LIFE AND LIES #76 | Over The Years

For a moment, I was up in the air.

And for a moment, I had travelled back in time.

Back in 2011, I was watching a movie with my friend on a Nokia 5233. Our monthly expense budget didn’t include theatre tickets. But the songs were everywhere. Not a single day went by without hearing the voice of Mohit Chauhan. I had to watch the movie.

“Did it end,” I asked as the end credits rolled out. “The Cyber Café guy must have given us a faulty mp4 file.”

“Whatever,” my friend replied. “I didn’t like the movie.”

“What are you talking about? It’s one of the best Bollywood movies I have ever seen.”

“Really,” my friend was surprised at my reaction. “This movie was about lust… and obsession.”

I was thinking of contradicting him when I noticed the chemistry textbook lying nearby. We were studying for the upcoming test when we thought of watching the movie. I picked up the book and rushed through some pages until I reached the one I needed.

“See, substrate and enzyme,” I showed it to my friend who looked confused. I explained further. “They work as lock and key. One cannot fit with another. Sometimes, the same happens with people. Two people share a unique combination. Space left vacant by a certain someone cannot be filled by someone else.”

“Woah, man,” my friend replied with enthusiasm. “You should become a writer. Chuck engineering.”

Fast forward to 2016. Another city. Another friend.

“Are you sure you don’t want to come? Mohit Chauhan is performing in our college. I know he’s your favourite.”

“No, I can’t,” I replied. “I told you. IIFT entrance test. Next Sunday.”

“It’s just a few hours.”

“I can’t. I have made a promise to myself.”

“Fine! Suit yourself. Don’t regret it later.”

The moment was over. I was no longer in the air. My friends had put me down. Back to the present. 2017.

But what I was witnessing was nothing less than a dream. As it turned out, I didn’t have to regret it like my friend had cautioned me. Mohit Chauhan was performing on stage right before my eyes, in IIFT where I was studying. I would have been out of words but my recent CAT preparation had helped me build quite a vocabulary. The word was ‘serendipity.’

And now it’s 2024. And my birthday.

I have taken leave from work. No big plans, just a movie. I no longer have to worry about the price of a movie ticket.

After 13 years, they have rereleased Rockstar in theatres.

***

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