Musical Evening.

Practically every weekend, thanks to my children and my grandchildren, we have a get together for some reason or other. There are numerous birthdays and anniversaries, occasions galore or just spontaneous getting together to enjoy a drink followed by dinner. But there is one particular weekend, generally the second Saturday of the month which is allotted for a musical meet. Not serious music but full of music and song nevertheless where barring a few exceptions, every one just lets go. And it is strictly for the amateurs, certainly not for the condescending highbrows! At the same time, let me say that this group of people have some really gifted singers we all look forward to hear. It is sheer pleasure!

For this occasion, everyone practices and practices to sing a song of one's choice. It could be a song from a favorite singer or a movie or a non filmi ghazal. All of enthusiasts (including me!) wait for their turn, patiently or impatiently, for their moment of glory, just for those few dedicated minutes behind a mike and in company of that wonderful karaoke which gives tailor made music to the song. Above all, this day also serves as an occasion for friends and families to meet socially without formality. All contribute to drinks and dinner by bringing in food and wine, an invariable part of this exciting evening!

Last Saturday, we had the pleasure of this musical evening at my daughter's place. It was heartening to see the house overflowing with people, young and old, all looking forward to singing their numbers with gusto. As usual, some good and confident participants took the lead to kickstart the event. As the evening wore off, it was the turn of grandkids to take stage. And they were simply delightful! Their confidence in handling the computer, searching for the karaoke of their song and just getting on, was amazing. This in my view is another welcome facet of this evening where kids get an opportunity to perform in front of adults and build their own personality positively. And when a teenager sings with his mom in perfect harmony, the bond between them is so palpable!

Noteworthy among this group is the presence of a few couples who are keen to sing together. We look forward more to their duets which give double pleasure to listeners in some ways. One of them is their playful and naughty looks they give each other giving more meaning to the lyrics of the song! You know what I mean! All said and done, a few really good singers, men and women command more attention and give more joy to all discerning music lovers because of their sheer talent. This is undeniable!

And this brings me to an elderly old fashioned gentleman who attended this musical evening with his daughter. Most of us were meeting him for the first time. So very few knew that he was a keen singer. In due course, he was introduced and then he proceeded to sing. As he started, it struck all of us how well he sang! He sounded like a professional! Most expectedly, he was requested to sing one more time which he did gracefully. And I was very moved to see his young daughter taking a video of her father singing!