Many times, when I’m leaving my work place to head for home, His time has started already. (For those who don’t know, I took the concept behind the last sentence from Masud Mufti’s short story Samay ka Bandhan)
So it happens that the Diocese of Lahore, a big church, is right across the street and a mosque is somewhere in the backdrop. (Ka’aba mere peechay hai, kaleesa mere aagay hai) Coming back to the point, when I come out of my office smetimes, the bells start to toll and azan is recited at the same time. (I said recited because azan these days is more of a ritual these days.)
So its a beautiful voice. Today it so happened that the bells started to tool at the same time as azan. The bells echoed and somehow seemed to go along with the verses of azan. It was something awesome to listen to; made my day really. This is your life!
See, in those beautiful moments, I just couldn’t keep myself from thinking about the low frequency noise from the ventilating units and generators of my office! This is my life!
When others think about beautiful things, I’m thinking about ugly stuff. I could have thought about a hundred other things at that time. E.g. The sounds could have lead me towards thinking how Islam and Christianity both have so much mystisism and spirituality etc. I could have thought about recording those sounds and making a little video about.. well I could have taken it in various directions. But no, I had to think the way which makes me what I am.
These are the low, ugly tones which make up all the tough realities of this world. Anyone can go off dreaming in the beautiful things. Dealing with realities my dear, are not an artist’s job. Its a job of a warrior.
