Retirement had brought out a new side of AB. He saw retirement
as a relief and now looked forward to starting his “real life”. A hundred days
had passed since his retirement and he was making the most of not having to put
on the suit. He would still suit up, but not because he had to look good in
front of customers. He was after all a creature of routines.
AB got off the phone and said.
‘It seems Yesudas is singing at the Fort High School fest today,
we should go.’
The Rama Seva Mandali established in the early 1900s hosted
the month long Fort High School fest every year, and this would be the 79th
fest. The fest was among the biggest
classical music festivals in all of India.
Though much celebrated, many felt both the fest and the Mandali had hit
the twilight. They had no trouble packing the fest with performances. Four
performances a day with popular artists taking the evening prime time slots. Sundays
would see the best names come out and pulling the biggest crowd.
‘I remember going there as a child. I, Rukku and Viji would
attend all the concerts, all thirty days. Of course, we didn’t have the money
to buy tickets. We would go in late; an hour or so after the concerts had started.
By that time the counters would be empty and gated unmanned.’
AB was talking about
his childhood again. Dev now didn’t have the heart of say no. He might enjoy it
too, he thought to himself. Yesudas was one of the legends of classical music
in India, both in his time as well as his father’s.
~
The line was too long, almost half a kilometer. The season
pass was selling at 500 and VIP season pass at 1000.
‘Five hundred? One thousand? That’s all?’
Spoke Dev, to himself. ‘No wonder the fest is dying.’
‘It was 25 at one time’ said AB, happy but smiling.
Father and son were still not happy about standing in the
queue. Although there was a sign of happiness and content on AB’s face. Dev was
not sure why.
After about twenty minutes, they got in. The season pass had
run out and they had to by the “only standing” tickets for 50 rupees. The crowd was huge, not one seat available.
There were people stuffed and pouring out of every exit, still trying to listen
to the music. The voice of the aging Yesudas was just as refreshing and his music
disarmingly fixating.
The Mandali had arranged for extra chairs, and they were
still bringing in more chairs for those of the “only standing” tickets.
Dev was surprised.
‘What’s the need to get extra chairs? If the venue is full, it’s
full. We don’t see people getting extra chairs or making room when there’s a
game of cricket, or the concerts at Palace grounds’
It was beyond reason to Dev why the host would take that
extra step.
‘Well, that’s just a good gesture, the fest was organized to
give us good music, and wouldn’t music be better if you’re comfortable? It’s not
a business or a “gig” as you people call it. It’s a practice and a tradition that
these folks have been keeping alive for 78 years, and this is the way they do
it.’
AB didn’t want to talk in long sentences, but believed
sometimes it becomes important to put the young ones in their place.
AB, although was an avid fan of classical music and liked
Yesudas, wanted to leave early.
‘We need to reach home in time for dinner, let’s leave after
the next song.’ AB declared without taking his eyes off the stage.
‘Sure’ Dev one worded.
~
The bus stop was slowly filling up. People had just started
coming out of the concert.
‘If the crowd is so good throughout the thirty days of the
fest, the Mandali would be in a much better position, right?’ Dev casual questioned.
‘Yes’
A small pause lingered when both father and son admired a
grandfather-granddaughter duo. The granddaughter more than the grandfather.
‘The Mandali has been
doing quite alright these past few years’ AB ventured into a theory.
‘For the most part, the crowd consists of oldies like us. And
for good reason. We grew up in the times when classical music was at its peak,
and as we got busy making our career, starting families and making choices for
you, we fell out of music or anything recreational.’
Bus number 212 pulled into the bus stop; they would have to
wait for 215K.
AB continued
‘Now that we are retired, and that we have young adults like
you, who’ve just stared realizing that parents and grandparents need care and
some time out too, we can go to these concerts again.’
‘Yeah, there were a lot of grandparent-aged at the concert’
Dev pointed in agreement.
‘And young-adults like yourselves with them’ AB’s presented
his finding.
Dev felt a little warm about going out with his father,
thinking of it, he had even liked classical music of Yesudas.
AB started in his conclusive tone.
‘So to spot a pattern, or to paint a big picture, the Fort
High School fest has found a new life in its new audience.’
AB looked at Dev with a smile before continuing
‘Us, the oldies have started getting back to the fest because
we are no longer bound to our duties of earning the bread of the house, and you
the new gen responsibles are ferrying or accompanying your elders to the fest.’
‘So they are getting twice the expected audience?’ interjected
Dev
‘Yes, and hence the fest is going to live.’ It was obvious,
but AB liked to conclude and Dev let him.
The homebound bus ride was quite.
~
Dev muted the credits of the show on TV before going to bed
and asked,
‘But dad, didn’t your generation take their parents or
grandparents to the fest?’
