweat, smells, taunts, curses, shoves that make a typical train ride. Infact, I've got used to wanting to take the train just so that I can listen to some music. A curious incident happened in the train the other day. The man standing next to me asked me about the music player. He looked a little ragged and surely a man of less than modest means. I was concerned- he was not the kid of guy I'd usually have a chat with. I told him about the IPod and about it's memory. He wanted to listen to it as well and I couldn't say no. The first song was the Liverpool FC anthem "You'll never walk alone". He seemed to like it. We listened together as the next few songs were Talat Mahmood's classics. I hummed along as the IPOD played "Yeh hawa yeh raat yeh chandni". It must have been quite a sight because many in the compartment were staring at us. "Jalte hai kiske liye" was followed by"Shaam-e-gham ki kasam". Taking a cue from me, my fellow Talat fan sang aloud as "Itna na mujhse tu pyaar badha" played. My initial embarrassment gave way to an appreciative (of both the music and the music-lover) smile as we listened to Talat's mellifluous voice. I couldn't see the staring faces anymore, even though they might still have been there. Before I got down, the man complained softly that he did not get to hear songs often. As I took back the earphone from him to get down, we both wished this Ipod mehfil could have lasted a bit longer.
P.S. I'm going to miss the trains once I leave for Ahmedabad. Here is Abhinav's excellent piece on Mumbai's local trains.
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5 comments:
Though ur friends take offence to earphones clinging to ur ears, music and trains is a heavenly combination. It makes u forget things around u. Even if your a bit low, it lifts u up in dat course of half an hour.
Beautiful description of your experience. Makes you think, such experiences.
Cheers!
This post reminds me of the time we listened to 'Jalte Hain' on the train.
I soon gave up on the hassle of carrying it around and practiced thinking music aloud in my head; now I can do that for songs that I've heard more often. It's convenient and you can listen to parts you like pronto. ;-)
In the end sem, I just used Arindam's Ipod around. Though with this post, I think I ought to get my Ipod back into workin mode. :-)
loved the story! such seemingly insignificant experiences actually make u wonder about life. otherwise life;s nothing but a $@%#%&$#%@ rat-race leading nowhere..
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