The Street Singer

I woke up to the lilting music coming from the open window; it was around 5.30 in the morning.

I just lay there with my eyes open, listening to the lilting music. Perhaps, one of the best mornings, I thought.

I lived in a Mohalla which was devoid of any kind of music; the only sound that emanated was the sound children made while playing in the road in the evening time.

I got ready for office and was eating my breakfast when I heard it again.

I almost stopped eating and then looked at the wall clock and hurried to finish my breakfast and left for office.

The busy schedule kept my thinking away from the morning experience. It was not until next day morning I remembered; when I heard the melodious sound coming from the open window.

I got ready and when I left, looked around to see where the song was coming from, but couldn’t locate. I went for a complete survey of the road trying to locate the source of music; I could hear it but still couldn’t exactly find out the location.

Even as I contemplated leaving the episode as it is and leave for the office, I noticed a small group of people standing and discussing animatedly. Out of curiosity, I went close.

What I heard made by heart bleed; the very soothing music which made my day bright and beautiful was indeed the topic of conversation; but, in a negative sense!

They were more or less unanimously arguing about putting – what they described, ‘morning nuisance – it to an end to’.

I thought of distancing myself from that crowd; I knew whatever I may argue, it would be probably be useless as except me, all others, about 10 of them. were all against the idea of allowing the music to continue.

Dejected I ate my breakfast with a faraway look in my face and eagerly awaited the music to float thorough the window; but it wasn’t.

When I reached home it was pretty late and I was very tired and slept earlier than my scheduled time.

The sound of music woke me up.

I looked at the bed-side clock and it was just 4.30 in the morning!

I was sure today it would all end!

When the music started as late as 5.30 or 6.00 the gang in our Mohalla was against it; today it was very early. Maybe he would have got confused from the light coming from the north side of the horizon to day-light and must have started his daily ritual early.

The lilting music continued unabated till 7 or so in the morning. When I heard the commotion outside my window, I looked to see the Mohalla gang equipped with the warfare to find and end to the nuisance, as they called it.

I felt hopelessly inadequate.

I simply closed the window and said a silent prayer to save the early morning ritual which has been so refreshing that I looked forward to it.

I left for office and avoided even looking towards the crowd, but couldn’t help hear what they were saying.

They had taken the decision to end it today at any cost; someone even mentioned that they could all sleep without disturbance at least from tomorrow morning onwards!

I hated coming back home; the road was littered with the residual of the war that must have transpired throughout the day. I threaded my way carefully and not even looking on either side of road least, I may meet someone.

I lay in my bed, sleep eluding me. I must have slept very late; when I woke up, I jumped up in joy!

I smiled broadly, closed my eyes and enjoyed the music from the street singer!

Though the Mohalla villains had cut off the large tree, our friend must have found some other place; because, I could hear the male Nightingale singing blissfully and soulfully to attract his female counterpart, in all its glory!