Its Probably Me

I happened to bump into a blog a few days back. I don’t quite remember the author’s name but he seemed to be huge fan of Sting. He’d written about him and especially mentioned his hit song ‘It’s probably me’. The way he described the feelings that this song generated in him, I was shocked. He had described what I felt word-for-word when I heard it too. It is so fascinating to see how music works on the human psyche, how a tune and a few rhyming lines can bind the sensibilities of so many people across the globe.

I first heard this song on a friend’s disc. Not deciphering a single word Sting mumbled, I was lost as to why my two buddies made such a big fuss about the song. “You have to hear it, you have to hear it”, they went on and on all day. When I was done, they went, “liked it? It’s awesome na??” I just nodded in agreement. The next thing I did was to get my hands on the lyrics. ‘There probably must be something there!’ I wondered. And there it was; the thing that makes this song timeless (besides Eric Clapton’s fabulous guitaring). As I read on, I was more and more gripped by the words on that page. How simply and casually these words conveyed such a powerful emotion.
It spoke about a man who would be there by your side no matter what; a man who doesn’t call himself your husband, lover, brother, father or any other specific. His love has no name, no religion, no sex; he just calls himself your friend; he could be anyone. He is will not ask you how, when or why you did something; whether it was right or wrong; he will never condition, judge or demand.
He will just be there; your pillar, your rock, your friend.

Unquestionable. Unconditional. Unending. That’s how love should be.

I now hear this song atleast once everyday. If you haven’t heard it yet, I suggest you should. Of course, download the lyrics while you’re at it; it makes a world of a difference. Long live Sting!!!

Chao!!

The Classic Mumbai Monsoon

I was on my way home last evening. With pedestrians running for dear life lest they miss their “6:45 Borivali Local”, vendors shouting out their last price and fat aunties bargaining to the last rupee, Dadar was the place where the entire world seemed to have come to that evening. As my blessed BEST bus tried to crawl its way out of this mess, little drops began to pitter-patter on the battered old window I was sitting against. The crowded street suddenly shrank to the sides as every person ran for a shed to keep him from getting wet. I am pretty sure each one of them secretly wanted to grab this opportunity to enjoy the cool breeze that this gentle shower had brought with it. I would call it the “2-minute pleasure” that could smoothen out the roughest of days. But here, we never seem to have the time to stop.

Living in the city, we seldom get the chance to notice the true drama of nature. For that, Mumbaiites have to take leaves (real or fake ones), stuff their families into Sumos and Safaris, and rush off to the nearest hill stations. There is no such thing as lush green slopes, mountains with little tufts of clouds, trickling water falls and rivulets and the mucky ‘kachchi sadaks’. These are absolutely vague concepts for our so-called concrete jungles. But Nature doesn’t totally deprive us of her beauty. At this time of the year, even our darkest greys get patched with all the possible shades of green. We may not have fresh water frogs, but little crawlies start surfacing from every hole in the ground. And even though every square inch is covered with concrete, the smell of ‘geeli mitti’ after the first shower is impossible to miss.

And then a unique celebration begins. In true desi-style, bhuttawalahs and chai-stalls start mushrooming out of every nook and corner. The regular party animals cuddle up into their beds or make the local coffee shop their favourite hangout. The romantics hook up at the beaches, sea-faces and Marine Drive. And in the classroom, even the most interesting professor seems to be singing a lullaby. Every morning begins with a drowsy mist over the grey skyline foretelling a rainy day ahead and the whole place is like it is covered with a dreamy blanket. Besides that of course there are the trenches and open manholes and the traffic and the smelly stuffy trains and the mosquitoes and …… but I think we can live with that!!

So come June, roll up your pants and bring out those umbrellas coz’ Mumbai city, the monsoons are on their way!!!