The MYSTIC MONKEY MUSIC PREDICTIONS early 2011!

It's the beginning of a new year- calling it Twenty Eleven... Two Thousand and eleven... or Two Zero One One ( i'm still unsure which one to use in conversation!)... and in line with this time of year, monkeys across the planet are attempting to make Nostrodamus predictions and premonitions about what all of our future holds, and in particularly tipping names and cliques who demand our focus and attention in the coming year. So if it's good enough for other chimps, this monkey would recommend we all have a go too! (feel free to share your own with me via this blog post or via Twitter).

Firstly, if you wish for your own personal life predictions, visit a Yogi or a Tarot reader based on whether you believe in it or not. I personally would not like to know exactly what my future holds, and instead I rely on a simple approach of trying to focus on attracting as much good as possible, and also attempting to do and spread as much good as is in my capability; the rest as they say aptly- 'que sera sera'...

But what I do think we all have the adequate capability of doing in this highly digital age is making attempts towards looking into our own metaphoric crystal balls (don't laugh!!) for what our personal taste-buds are inclined to predict will be popular (or not!) over the coming year. There are many credible self-proclaimed experts and specialist taste-makers who make it their full-time jobs to filter the world of music, culture, politics and the arts on all of our behalf to shape what we may or may not be buying into, and although that is a great source of information to digest and shape our interest or curiosities, in my opinion it shouldn't be the only means of concluding our inclinations.

Fast food style news regurgitated into our mindset is great for the busy paced and information- hungry lives we lead, and to democratically cater for this fact, I believe we can ALL have our personal and credible take on what we like or don't like. Consumer interests and trends are sources of information even the taste-makers themselves rely on, and as we know, businesses across the planet invest large amounts of money to tap into the psyche of each of us individually, and as collective mass buyers of products. Those businesses who truly understand the power of new media in 2011 are already investing much time and effort into communicating directly with us using resources such as twitter, facebook, online blogs, etc- and it is a duty to communicate back in order for providers to cater for our individual needs.

I would actively encourage us all to look beyond some of the business and PR orientated hypes and actually see what our own personal senses are being attracted by naturally. After all, we do have the same instant access to information at our fingertips, dependent on time we can invest; and often our specialist interests can be more valuable than we think!

More importantly, at the core of my own belief, I don't always like to just take a so-called experts words for it. To keep it simple- if any of your multitude of senses tingle in response to any form of stimuli- be it music, film, art, etc- then that is a perfectly natural inkling towards recommending it to another person to gauge their own personal response. After all, it's one of the reasons many of us do love to social network via Facebook and Twitter- there is an obvious pleasure in being able to recommend and share information, and if you have any doubts, just ask a DJ, a Journalist or a connoisseur who will vouch for that in much detail I'm sure!

And on that note- here follows my personal 'Mystic Monkey' predictions and recommendations blog for 2011 (as it stands in this moment of time- early hours of 06/01/11!) Of course there are far too many names to include here... but I promise to get back to my roots of supporting and promoting good sounds and good people in 2011 alot more!

I may also indulge in separate lists for FILM and the wider ARTS here, but let's start with the area that is a daily saviour for us all- and me personally- MUSIC! I am mindful of eclectic audiences and tastes and as inclined to do so naturally- I keep my diverse thinking cap on alert. My list will increase on a daily basis but here is a brief organic spillage of who and what I will be looking out for in early 2011, separated into some helpful sub-categories maybe:

SOME ARTISTS:

RKO is a 20 year old of Indian and Panamian descent (not that it's of any relevance!) and is under the same management as heavy weights such as Manic Street Preachers and The Script - he brings with him some great creative influences and as the music industry can be quite a fickle arena, he also has the marketability factor based on his image and looks. (I recall hearing many years ago from credible industry folks that if men or women- or teeny boppers- would wish to sleep with you- this is a sure-fire recipe towards building a strong enhancement of your brand!! Sex does sell, but there are of course many successful exceptions to this rule who I will let you ponder about!) Download his MIXTAPE and hear for yourself if his music has what it takes for big things in 2011... in your valid opinion of course. I certainly like the vibes, and alongside the top management and PR backing which he has he is certainly one to watch. Some nice influences very apparent on this track:

WRETCH 32 has been making some noise for some time from his residing playground in Tottenham, North London, although it seems he has been up and down the country on a self promotion tip- like a travelling wilberry with or without a dog. Proving the fact that talent with immense self-belief and alot of hard work STILL speaks loud just like it did for the hustling Hip Hop MC's in the 80's and 90's when Hip Hop was considered a dirty word. Now it is globally commercially viable and conjures up delusions of grandeur amongst an over saturated culture of sex, money, and hitting that lifestyle of living it large- although I would never knock anyone on the planet being able to make a lucrative living from what they are most passionate about! It's certainly Wretch 32's year this year to fly his flag and reach similar levels of success as his adversaries across London + UK based Hip Hip, and I for one truly hope the likes of Wretch continue their rise whilst also meeting their natural responsibilities of positively inspiring and lifting the hopes and dreams of the young adults they leave behind- Tottenham is one of the many parts of London close to my heart ( I used to live in Highbury + worked in Tottenham!) which has an influx of social issues on ground level which require role models to instill empowerment! Wretch has a vibe which speaks with credibility and he will be big this year!

MAGNETIC MAN- Having graced my ipod in late 2010, and for long being tipped as crossing basslines into the mainstream arena... ps: i recall how when I was much younger, when an artist or sound was underground it felt more attractive, and as soon as it reached commercial mainstream success it lost its appeal. Not that I didn't want the artist or sound to be successful, it was more of a psychological sentiment. But now that i'm a little older and a tad little bit wiser (or not!) i understand the importance of masses jumping on a bandwagon and I do not let this get in the way of what makes my hips gyrate or my senses stirred. Magnetic man has a sound that does both, and regardless of anything- already big... and bigger in 2011 certainly! Check the album- and do also look out for the many remixes by other bass heavy collectives and artists! And it's gotta be said, if you are a former garage head, drum n bass head or Asian underground head- ( I was all!) you cannot ignore the power Dubstep has brought to music over the last couple of years- so give it some of your much needed attention and love!

BROTHER - to stick with the tradition of urban expression- and in particularly repping your ends I have to pay homage to a band from the part of the country I went to school in and spent a significant part of my life in, a land filled with memories on every street corner and back street- good old Slough town in Berkshire. This is where I still travel back to on a weekly basis for my radio show, and I have alot of love for improving the town and the lives of the diverse population that resides here. For now, i have to mention the hustle of these local rock and rollers and the fact that I do dig their sound beyond the fact that they are displaced Slough residents. My music playlist changes in line with mood swings, and at the core of my soul I have a natural attraction towards the rebel attitude ingrained within rock and roll- always have, and always will. Although these guys ain't your hard rockers, they have an indie rock sound similar to the likes of Oasis, Manics, Kasabian- and are gaining attention from gigs around London and the south east. I look forward to catching them live soon- expect an invite on my radio show too seeing as they are a stones throw away from the studios. Tipped by Guardian online this week which i'm sure will give them an added boost in PR- and i really love the way the following video is shot by the way!

JAI PAUL- Sometimes an artist puts across a vibe that they have made minimal effort towards choking promotional activity down the throats of an audience, yet they suddenly emerge with the backing of heavyweights all in tact and ready to hit the global stratosphere. Jai Paul comes across as one of these artists- already signed up with XL recordings (although I couldn't see any mention on their site- and he states on his myspace that he has business to take care of with them- cha ching!!). He has a quirky image which I dig and in terms of sound- so far I have only heard BTSTU and an upbeat remix of 'Jungle drum' Emiliana Torrini -(love this lady too!) both of these have a distinctive and eclectic edge. He is being compared to the likes of Prince, D'Angelo and (possible) label mate M.I.A. so how can we not get a little bit excited!

JAY SERRAO & THE JUICE- On my Mystic Vin Music predictions list last year- and it would be a sin not to mention the vibe of these guys again this year. Ever since I heard the debut album 'Blood for water' a few years ago and then had the pleasure of hosting their presence at one of my comedy nights in London a while back- i fell in love with the hard rock sound of this band. It would be an injustice not to catch one of their live performances to truly feel the energy, passion and talent of the band, and Jay in particular, in my humble opinion is an immense live performer and vocalist. Show them big love and for me, ones to look out for in 2011 for sure!

SWAMI BARACUS- self-proclaimed as 'West London's finest' - and if we are talking from the perspective of an artist with eclectic influences, intelligent lyrical flow as an MC, and the gusto to stand out as distinctive from a niche industry over-saturated with bravado and strong spirit- then this man is one of many to show some of your love towards. Having graced other artist albums and DJ Production remixes as well as countless amounts of live performances across the UK, he has recently launched his own solo track + video entitled 'Break this game'. I particularly liked the fusion of the rock element combined with his obvious affinity with UK Hip Hop and he has also released a Hindi language version of the track which I think is a clever touch on a commercially viable sound. But i still recall having first heard about Swami when I was introduced to his raw vocals in the home studio of Asif from Fusing Naked Beats- swami featured on many of his albums and his lyrics and delivery was particularly distinctive, intelligent and fresh i felt. Check out his latest release- to add, with a quirky name like Swami Baracus... "I pity the fool" who doesn't listen to the enlightened 'jibba jabba' this man brings. Also look out for the quirky adventures of 2 cats who call themselves the Caravan Crookz - you may recognize a familiar voice here- and full of great character and humor- 2 more of my favorite traits in anyone creatively inclined! Check out the following video also featuring BBC Radio 1's Nihal as a firm long term advocate... Nuff said!

ps: Whilst on the subject of UK Hip Hop- 2 other names who have had countless amounts of previous mentions from myself, as well as being advocated by the far more credible connoisseurs- such as the good man that is Bobby Friction from BBC (i recall sensing the heavyweight passion of this man a long time ago, me being a by-standing dancing monkey at Swaraj nights back in the day- I really loved those 'Sounds of the Asian underground' days, and Mr B has been the dedicated leader of a wider sound since day 1- so muchos respect + props it must be said!!)

1) SHIZZIO - well, where do we start. All that needs to be said is if you don't know, you will get to know, and if you havn't heard- then you certainly havn't joined the digital revolution that is Twitter, Facebook, Youtube, Ustream, etc, etc! Another question i'd like to put to you if you havn't heard of Shizzio- is are you living in a hole, or do you walk around with a box on your head. Forgive me if you are part of the growing number of folks who due to the amount of noise we all get bombarded with daily have decided to live the life of a non internet accessing, TV watching or radio listening hermit... i truly respect your reaction, but if you do get a chance of going online and are interested in real, honest and heart felt, and quite humorous communications- check this man out. Like marmite- you will either love him or otherwise, but without question you better not hold him back. Sure to be bigger in 2011 if passion and persistence combined with great talent continues to be the fuel behind his endeavors. Like Wretch 32, + Swami Baracus, Devlin (now signed + who also features on a Shizzio remix) + many other great names- an indie doing it independently!

2) RIZ MC- such is the diverse talent and passion of this man that he defies any woman who says a man cannot multi- task! Acting, MC'ing, Singing, Activism, Social commentary... all have been eloquently and intelligently and innovatively expressed. I caught his Microscope gig at Fabric nightclub (check my review) and it was a unique experience to say the least. His new album releases end of January 2011 and is available on itunes for digital release. Even his group email communications about the album oozed the emotional intelligence of a truly tuned-in artist who many artists and fans have grown to admire and also be inspired by. I am very surprised not to see his name prop up on some of the taste-maker lists being released, but that certainly will not stall his journey. As well as his music, also check out his acting work in the highly acclaimed films Shifty, 4 Lions, and Rage... more exciting projects to come in 2011 i'm sure! ps: the following video is deserving of an award!! BIG!

SOME TRACKS:

Adele - Rolling in the Deep (Jamie XX Remix) - loving this remix to a lady with great soul! I have loved her voice since I first heard her- and this remix to a great track is AMAZING!

Emmanuel Jal feat Alicia Keys- Ive loved Emmanuel Jal for many years and his sound takes me back to a really special radio show I fronted for community radio in East London many years ago- I loved being able to play the music I felt from my heart which conveyed my own displaced and eclectic identity. I have always had a love for traveling by mind through all the continents and doing so musically and culturally- and great music from the different parts of the globe always excite me be it Africa, Asia, US, Carribean, Europe and beyond. We covered the popular genres emerging from different parts of the globe, and Emmanuel Jal brings great Hip Hop vibes from his native country of Sudan. Check out his back catalogue- and this track is awesome combining much needed social conscience with great music! Also advocated by the beautiful Alicia Keys!

SAIPRIYA- 'Game of life'- Singing with diverse influences and to a global beat, this is the acoustic version of a track which is being released with a number of remixes. Look out for SaiPriya in 2011, a lady passionate about her music and creative expression. Here is a radio chat I had with her end of 2010- for more details find her up on twitter + via usual online networks.

Tees Maar Khan s/t- Sheila ki jawaani- This just ended 2010 on a fine note from the world of Bollywood, a film which wasn't as great as it was being hyped, but an entertaining and quite fun release with a great soundtrack from the genius musical duo- Vishal & Shekhar. It's camp, it's fun, it's cheeky, and it is great to dance to, and how can i not add a bit of Bollywood to my list when I do absolutely love diverse South Asian music, and playlist alot of it on the weekly radio show. As they say in Mumbai- "Mind blowing yaar!" ps: i'm not a fan of actress Katrina Kaif, but she is scorchio in this video!

Losers feat Riz MC & Envy- i heard this version late, but recall the instrumental version which I loved! This just enhances a great piece of music and gives it a wider reach and audience appeal. I also really love the video. Genius!

Nickel Eye- Brandy of the damned- Once again, an oldie, but still gracing my ipod as if it's brand new. I love the words, the music, the vocals, and the video and looking forward to the album in 2011!

Pinju - mad indian - as advocated by many of the Radio 1 players, namely Nihal, this is a track with monster beats and an intro which sounds like my Dad's old record player getting stuck and then getting violated with grimy bass, drum and scratches! This one makes me want to swear profusely to express adulation... i will save writing the swear words which come to mind and leave it to your imagination!

Jamie Woon + Ramadanman- I love both of these guys, first got into Ramdanman with his EP release in 2010- feat a funky instrumental called 'no swing'. & Jamie Woon is already HUGE from 2010 and is going to be BIGGER in 2011! Playlisted all across radio + TV stations- truly global commercial appeal. Music is evolving it seems, and this man is one of the latest catalysts! This remix is haunting and you truly lose yourself to it- genius!

Katy Perry "E.T." (Manhattan Clique Remix) - tipped for a grammy award in February, not only is she the biggest pop artist on the planet, but also married to one of my favorite characters- the notorious Russell Brand, and an incredibly beautiful and feisty lady full of character and charm. This remix is cool as you like and enhances a cool track from the album 'Teenage Dream'.

and finally... SOME ALBUMS:

Transnational Dubstep Compilation (Excerpt/Taster Mix) - as previously mentioned, if I was still fronting a radio or TV show covering eclectic urban Global music, this album and the tracks featuring would be regularly playlisted. What this album represents under one of my favorite global music labels Six Degrees records distribution, is exactly the sentiments I promote and that is that the world really has reduced in size, and our reach to any corners of the globe is made easier now more than any other time in history. Beautiful!

Botown- The soul of Bollywood: One of the finest albums of 2010 in my opinion, and one of the funkiest live bands to look out for on your travels. This album will infuse both modern Bollywood and the groovy Soul, Motown + Funk vibes from yesteryear. It sounds so perfect I can't believe this album wasn't made earlier- great concept, great influences, and perfectly executed by talented lead singer Ajay and his collective- "Proper BO- TOWN... i tell thee!" Check out an end of 2010 conversation i had with lead singer Ajay here. And this video is filmed from the Mecca of Asian Britain- Southall, West London. I was born just down the road in Hounslow, and apparently the first owned home of my family was in Southall itself so it's practically second home!

Sukshinda Shinda- Jadoo- And to end my (longer than expected!!) mystic monkey blog post 2011- with a man who could be given the title- Godfather of Bhangra music. Now Bhangra music is another genre I cannot stray away from with it being in the blood and just another section of the natural DNA. Godfather may make him sound old and he is not that at all, so how about the Godson of UK Bhangra music. He is a pioneer as a talented musician, vocalist, producer and live performer and commands respect on a global platform. Check out his back catalogue if you are non Asian and not already familiar with his work, and if you are familiar with his musical mightiness- do check out his latest album release. And if you wish to delve into the world of modern Bhangra- also check out the latest album release of well-known artist Panjabi MC- entitled 'The Raj' released in late 2010, and my favorite concert of 2010, Sufi / Punjabi artist- Satinder Sartaj! Musicality on a level I could never reach myself, but as a fan of music- truly a gift for your ears and your soul!

The following video of Sukshinda Shinda may not be from the latest album, but it's a perfect way to end this rather long winded Happy New Year (in music!) blog post! I predict 2011 will inspire some great music all round- feel free to share your own news and reviews with myself and others!

For a great list of eclectic music album releases in 2011 to look out for- CHECK the credible experts list right here- THE RECOMMENDER - sounds to me like these guys are biased just by their wide taste in music... NICE!!!

CUPID's LOG- 'A short story'

QUOTE: “Everybody needs his memories. They keep the wolf of insignificance from the door.” Saul Bellow

Rohit and Jyoti loved each other dearly. But of course they had to, following the fuss that was made by them to get married in the first place. Jyoti was one of seven daughters who were all seen as a great responsibility on the heads of their parents, in particular for their father. It was down to him to not only provide for such a large family but also ensure they all married into good homes by the time they reached their early teens. Each daughter carried the weight of a considerable amount of money needed in terms of the dowry ‘down payment’ that was provided to her new family. This is how the ‘Indian’ system was accepted to be and there was no getting around this societal doctrine. Understandably Jyoti’s father felt under great pressure to provide so much and it was seen as a curse life had granted on him which not only meant that his name was not to be automatically passed another generation by the son he had always so longed for but also that he would be seen as someone upon whom society showed pity for his misfortune. This was one of the reasons they had conceived for a child over and over but every time to be blessed with the curse of a daughter was a fate upon which they had no control.

Jyoti’s parents married young during a time where marriage was a responsibility put upon two adolescents to encourage independence and also with the added advantage to contribute to a household’s income. Every child was conditioned throughout their childhood to accept this fate and for many households, every detail of the child’s’ life was mapped out and planned well in advance, almost as if the whole existence of the individual was a secondary status. Often a holy priest would be present when a new child was born into a family, and he would be expected to conduct religious formalities of which no one but the priest himself would be aware whether they were even in sync with how the scholars of the past had intended. It would seem they had just been moulded into incumbent rituals holding no actual substance to anyone but those getting rewarded as a result- namely the brotherhood of the priests who were always remunerated quite handsomely! Not too dissimilar to chickens egg’s hatching in a poultry breeding farm- and add to the analogy a chicken poultry farm which also required halal or kosher chicken meat- everyone but the chicken itself fully aware of the path ahead- both fortunes and misfortunes pre-empted by the union of farmers (for the chickens), priests and the parents for the non- feathered human offspring. Fascinating things are rituals- described as overwhelmingly intensifying feelings conducted through joint symbolic actions- and then organically spread through time and space like wildfire of words and mouth. Regardless of whether an individual’s thought processes were allowed to question their significance- the over-consuming obligation always fuelled their power and the empty sentiments rigidly ingrained the psyche of everyone in its path.

Jyoti’s childhood was cut short as a result of what was planned for her future- most childhoods were of this era. From an early age she was being groomed and conditioned by her mother- she herself who had been conditioned by her own father first and then her own husband who dutifully continued his own pre conditionings. Jyoti’s father had naturally been infected with this inherent plague of responsibility- not to say that he didn’t love his daughter or other daughters even- he adored each and every one of them in their own right, it was just his way of conveying the natural love and instincts he felt with what was labelled by society as him being burdened.

Fear would linger in Jyoti as she reached aged 8, 9, 10 onwards. Knowing that soon she will be forced to leave her home, her family and friends, and she will be sent away to start a new chapter with a stranger boy and his family. She started looking out for the signals from her parents, she even made sure she always obeyed her parents and was the best daughter she could be in their eyes, believing that if she was successful in this they would take pity and delay sending her away. Maybe this had worked on some level, because unlike many of her cousins and other girls in the village who married as young as 11 and 12 years old, Jyoti was 16 when she married. And her marriage was unlike anyone else’s marriage she had known in her life.

Rohit was 17 years old. A dashing and handsome 17 year old who had reaped the benefits of a first-rate gene pool. They belonged to a caste of Hindus who were classed in the highest ranking, and of worthy positioning in terms of background and influence. Rohit’s parents had worked hard to raise their children- 5 boys and one girl of which Rohit was the youngest boy. His parents had been labourers, but they earned enough to ensure each of their children was well educated. The eldest child, and Rohit’s eldest brother had educated far more than expected and was training to be a lawyer. He travelled to a town, a considerable distance to where they lived in the village of Lakhimpur, a small part of Northern India. Rohits brother committed to travelling away from home in order to complete his higher education and law training, and would send money to his parents which ensured all siblings had the best of everything and were fully comfortable. Being the youngest, Rohit was given more freedom as a result and enjoyed his teens relaxing with friends, visiting the cinemas regularly to keep in touch with the latest Bollywood film releases, and emulating a lot of what he would see on the big screens- or ‘picture halls’ as they were referred. For most traditional families such as Rohit’s- Cinema was not seen as much of a positive recreational activity- more a waste of peoples time during which they should be indulging in study or work, or the raising of a family; but for Rohit who felt young and uninhibited, he would have to sneak from school to secretly indulge in a past time he was gaining a real passion for the more he had a chance to do so. For a young man living the daily mundane village life, the cinema became a fascinating escape where he would learn about the wider world. Where he would become engrossed in melodramatic storylines of love, family, betrayals, society, villains, heroes, and of course with the heroes- the heroines! His teenage hormones would be soothed by the presence of beautiful, sensuous, busty women on the big screens. Larger than life they were, and he would imagine himself to be the hero to these aesthetically pleasing goddesses. His friends would all learn and recite the dialogues they had heard from the last film they had seen- they would keep tabs on local posters and news of the latest releases. They would hum the infectious songs from the musicals that they would also hear on their travels on radios, tape players and other idle folk also humming in the back streets. They would style their clothes in similar fashions to the hero. They would style their hair in similar fashions too. In fact the more Rohit amended his dress sense, and hairstyles and even his mannerisms, he would be told by his friends that he had an uncanny resemblance to one of the leading icons of Bollywood of the time- Rajesh Khanna. Maybe best described as the Marlon Brando, or James Dean of Indian cinema. Men wanted to be him, women secretly wanted to be with him. Not that many single women even stepped foot in the cinemas- it was mostly the married women who fantasized about their hairy, pot bellied husbands being as clean cut and romantic as Rajesh from one of his blockbuster films. The single females were too busy still being conditioned and trained in their homes or at school.

Rohit was adamant he would fall in love with a local girl, just like in one of Rajesh Khanna’s famous films where he would be the Romeo to yet another Juliet, there would be similar fateful obstacles the hero would have to face in the quest to win his love, just as with Romeo and Juliet’s tale- the number of villains and antagonists, the lack of money, family pressures, but there was always a happy ending to conclude the dramatic storylines. And it was this happy ending that made any previous hardships worthwhile in the plot, with the odd song and dance number to add to the dramas unfolding. Powerful subliminal expectations were instilled into all who got caught into the melodramas unfolding on the big screens. For those without the guidance of realism or experience and without detailed conversations with elder family members about the actual realistic expectations from life, what was being conveyed through the stories on film were educational for impressionable minds such as Rohit and his pre-pubescent friends. Rohit believed that he was destined to find love in his local village- he believed that he would face similar challenges and pressures around him from winning his love, but he was adamant that like the heroes on screen, he would also get his happy ending. He became almost obsessed towards finding the destined love who he felt was waiting for him to rescue from the shackles of her own existence- he longed to be the Knight to his Goddess, the hero to his very own real life busty heroine. The good guy amongst the villains.

Rohit first set eyes on Jyoti whilst relaxing with friends in the local village park, on a hot sunny evening. Groups of barefooted dark skin Indian boys were playing Cricket with home made bats made from wood, and hard strings wrapped around thousands of times in the shape of a ball. Branches from the trees were used as wickets. The village kids, although were probably classed as considerably well off in comparison to some nearby villages and regions of North India, they were still resourceful when it came to the sporting activities they indulged in and the equipment they utilized. ‘Gulli danda’ was another popular local sport, which although had not gained the same exposure as Cricket had done, was just as fun to play. It involved the simple rules of hitting a spherical shaped carved piece of wood as far as possible across the park, armed with nothing but a thinly carved wooden log. A combination of skill and power proved hours of entertainment for the kids, and the precision of being able to lob a piece of wood as far as possible without causing damage to local windows or passing folk. But on this occasion, this was not meant to go as planned.

The small piece of carved wood had already been hit by a small group of young boys and was nowhere to be found. And so they turned to using small stones and pebbles as an alternative option that still worked in the same way. Hit the stone with the stick whilst on the floor in order to gain flight, and then “WHACK!” watch the pebble fly as far as possible into the near distance. The sounds of shouting voices and laughter also filled the air, as did the stench of testosterone with so many adolescent boys in the vicinity. Women walked past, mostly elderly grandmothers, and mothers who lived nearby. The odd adolescent daughter dragged by the hands to and fro from their after school tuition classes, or from dinner with family members. On this particular day, and at this particular moment, Jyoti wasn’t one of these girls accompanied by her family this evening. She had been asked to run an errand by her uncle to find out if his medical prescription had arrived at the local chemists, and strictly instructed to go straight to the chemist and straight back home in a hurry as she would do, always obeying the instructions of her elders like a good Indian girl. Jyoti walked the same route as she would always through the community park, which was always lively with local kids and adults alike, all enjoying the picturesque setting, the relaxed and laidback atmosphere of the village kept in tact, and of course, some small groups playing Cricket, and some ‘Gulli Danda’. Head down, and mostly ignoring her immediate surroundings, Jyoti was in deep thought timing herself to how quickly she could make her trip, and how much praise she could possibly reap from her family by doing so. The glistening silver bells of her ankle bracelets ching chinging as she paced, rhythmically swaying to the syncopated beat of her footsteps. Jyoti would often lose herself in her own thoughts, every experience becoming an innocent, uncomplicated adventure, not abnormal for a young girl of her age in any way whatsoever; a young spirited child at heart like she was. To those around her, she was growing into quite an attractive young woman. She was beautiful, and her innocence and lack of self-awareness enhanced the beauty she exuded externally. She had long, silky black hair. A fair complexion, and a petite yet shapely frame, adorned with bright clothing and delicate jewellery. She also looked as if she could quite easily be swayed away by the blow of a careless breeze, she must have weighed only a mere 25 – 30 KG, if that. She was the smallest amongst her siblings even and her family would often feel overly protective of her, despite her being the eldest amongst all the healthier looking sisters. This was something Jyoti did have quite an awareness of, and was something she longed not to ever lose through being forced to get married and moving away into a strangers family life where maybe they wouldn’t be as protective of her as her own were.

Lost in her thoughts and like an Indian Alice in her own Wonderland she drifted gaining momentum towards the goal of the moment- the prompt pick up of her uncles prescription. She wondered what food was being cooked at home for dinner later, she felt her stomach rumbling and going against the rhythm of her steps. She hurried along, still oblivious of her surroundings. The sound of evening traffic could be heard faintly from the distance towards where she was heading, nearing the parade of shops and amongst the hustle bustle flurry of people preparing for their evening commotions. And just as she felt she was reaching her destination- “WHACK!”

A sharp pain and then complete silence. Fixated on her own trail towards the shops, she had unknowingly also entered into the alternative path of an inanimate object that was to shape her whole entire future. Like a smoothly aero dynamic arrow of cupid- except made of natural stone and capable of reaching high speeds and breadths of distance if propelled hard enough. If it hadn’t hit Jyoti right in the side of her head, it could have reached a further 10 metres or so and would have been followed by rapturous applause by the group of boys who were responsible for the hit. But instead of applause- there were sudden hesitant groans, hands clutched on heads, and then an immediate instinct to scarper from the vicinity in order not to attract attention. The equivalent of a ‘hit and run’ and embracing the human minds involuntary reaction of ‘fight or flight’ in the moment of panic and sudden unexpected confusion. Boys started running in different directions as the sight of a young girl lying in a pool of dripping blood and the noise of adults surrounding the girl built up, the whole calm and relaxed atmosphere of the park had suddenly been eliminated and replaced with anxious feelings all around. Thought bubbles whizzed through the minds of all who had gathered around the young injured girl. Birds hovered in the sky, unleashing their feathers in their own panic-stricken movements, having picked up on the hubbub below- and as if asking themselves the same questions- “Is the girl okay? Is she conscious? Is she even alive? Why is she here alone? What should we do...?”

Rohit and his friends were also part of the gathering spectators. They gazed at the young girl and the few of the responsive adults who appeared to be acting in natural states of calm- most likely because they were parents themselves and were used to dealing with injuries and youthful mishaps. Rohit however, froze in the moment- not just as a result of the hullabaloo, like the adults he too felt naturally calm and ready to intervene if need be to the situation itself. But this was more to do with the feelings of worry mixed with a subconscious connection he felt with this stranger; this beautiful stranger who he was finding himself drawn towards. He had a sense of responsibility towards helping others by his nature, but this felt new. This felt different to how he had ever felt before. This felt like it was meant to happen exactly how it was intended by an invisible force; his heart told him he was meant to be standing in that exact spot, in that exact moment because by doing so he was acting true to his own personal path, and this young girl was the catalyst that was about to shape both of their existence.

Later that evening Rohit stood outside the hospital where the young girl had been rushed just hours ago after being hit on the head with a considerably heavy pebble- the kind of pebble that just shouldn’t have been the ammunition from an innocent game of “Gulli Danda” but if it hadn’t, Rohit wouldn’t have just encountered the girl of his dreams. He smiled as he recalled the old man beating the kid who had propelled the pebble with the very stick he had used to play with. A stick he had ironically carved himself, not knowing it was to be used to beat him with on this day! As the girl was being rushed to hospital, the young boy was left being attacked by his own stick to teach him a lesson.

Jyoti wasn’t too hurt, surprisingly. She was most likely saved by the thick hair clip she had fixed in her hair that must have absorbed most of the momentum of the blow. This was apparent by the dent it had left- it was her favourite clip and rather than thanking it’s sacrifice in the line of duty, she longed for it to be replaced so she could feel the same sense of pride whilst wearing it. Her parents and entire family had all arrived at the hospital after hearing of the accident. Her uncle hovered in the background as he felt most of the guilt for sending her to the chemists for his prescription, which he didn’t even receive in the end. If only he had sent someone else, he thought. If only he himself had gone then Jyoti would still be okay. Part of him was also secretly thankful that he wasn’t the one who had been hit on the head with a pebble, which could have happened if he had set foot on the same path and at the exact same time. He knew that his own baldhead would not have survived the impact of a small yet heavy pebble colliding with it, and even if it had, the fall to the ground would have done damage to his already fragile limbs. He was thankful that all was well, but still felt the need to refrain from any attention from the rest of the family in terms of blame.

Jyoti was released from the hospital that very evening, with a bandaged head and a bruised hair clip in hand. As the family escorted her back home where she would be safe from any low flying pebbles, she noticed the somnolent young guy, staring at her as she sat in the backseat of the waiting taxi. She couldn’t help but feel that same connection which Rohit had himself felt earlier- and as the car drove away from the hospital, fate had unknowingly left her heart behind with the boy who would later become the love of her life.

Written by Vin Sharma (All rights reserved to Vin Sharma 2010- excluding images)