Listening To A 'great' Musician

While Databir was driving me to an Indian store the other day, he was playing a musical tape. For about two minutes I listened to the music and inwardly I was so moved. I said to myself, "How I wish I could play like that!"

Then I asked Databir, "Do you know the name of the person who is playing?" I was being sincere. There was no mischief behind my question.

Databir said, "Guru, it's your synthesizer tape."

I had never dreamed that I was the one playing. It was far beyond my remotest imagination. I didn't even recognise the instrument!

For another ten minutes I soulfully and devotedly listened to the tape with genuine admiration and rapt attention.

—12 June 1987