Big Moments are rare in my life - so forgive me if I give you a lengthy description of a momentous event that took place recently...
The setting : Cairo Airport. I was on my way to Dubai, my harmonium in tow.
The security person in the Cairo airport responsible for frisking passengers requested for a small "gift" from my wallet which I - as usual - politely refused. Normally the refusal is taken in good humor, but this time it was different ....
"Open that box" he commanded, pointing to my harmonium case. Since my harmonium needs to be checked in - and given its delicate nature - I had spent a couple of hours packing it in bubble-sheets, foam, cloth etc.
"It is a music instrument - you just saw it on the X-ray scan, right?" I said. That harmonium has gone through the same airport countless number of times without being stopped.
"Please open it" he said firmly. I cut open one side of the packing that I had spent hours packing, and showed him the harmonium from the side so that he can see the keyboard.
"See - it is a music instrument - like a small piano" I said in an appealing voice, not wanting to remove all the packing.
"Open it fully" he said firmly, and seeing that I was struggling with the packing, he helpfully gave me a pen-knife so that I can tear the packing open.
There it lay open now devoid of all packing - my harmonium in its full glory surrounded by 3 policemen.
"Is this actually a music instrument?" said one knocking the keyboard vigorously.
"Wait" I said. "it is a delicate instrument - it will break if you do that....."
The proof of the music instrument is in its playing...
Seizing the moment I sat down, opened the harmonium bellows and started playing. My fingers moved smoothly, and I really belted it out on the harmonium : the presence of the policemen around me certainly gave me a protective feeling - in normal circumstances I have to play under a threatening atmosphere full of tomatoes.
So I played - sitting right there in the middle of the check-in lounge of the airport, with curious passengers walking past me. Cairo airport reverberated for the first time ever to the sound of a harmonium.
And not a single rotten tomato this time - must have been quite a performance. In fact, the performance of my lifetime. I was all set for a standing ovation.
Standing the policemen were - but no applause. Their attention was focused on a portly Police Officer who was hurrying towards us looking highly irritated - their boss, no doubt. Obviously listening to Indian music is not high on his priority, unlike for his subordinates.
"Indian music" said the policeman in an apologetic voice to his glowering boss by way of explanation. And then turning to me he said "You go".
"Did you like it?" I asked him, still eagerly hoping that there will be a round of applause for my performance. After all, it is not every day that one gets a chance to perform in a public place, and that too to a very appreciative international audience.
Alas, there was no response. Instead as a symbolic gesture, he summoned a porter, gave him 1 Egyptian pound, and asked him to help me pack up the harmonium.
The setting : Cairo Airport. I was on my way to Dubai, my harmonium in tow.
The security person in the Cairo airport responsible for frisking passengers requested for a small "gift" from my wallet which I - as usual - politely refused. Normally the refusal is taken in good humor, but this time it was different ....
"Open that box" he commanded, pointing to my harmonium case. Since my harmonium needs to be checked in - and given its delicate nature - I had spent a couple of hours packing it in bubble-sheets, foam, cloth etc.
"It is a music instrument - you just saw it on the X-ray scan, right?" I said. That harmonium has gone through the same airport countless number of times without being stopped.
"Please open it" he said firmly. I cut open one side of the packing that I had spent hours packing, and showed him the harmonium from the side so that he can see the keyboard.
"See - it is a music instrument - like a small piano" I said in an appealing voice, not wanting to remove all the packing.
"Open it fully" he said firmly, and seeing that I was struggling with the packing, he helpfully gave me a pen-knife so that I can tear the packing open.
There it lay open now devoid of all packing - my harmonium in its full glory surrounded by 3 policemen.
"Is this actually a music instrument?" said one knocking the keyboard vigorously."Wait" I said. "it is a delicate instrument - it will break if you do that....."
The proof of the music instrument is in its playing...
Seizing the moment I sat down, opened the harmonium bellows and started playing. My fingers moved smoothly, and I really belted it out on the harmonium : the presence of the policemen around me certainly gave me a protective feeling - in normal circumstances I have to play under a threatening atmosphere full of tomatoes.
So I played - sitting right there in the middle of the check-in lounge of the airport, with curious passengers walking past me. Cairo airport reverberated for the first time ever to the sound of a harmonium.
Standing the policemen were - but no applause. Their attention was focused on a portly Police Officer who was hurrying towards us looking highly irritated - their boss, no doubt. Obviously listening to Indian music is not high on his priority, unlike for his subordinates.
"Indian music" said the policeman in an apologetic voice to his glowering boss by way of explanation. And then turning to me he said "You go".
"Did you like it?" I asked him, still eagerly hoping that there will be a round of applause for my performance. After all, it is not every day that one gets a chance to perform in a public place, and that too to a very appreciative international audience.
Alas, there was no response. Instead as a symbolic gesture, he summoned a porter, gave him 1 Egyptian pound, and asked him to help me pack up the harmonium.
4 comments:
Rofl , Ram
I just LOVED this post - for many reasons. Apart from being hilarious, the best part was that you didn't bribe the security person and you got to play your harmonium at Cairo airport. Rare moment indeed!
Please keep writing... :)
hi Swaroop - thank you - yeah, I hope I get more such opportunities to play :)
Lol... Cairo experience will be remembered always
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