Wednesday, December 11, 2013

Play the Music: Day 4 of Write Tribe Festival of Words




 Today's theme: Music




“I know you enjoyed listening to this shamelessly Badtameez song. And we have our next caller from our own, Namma Bengaluru. Hello Eshan, how is your day going so far?”

“Not so good.”

“OH! Why? What happened?”

“Well, yesterday night my girlfriend of 6 years broke up with me. I am heartbroken because I didn’t see this coming. In fact I was planning to propose to her.  I don’t know how she could do this to me. We met in college and I wanted to marry her right after our graduation. But she was practical and suggested that I should start earning, make some money and all that. I went abroad for 2 years. I was away from my parents; I was not there when they fell sick, when they needed me, just because my girlfriend wanted me to earn money. My love had made me blind. And yesterday I got to know that she is getting married to a guy her parents chose for her. When I asked her the reason for ditching me, she said that the guy she was marrying had more money. Is that the only thing that a girl desires? Money, Power, Status? What about love? I loved her so much, I still do and I’m not sure if I’ll ever be able to get over her.”

“Whoa, whoa, calm down Eshan. Not all girls are like that. I’m sure you’ll find a girl who’ll appreciate you for what you are, for your good heart. And you should take this positively. See, if you had married her she would have made your life worse than hell. I say good riddance! And don’t be disheartened. There are so many fishes in the pond. So chin up and start fishing. Do you want to play a song for the girl who broke your heart?”

“I just want to say that love hurts and I won’t be falling in love ever again. Can you play Zindagi ne Zindagi Bhar Gham Diye? “

“Sure and you take care ok?”





As Ridhi left the radio station she remembered the conversation with Eshan. She hoped and prayed that he would get over his girlfriend. She knew that it was very difficult to mend a broken heart. After all didn’t she go through it herself just 6 months earlier and like Eshan, she swore to keep love at bay from her life.

*A week later*

“Hello Eshan! So you called back. Tell me have you moved on?”

“Hi Ridhi! The first few days I never stepped away from the couch and I was living only on alcohol. But on the fourth day my manager called me and threatened to haul my ass if I didn’t get back to office. See, I don’t even get time off to grieve. “

Ridhi laughed. 

“But you sound better. These things happen and you shouldn’t think too much about it. “

“Yes, that’s what I am doing. Taking it one day at a time. But the thing that I detest so much is that I’ll never be able to love again. I’ll be seeing every girl I like with wariness. Will I ever fall in love again?”

Ridhi was speechless for few seconds. She had asked the same question a thousand times to herself. Will she ever be able to fall in love again? Will she ever be able to trust a man again?

“Yes of course, you’ll fall in love. Hang in there buddy. And here’s an awesome song for the sweetest boy in Bengaluru.”





As Ridhi drove back to her home that night, thoughts of Eshan flooded her mind. He sounded like a good man, an honest man. She felt sorry for the girl who had ditched him, because it was her loss completely. She felt an urge to talk to him, to call him, because she understood what he was going through. She knew how it felt to keep a strong front before intrusive people, who wanted to know all the gory details of the breakup, when all you want to do is just curl up in the bed and cry.  


*10 days later*

“Hi Ridhi. It’s a beautiful day, isn’t it?”

“Wow, someone sure is having a sunny day. So how’s life treating you, buddy?”

“Life is good. In fact I have a date tonight. Nothing special, mind you, but a date it is! A girl from my office wanted to know if we could go out together for coffee. And I said yes! Just like that! Can you believe it? I am moving on”

“And I’m happy for you Eshan. Let me know how your date goes, ok?”

“Sure and can you please play the song Pehli Nazar mein for my date tonight?”





Ridhi felt her hand moist and heart beating a little faster. Eshan had moved on, somehow she felt she had been betrayed. She had imagined them both to be sailing on the same boat in life. But he had moved on while she was still stuck to the memories of her past. It was time for her to move on too. She looked around as if scouting for men to date and she suddenly realized that she was being silly. Just because Eshan had a date didn’t mean that she had to go on a date too. She smiled at her own foolishness, but she couldn’t get rid of the slight ache in her heart.

***


The next day she messaged Eshan.





Ridhi didn’t know what had come over her. All she knew was that Eshan and she were two lost souls trying to find a footing in their life and trying to take things forward when their heart had still continued to remain in the shadows of the past.


“This song goes out to the boy who has started taking things slow but is definitely moving forward. I hope things work out for you Eshan and if it doesn’t you can always call our radio station. I, Ridhi, will always be here to heal, to salve.






***
The next day when Ridhi got up there was a text message. She smiled and replied. She got up and got ready for the day, but this day was different. She was humming a song, a song that was close to her heart, a song that was once her favorite but she had deliberately stopped listening to it, when she let love out of the doors of her heart. Do you want to listen to her song? And don’t forget to read the message that Ridhi received!







Thanks to SoundCloud for so many lovely songs and for turning a dull, boring day in office into an awesome day :)


27 comments:

  1. A very interestingly written story... What happens next???

    Regards,
    Sindhu
    Tantu
    The Arts & Me

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    1. Thanks Sindhu! Ridhi and Eshan meet, they talk, enjoy each other's company and they decide that they will take this thing that they have, forward or they may agree that while they are good friends they will not make a great couple. The important thing is they have decided to move on, to give love a second chance :)

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  2. This is some outstanding writing and love how you've weaved everything together, including the "music". Great work :)

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  3. Uh oh...do I sense Ridhi falling in love?

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  4. I absolutely love this one and guess, souls like me should never shy away from falling in love again. It's ma kinda stories, rom-com that has a happy ending. Great job and beautifully written. Certainly, u knw the pulses of the youth by heart:)

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  5. Music connecting the souls.. I hope they go on to become man and wife ;)

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    1. Thanks :) The important thing is they have put their past aside and decided to give love a second chance :)

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  6. A unique take on the prompt. I enjoyed reading each para and have selected appropriate song for each occasion. You SHOULD write a sequel as what happened with Riddi and Eshan. am sure they will click together. a thumbs up for your post.

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  7. That was such a lovely heartwarming story and I loved the songs you wove in. Bollywood does offer some true gems. I hope Ridhi and Eshan got their happily ever after.

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  8. Interesting story Prasanna.
    By the way I have tagged you in my post @ http://geetasfile.blogspot.in/2013/12/the-stubble.html

    Hope you accept my tag.Please do take a look and find time to respond by writing a post. Please do let me know.

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    1. Thank you Geeta :) I am a little apprehensive about writing for a contest that's organized by Blogadda since their reputation is a little off :) But I'll try to write something maybe a week later. Thank you for tagging though :)

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  9. Wow so awesomely written. Floating in the life of songs....
    -- Vajra

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  10. i love 'Hoswaloon ko khabar kye..' ..Jagjit Singh was a gem ... RIP

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    1. I love the Ghazals by Jagjit Singh too :) He was awesome...

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  11. Beautifully written, Prasanna!
    I love the songs you have mentioned :) Really, there's a song for every mood :)

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  12. Nice flow of words, I didn't pause even pause for a second. Good positive story.
    I like the hidden happiness and eagerness in the lines.

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  13. Loved the songs here and the story too :)

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  14. I loved the story all through the texts communicated so beautifully!

    Richa

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  15. Oh what a different take!.... one of the best I have read on the theme so far :)

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  16. That just made me smile. A lovely read. Enjoyed every bit. And s happy ending...yay :)

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  17. Interesting . Such a lovely story weaved in between songs. It is unique !

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