Tara Bhatta

It filled me with an utter gloom and I was almost in tears. What overwhelmed me so much: the soothing melody or mental solitude? Don’t those sweet memories and nostalgia drive one to tears?

Music is something I have always loved. You love it and the world is yours. You forgive everything. Even during dismal levels of frustration, it gives a beacon of hope. You experience absolute silence, a note higher altogether.

Music is a crazy thing. Some of my friends couldn’t resist taking to smoking a pipe after submerging in a melody’s influence. One of my friends, Chirayu, went too sentimental after I played for him a song that matched his story after which he immediately called his otherwise ignored girl in Nepal. Indeed, it re-united them to a more prosperous relationship.

The lyrics are quite influential in making a song endearing. The song by Bachchu Kailash about raindrops falling on maize leaves on soothing rainy nights evokes my memories of childhood. Songs about secret eye conversations of new lovers take me back to my Martyr’s Road where I have had sweetest moments to cherish.

Ever since I learnt to play a guitar, my affinity for music has surged. I would quit everything before being able to duplicate the entire song exactly, too fastidious to compromise with the subtle flat notes. This did not apply to ghazals for it may take weeks to copy them unless you are a classical aficionado. I would forget to eat while practicing “Bhairav Raag” or memorising the hip-hop lyrics or trying to increase my upper vocal range from G sharp to A.

Music at times does prove dysfunctional. You would better turn the music off and keep away the flowers or any beautiful thing that reminds you of your sweetheart. One of my friends in Oklahoma argues that music is a fake thing that makes you feel good for a moment. But neither his physics nor my biotechnology will ever be able to fully explain the divinity of music.

Try it by losing yourself in the world of music. It can alter your emotions and how you feel for somebody. You bet! No one can be sure it can’t. The exhilarating melody in the background inspires me to write this. I would have never learnt to write poetry without music.