At the Mumbai airport security check yesterday, a CRPF cop raised my flute case and said- ‘ye aapka hai? Kuch baat karni hai’
Considering my terrible history with airport security all over the world, my heart sank. I was like here we go again, i just hope I don’t miss my flight.
Considering my terrible history with airport security all over the world, my heart sank. I was like here we go again, i just hope I don’t miss my flight.
He asked me-‘aapki flight abhi hai ki time hain aapke paas?’
Again, petrified, I said ‘abhi hai’
He said, ‘acha theek hai koi baat nahi’
That’s when I asked ‘kyu?’
He said ‘ye bansuri hai na? Main bhi bajata hoon. Matlab bajata kya hoon, seekh raha hoon. Aapne kaha se seekha?
Again, petrified, I said ‘abhi hai’
He said, ‘acha theek hai koi baat nahi’
That’s when I asked ‘kyu?’
He said ‘ye bansuri hai na? Main bhi bajata hoon. Matlab bajata kya hoon, seekh raha hoon. Aapne kaha se seekha?
I said ‘main bhi seekh hi raha hoon.’
He said ‘maine c scale mein liya hai. Kaise practise kar sakte hain?’
So I told him the usual- ‘sargam bajaiye, sirf sa bajaiye, long note practice kijiye.’
He asked me ‘aapka koi YouTube channel hai kya?’
He said ‘maine c scale mein liya hai. Kaise practise kar sakte hain?’
So I told him the usual- ‘sargam bajaiye, sirf sa bajaiye, long note practice kijiye.’
He asked me ‘aapka koi YouTube channel hai kya?’
I said YouTube channel to nahi hai, par aap Instagram ya Facebook par mujhse connect kar sakte hain, aur main aapko aur tips de sakta hoon’.
His demeanour changed suddenly, and he said ‘nahi, un dono par main nahi hoon’.
Then, he said, ‘ek baar please bajaiye na’
His demeanour changed suddenly, and he said ‘nahi, un dono par main nahi hoon’.
Then, he said, ‘ek baar please bajaiye na’
So I took out my flute and, at Mumbai Airport security check, started playing.
I stopped after half a minute, and then- he clapped for me. It was surreal, after all my run ins with cops, with airport security all over the world, to see this CRPF man in army fatigues clap for me.
I stopped after half a minute, and then- he clapped for me. It was surreal, after all my run ins with cops, with airport security all over the world, to see this CRPF man in army fatigues clap for me.
He was looking at me with shining eyes, I could sense he wanted to say something but was holding himself back so I said- ‘aap mera number le lijiye, main aapko WhatsApp par kuch links bhejta hoon’
He thought about it for a moment, then straightened up fully, lost the smile and said, ‘nahi sir, we have to follow protocols, main khud dhoondh loonga’ and turned to the next guy.
I packed up my flute and went to my gate. I suppose I’ve always had a problem with authority and authority has always had a problem with me because of this barrier it creates that prevents real human connection. And life is no fun without that.
At least, for a moment, this CRPF guy and me could put aside this invisible wall and connect as two students of music.
#anecdote #feelgoodstory
#anecdote #feelgoodstory
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