Monday, September 25, 2006

My Gentle Breeze...


I have no qualms in admitting that often, I am a scared child.

But what a scared child also knows, is how to become not a scared child anymore. Whenever I am, I close my eyes, letting my mind wander to a red house set amidst the greenest green. My mind rocks to the gentle wind that makes the littlest noise passing through the yellow leaves that pave the path. My eyes will search for the ancient gramophone, with enough youth still in it to turn me one more soulful ballad.

Then with the light breeze drying the tears on my cheeks, I think about the ‘Gentle Breeze’ in my life, my local guardian angel, my Nazeem uncle.

Much before I saw him, I had his picture in my minds eye, painted on by stories my father told me about. When we met, not surprisingly, the picture was more accurate than not. He smiled. He was thin. His eyes shined. He spoke with a rhythm to his voice, waving his fingers, conducting the phantom opera.

When I went away from home for my first long spell of solitude in a military hostel, I was not alone. I had him a loud call away. He was my local guardian angel. What he was, was also my school’s favourite neighborhood singer. I still remember me, sitting enthralled in the auditorium, listening to life, in beautiful musical notes.

Misfortune never bothered him. He faced them with a song on his lips. When it took away his music from his lips, he fought back by gently tapping his left fingers, in tune with the music in his heart. He never gave up, and he taught me his life.

Two thousand miles away from me, I can feel his heart beat, in tune to the musical notes inside. Two thousand miles away from me, I can feel his gentle defiance, at fate which played a game of dice. Two thousand miles away from me, I can feel the strength of determination emanating from the body, made frail by the forces bigger than man.

If he is half the person I know he is, he will be home to greet me with a song in his heart and a smile on his lips. After all, he was the person who taught me that a ‘Gentle Breeze’ can also mean M.S Nazeem…
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19 comments:

Neer said...

this is beautiful!! and it takes so much to admit, that you are a scared child... so am i... so many times!

p.s: your ans best!! :)

Arti Honrao said...

A scared child ... a lonely child ...
looking beyond what is scaring ... is the one who overcomes the fear!
Sometimes we never know how someone can influence us so much!!

GBU
Arti

Rajasee Ray said...

"a gentle breeze
on hush-a-bye mountain
softly flows
from lullaby bay
it fills the sails
of boats that are waiting
waiting to sail
your troubles away..."

it's beautiful. there are a few people who make you forget how scared you really are and it even helps just to think of them.

Mosilager said...

ok this is a completely random comment but your post reminded me of the song,

aahista kijiye baatein, dhadkanein koyi sun rahaa hogaa.

it's sad that we are thousands of kilometres away from the people who we want to be closest to.

Sharan Sharma said...

ah..music...and that of the soul...

Neer said...

and no new activity??? :)

Anonymous said...

Hi Aju! How're you doing?

Anonymous said...

hey aju achachen,my friend was wondering as to what it takes to be a travel journalist...any clues...

Anonymous said...

btw,this comment was by ajoy.

Neer said...

hey criz!!

MISSquoted** said...

i am running out fo time! have to run class in five minutes...but your blog, it was love at first sight...[and here i thought i didnt believe in that ;-)]

its a vusal delgiht...and while i skimmed thru it, it seemed well...for want of a better word...poetic..

i might just link to you ;-)
you have been forewarned!

MISSquoted** said...

and that had a crazy number of typos...pray overlook..

MISSquoted** said...

i see you...
and i raise you ;-)

Neer said...

wheres you. criz?

Nachi said...

kidhar ho bhai???

Sherry's Works said...

possibly your best post till date

Anonymous said...

First time here...
very touching post....to say the least.

Mystic Rose said...

the depth of that special bond :)
beautiful!

Anonymous said...

Greeker...this one made my eyes mist up...beautiful, my friend