Flutes

While seeing doves, my attention was caught by the sweet tunes of flute. I was attracted to this. I took my steps in the direction of music. This flautist was playing melodious rhythms at the busy, up market Cannuaght Place, New Delhi. He was sitting on the ground, just outside the Levi’s showroom, with his collection of flutes on sale. Bamboo flutes or bansuri were very well arranged in synchronization, equally spaced, as if they were the strings of lyre. His fingers swiftly played on the air-holes like the crests and troughs of the waves.

Something else also drew my attention, something contrasting. Levi’s and flutes? There was this shop which sells pricey denim jeans which he cannot not afford. And he was selling flutes which everyone can buy. But one needs all the six senses, including the heart, to listen music, purity of heart to appreciate it and its silent beats to play it. Probably that is the reason, why unlike the showroom, there was no buyer at his music ‘school’. Moment he saw me with my camera, he proactively gestured me to take his photographs while he plays his ragas on flute. He even requested me to click his collection of flutes in the same canvass. I immediately obliged as I was waiting for this opportunity. I clicked him and his collection as his flute filled the air with mystic tunes. He was very thrilled to see his own photographs and told me that it was for the first time in his life that someone has photographed him. When he appreciated me for my beautiful photographs, I wanted to tell him that it was all, courtesy my digital SLR. I was happy to see him smiling. Like a child, his soft fingers were playing on the flute. I was about to leave now. He told me that we both are very skillful in our own profession and these professions complement each other – he spreads music in air, whereas I capture those beautiful musical notes on canvass. I smiled. I again looked for the doves but could find this time.

Advertisement