Sunday morning "ting tong" and there he was...in clean white cotton attire and a long thin black bag full of the most simplistic yet melodious instruments that man has invented so far. Arvind Kumar, one of the many wandering flautists of mumbai has finally found my place after getting lost (being misled by a miscreant maybe?) Hailing from UP, a place that goes by the name of Pilibheeth (strangely, couldn't help telling him about my association with the place, as papa did proficient business with lot of very loyal customers from that area...and that papa's childhood friend and support during his last days 'Pratap-uncle' also belonged to that same town) Arvind-ji's politeness was like a breath of fresh air, something that we urban people are so unaccostomed to nowadays, having been exposed to curt, professional, to-the-point responses, even from close acquaintences and friends at times (such is the infection of big metro cities I suppose...alas!)To cut a long story short (maybe this one I would like to keep to myself only), after an hour or so, having sold the most magnificient piece of wood i have had the priviledge of holding in my two hands so far in life...he left with a smile on his face and a sliver of hope in his heart... and I watched him walk out through that door, hoping that this association is here to stay...for as long as the man in him remains the true self, uncorrupted and unhampered by the crooked ways of this city. Needless to say, i have a feeling i will be writing much more of this man again........
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