Humble Beginnings…..

I was a student at St. Xaviers College doing my post-grad in Mass Comm! Happened to come across a poster announcing the 3-day festival of Indian Classical Music. Curiosity got the better of me and I decided to check it out. Rs 100/- for a 3-day season pass….unaffordable. Only alternative being, reaching the venue 2 hours prior to show time, standing in a queue to pick a daily ‘baithak’ ticket at Rs 20/-! The ‘baithak’ seats meant ‘gaddas’ being strewn along the ‘pillared’ corridor, barely providing a glimpse of the artiste on stage. Well, I consoled myself. Afterall, music was all about ‘listening’ and was best enjoyed with the ‘eyes shut’! I did manage to get there every evening in time to grab a ‘vantage’ point. Concerts then were more ‘real’ and went on into the wee hours of the morning! Just a small issue though…I depended only on public transport then…and at that hour all I was faced with were empty roads and empty tracks! But reach home I did…safe and secure! How? A little patience dearies…will get to that shortly! Meanwhile, my late night sojourns led to battles back home with Appa suspecting his dear daughter’s ‘passion’ for music! Thank God for Amma who came to my rescue!