Yes, I always knew that one should
not dwell in the past, that it is the present that is the most important. My
BFF even gave me one of those mementos, the ones which have life’s many lessons
embossed on them. This one, brought all the way from America, says: “Yesterday's
the past, tomorrow's the future, but today is a gift. That's why it's called
the present”.
Messages on Whatsapp groups by
prolific and incorrigible Thought for the
Day messengers include:”Happiness is
not something you postpone for the future; it is something you design for the
present”; “The ability to be in the present moment is a major component of
mental wellness”.
And
many more, culled I am sure from the same source, viz Brainy Quotes. How much
did all this help? Almost Zilch. The memento did perk me up for some time but
then it got hidden behind a bank of books and would only show up in the frenzy
of spring and Diwali cleaning. Whatsapp messages are so well meaning, but let’s
face it when did well meaning ever have any real meaning?
I have always prided myself on being a
positive person and lived life more or less to Tennyson’s Theirs
not to make reply, Theirs not to reason why…Until recently that is.
With no catalyst to pin the blame on, I did start wallowing in the past
with many why’s cropping up, much
like the Devil’s horns. The past, we all know, is a long winding, tortuous
tunnel with no end in sight. There would
be times I would surface from long walks down forked roads and tell myself: ‘Never
again’. But much like the proverbial druggie my wayward mind would at any time
and almost too many times plunge into the past again.
A week back I stumbled upon a playlist lying forgotten in a folder on my
desktop inexplicably titled Home. I
hit the play button and the most magical words started filling the living room.
I listened to the songs, almost spell bound in nostalgia, till the husband
entered and enquired if there was lunch for the proletariat or not. Lying in
bed that night I realized I had not met the past that day. The next day I was
better organized. I transferred the music to my phone, connected it to
Bluetooth and switched on the Bose speakers. The very first song that played
was:
Aanewala Pal
Jaanewala Hai
Ho Sake toh
Iss Mein Zindagi Bitaado
Pal
Jo Yeh Jaanewala hai….
Then came
Aage Bhi Jaane Na Tu, Pichhe Bhi Jaane Na Tu
Jo Bhi Hai, Bas Yahi Ek Pal Hai….
Ye Pal Ujaalaa Hai
Baaqi Andheraa Hai
Ye Pal Ganvaanaa Na,
Ye Pal Hi Teraa Hai
Jinevaale Soch Le Yahi Vaqt
Hai Kar Le Puri Aarazu
And
then
…… Kal ke
andheron se nikal ke/Dekha hai aankhein malte malte
Ho phool hi phool zindagi
bahaar hai/Tay kar liya aa..
Aaj phir jeene ki tamanna hai/Aaj
phir marne ka irada hai
And
…..Aise Jeevan Bhi
Hain Jo Jiye Hi Nahin /Jinko Jeene Se Pehle Hi Maut Aa Gayi
Phool Aise Bhi
Hain Jo Khile Hi Nahin / Jinko Khilne Se Pehle Fiza Kha Gai
And
zindagi ke safar mein
guzar jate hain jo makam,
woh phir nahin aate,/
woh phir nahin aate!
Then
Kabhi kisi ko
mukammal jahan nahi milta
Kahin zameen to
kahin aasman nahin milta
And
Chhodo kal ki
baate/ Kal ki baat puraani….
Aaj puraani zanjiro/ Ko
tod chuke hai
Kyaa dekhe us mazil ko/ Jo chhod chuke hai
Kyaa dekhe us mazil ko/ Jo chhod chuke hai
The magic
of the ageless classics enveloped me giving me warmth and immense viribus. But
more than this I got answers to issues that had been haunting me. You want me
to share the answer? Simple. Carpe diem. Seize the day. It is only
today that is mine.
