It was a regular Tuesday morning, I'd just finished a workout and made my first cup of coffee of the day. Like every morning, I asked Alexa to play my music. Like every day, it started playing a song from my playlist.
Something different happened this time. It played a song that I last heard at least 5 years ago. It opens with a very iconic guitar riff.
It activated a memory like a sleeper-cell agent.
It's January 2014. It's a dark, empty auditorium. There are 2 people in the audience. Krishna and I. We're exhausted, it's been a long 2 days of running around, and managing activities for the college festival. We’re happy but exhausted. One more event and we can call it a day. The dark silent auditorium gives us a moment to catch our breath. We sit together, a whole year of work and planning is unfolding in front of our eyes.
“Ready for soundcheck” - Someone shouts from the back.
‘1,2,3,4’ - The guitar started slow, a gentle riff, leading up to the guitar solo and the drummer kicked in. The stage lit up from the top, the band right in the center of the action. I still have goosebumps writing about it 11 years later. I turned to look at Krishna, we were smiling ear to ear. We’d pulled it off, it was going to be one hell of a concert. The show was a massive success.
It’s amazing how memories are imprinted in different things and can come up when you least expect it. I’m grateful for the memory and the friendship. If you’re looking, you’ll find me at home, listening to the entire Indus Creed discography while talking to Krishna :)
This is the song that triggered a beautiful memory - Dissolve - Indus Creed
Krishna and I remain close friends to this day, bonded by many memories but especially this one
2013
Young, naive and excited about the future
2023
Not as young or naive, lot more facial hair but still excited about the future
Post 9/30