03.06.06
Strings that bind us…
I met Billy almost one and a half years ago in a hospital in the midlands. I was in the library at a very unearthly hour and I just presumed I was alone.I was working on my CV and giving me company were songs by a Pakistani band Junoon.Together we were defying all the rules of being in a library.
After about an hour of my bliss Billy came around and tapped my shoulder.I was taken aback,I said.”Oh sorry I didn’t know I had company.”,”You mean unnecessary company, you seem to be well taken care of.”.I couldn’t help but smile a guilty smile.That introduction laid the foundation of the best ever few weeks that I spent in that hospital.
Billy is a very anglicized name of a very non anglicized person.We hit it off well.Talking for hours,watching movies,heated discussions over politics religion and cricket became the thing to do.We both share a similar passion for our work.He has a personality, anyone can warm upto. I think its really his warm enchanting smile that gets his patients better.Jokes apart, he is a doctor I will trust my life with.We shared a fantastic working rapport.We both had rather dramatic struggle stories, warped love lives and similar issues with the world. He was quite amused at how much I was into Pakistani music and introduced me to another Pakistani band Strings.However,I think he came to repent that gesture soon after.
All was good between us except me listening to these new songs on loop.He would often complain that I was driving him mad with my new found obsession.He said the only thing he liked about the music was when it ended.He didn’t mind me singing along cause I didn’t sound anything like them anyway. After having introduced me to them,his irritation would amuse me.
The last weekend that I was there, our entire team went for a long drive around the country side.I had my first ever real good fish and chips in England.It was awesome. Like all things,this too came to an end.Inspite of exchanging phone numbers and email addresses,we never kept in touch.It bothered me, but I guess some things are best left alone.
Early this January, I was working continous nights for a week,in London.Sheer luck the registrar on call was Billy.We were both shocked to see each other.Different city, different hospital who would have thought.I was so happy.It is always good to work with people you know and have a good work understanding.There was so much catching up to do, but work didn’t permit much.
On one of our forced extended coffee breaks one of the nights, we chatted and he wondered if I still had the same ‘lousy’ taste in music.He told all the nurses, how being Indian I like Pakistani bands and what a horrid voice I have.I had to rattle the lyrics of my then favourite song, by the same band that he had introduced me to.Just to make a point.He had that expression, you know when a second year medical student can tell you 10 causes for heart failure.I could tell he was impressd. Trying to impress Philipino nurses with it was a more difficult task.
He called me last week to announce his wedding.He is off to Pakistan to bring back a beautiful wife for himself,and promises of lots of good music from his country for me.
Never once in my life had I imagined that I would make a friend from across the border,or that I would hit it off so well with them, or that they could ever affect me in anyway.
In a few months I will be out of here.I might never see him again.However, I hope no matter what, there will always be strings that bind us.
karuna said,
March 6, 2006 at 9:58 pm
there will always be strings that bind us
Touching it was… there will always be the memories, yours are rather vivid
WishfulThinker said,
March 6, 2006 at 10:47 pm
Yes, this post was touching indeed.
lazy leo said,
March 7, 2006 at 1:45 am
i can so…ooo relate to that. i can remember my pakistani neighbours at a hospital during early days in uk…all of us were hunting for jobs…..all of us encouraging each other….. (they boosted my morale so well) ….had some interesting conversations….. and yes, they introduced me to strings as well!!
Vikram said,
March 7, 2006 at 3:02 am
This post has been removed by the author.
vishwa said,
March 7, 2006 at 10:30 am
Edu…that was an amazing post. Worth a re-read. And yeah, a sure-shot entry into the ‘Chicken soup for the soul’, books.:-)
Obi Wan said,
March 7, 2006 at 10:31 am
People laugh when I talk about a borderless world and us having become global villagers. They say its all just management jargon, with little practical basis. Methinks I’ll forward this post to them!
As I’ve written previously also, irrespective of past experiences, its always worth getting involved, ALWAYS!
May the Force be with you.
Sometimes Saintly Nick said,
March 7, 2006 at 11:16 am
That’s a wonderful story of friendship—I wish more people could have your experience.
greensatya said,
March 7, 2006 at 11:55 am
Wow touching story. Some friendships are like that, beyond the borders and realms of present world.
Abaniko said,
March 7, 2006 at 12:07 pm
That’s the beauty of friendship. It touches us and leaves a lasting imprint that will change us for life even if the person is not anymore around. That “imprint” is the string that binds.
educatedunemployed said,
March 7, 2006 at 3:08 pm
Karuna:
Seems like,at the end of it all, memories is all I’ll have with me.
Wishfulthinker:
Lazyleo:
And their biryani???even the guys cook so well.Yeah I did have a major music change over last year.Totally enjoying the new taste.
Vishwa:
Thank-you…:)
Obiwan:
Please do forward this post.I think one needs more exposure and interaction to realise that it is only we who make the religious and national boundaries.It is sad.
I’ll disagree there, some times involvement can be very painful.One knows the outcome even before the start.Why would one want to go through that pain?If past experiences have taught one a lesson I think,it would be worth remembering them.
educatedunemployed said,
March 7, 2006 at 3:12 pm
Sometimes Saintly Nick:
Thank you, I wish so too.I think the reason a lot of us don’t make new friends is because we shy away, due to our own prejudices.I’ve learnt to give life a chance.
Greensatya:
Hmm,my little story wasn’t meant to make anyone sad..well whatever..
Abaniko:
I guess you are right.
Vikram:
Have you just taken my Oscar away?
Casablanca said,
March 7, 2006 at 4:06 pm
Yup. I find it surprising too, when I hit it off so well with a Pakistani friend. He was good looking, and that helped *ahem*… but seriously, we share such a common culture, and language isnt ever a barrier… how can we NOT get along with them??
Rita said,
March 7, 2006 at 8:04 pm
I know what you mean! I’ve not had friends acroos the border but I have a great friend whith whom i lose touch very often. But soon enough me meet by chance or manage to find each other in the crowd. Will post about that sometime.
Rohit Talwar said,
March 7, 2006 at 8:20 pm
That’s friendship! So real, sometimes it just fades for sometime, but comes back in an instant! Its almost like magic!
Junoon.. Ah, those guys rock.
Coolio Post!
Keep smiling!
educatedunemployed said,
March 8, 2006 at 3:09 am
Casablanca:
I know they can be such lethal combinations.My friend.. good looks,wonderful music selection, awesome cricketer,fantastic doctor,great cooking, and when he strummed at that guitar….Sigh..some lucky girl is marrying him as we speak..
Rita:
Will look forward to your post.Some people are to be treasured.They do come to our lives for a purpose I think.
Rohit:
I agree..Thanks..And you too..keep smiling.
perspective said,
March 8, 2006 at 8:18 am
oh trust me there will be! I dont think physical manmade borders in reality do exist… its always about the heart!
Thoughtcurry said,
March 8, 2006 at 9:53 am
this post is really well written. compliments. i like the paaki bands. they have that unmistakable touch of sufism to them. by the way did you observe that sufism and rock complement each other. both are “LIBERATING”. You should try Jal(Aadat) too.
-Thought
Ash said,
March 8, 2006 at 2:45 pm
ur posts have a range ….
brief at times loong
this is oneof those long ones
will be back to read it
how are u between
Cya
educatedunemployed said,
March 8, 2006 at 3:22 pm
Perspective:
I hope so.I’ve stopped being the romantic I once used to be.I know time distance are a real damper in relationships.
Thoughtcurry:
I don’t know much about sufism.Would that be restricted to Pakistani Rock bands or just in general.My concious interest in rock has only been for a year or so.I was listening to a lot of music early on without really being into the genre.I know..some of the rock bands are awesome company and I totally enjoy them, not just for the music.I do find them liberating at times.Have enjoyed Jal too, nice songs.Thanks.
Ash:
Hehe..yeah I like the variety..
biju said,
March 9, 2006 at 8:55 am
i loved junoon!! They were so awesome. The problem I see with Strings and Jal are that their music sounds very repetitive. Every track sounds almost the same. That’s a bit irksome.
Alapana said,
March 9, 2006 at 11:30 pm
Its always said “Life is full of surprises” Who knows,Maybe one day you will meet him again some silent night while working in a Hospital in some other country:p.
And yes,True “somethings are best left alone”
educatedunemployed said,
March 10, 2006 at 12:06 am
Biju:
I loved Junoon songs,but was horrified at some of their videos.I just couldn’t fathom that they were the same guys who I enjoyed listening to.Hmm,I agree,but I think,Lamhay and Yeh hai meri kahani rocked.
Alapana:
Hmm,will look forward to some surprises.Can do with lots of them..:)
PuNeEt said,
March 10, 2006 at 4:10 pm
awww dear
its such a sweet post…
with some people that rapport is just fantastic
wishing ur friend a very happy married life…
i too luv the band Junooon
Cheers
educatedunemployed said,
March 11, 2006 at 12:23 am
Puneet:
Thanks.It is amazing, how well we hit it off with some people.Thanks on his behalf,too.
Sher-e-Jalandhar said,
March 11, 2006 at 10:14 am
let me have the pleasure of being the last commenter.
You have so many commenters that my clogged connection wont open u r comment box. God knows how many times I have come here to comment one.
I have talk to my folks that I want to go to Pakistan. If every thing goes well I’ll be there this year end.
And their music is the best. One reason is the sweet language they have.
educatedunemployed said,
March 11, 2006 at 1:33 pm
SEJ:
If I let you have the pleasure,I wouldn’t be able to acknowledge your comment?Do you want that?I will take my comment away..:p
Wow, for the Pakistani chicks that you had mentioned?Well have fun and do let us know how your trip went.Hmm, I wouldn’t go that far as to say their music is the best, but it sure is good.
Wbix said,
March 17, 2006 at 2:52 am
ohoi! i AM the LAST comment denne walli!
lovely this post… and the friendship we seem to share with people we least expected. tht be the beauty of friendship, when it goes beyond definitions… and hey how cool tht was for you to meet Billy again!
educatedunemployed said,
March 17, 2006 at 3:20 am
Wbix:
Thanks, I know I was quite thrilled to meet him too.We shared a fantastic rapport.Its only so many times that we meet people, with whom we hit it off that well.
Cynicsm « SUPERCALIFRAGILISTICEXPIALIDOCIOUS said,
July 2, 2008 at 12:43 pm
[...] I made a choice then. I chose to believe in my faith in good over evil. I constantly reminded myself of the childhood friends, good neighbours, the taxi driver who brought me home, the love I will feel but will never have. [...]
Vishwa said,
July 3, 2008 at 1:11 am
How on earth did I miss this fantastic post! And so sweet of you to link back to this heart warming reflection! Thanks.
educatedunemployed said,
July 5, 2008 at 2:24 am
Vishwa:
You are welcome. I am enamoured by the praise you always shower on me.