Jeena Yaha Marna Yaha

"Koi Mile Ke Bhichade
Yaha Kisko Kya Padi Hai.
Sab Log Chal Rahe hai
Duniya ..Yahi Khadi hai"

Stuck in Traffic.
A million cars trying to get home for Diwali.
My rickshaw breaks down.
I step out with half a dozen shopping bags, my laptop and other wordly possessions.
The raw October heat buzzing around my head.
Lights to the left, Lights to the right, a sea of people ..the sound of crackers in the vicinity and the honking of cars.
I decide to step aside and look for a rickshaw when my phone rings and I huddle into a corner dotted with shops alike - ..While on the phone ..trying to convince Vodafone that I have already paid my phone bill ...I catch something ... My ears pick up heart stopping beats, an unmistakable voice belting out a song that cuts through the chase and straight to my heart.
I cant wait to hang up.
The tabla beats are making my eyes mist now...and his voice is taking me to places inside my head that are hard to access ..except maybe when the time is just right ..
My hand is curled around the phone ..but all my senses are focused on the tune drifting across all the mumbai jantar mantar madness and somehow ..almost inaudibly ..making itself heard in the most astounding way ...
I start looking around for the source of the music.
The Vodafone rep continues her tirade against me and my body and mind are in union as they walk around looking for the shop/radio/player thats belting out the soon to become song of 2009 - for me atleast.
Finally - I hang up. And the song is amazing ....and my panic rising at not locating the source.
I'm at a paan wala shop.
"Ek Perk Dena Bhaiya"
And then I let it slip .. "Yeh Atif Aslam hai na ? ... Apko pata hai kaunsa song hai ? "
--Blank Look followed by "Kya Pata - Hoga Koi .."
"Kya yeh Radio pe chai raha hai "?
"Haan Madam, Radio Mirchi"
"Hum yaha rukne wale hai - gana khatam hone tak - Chalega na ?"
"Yeh Bombay hai - sab chalta hai"
So I wait ..and munch on my perk ...while Atif melts the walls I've built carefully over the day and months ...
"Batein Dilo Ki - Dekho Jo Baki ... Aankhen Tujhe samjhayen...Tu Jaaane Na"
The song ends and a perky DJ comes back on air for announcements.
I've got a name - "Tu Jaane Na" and a new mission and a new tune to hum all the way back home till I download my song and listen to it in the quiet of my room in the dark of the night and smile silly.
Mostly I am the one searching for music. And yet - at other times, against all odds...
Music finds me.
And when that happens - Life is wonderful.