The boy hesitated, his feet rooted to the spot. Yet, something about the old man's gentle demeanor put him at ease. He took a deep breath and stepped inside.
"Sit here boy on this cushion over here," the old man said, his voice gentle.
Jack settled onto the cushion, its softness enveloping him. The old man's fingers returned to the veena's strings, coaxing out a mesmerizing melody.
The music danced through the air, its intricate patterns weaving a spell of serenity. Jack's eyes drifted closed, his breathing slowing.
As the notes resonated deep within, Jack's thoughts untangled. His mind, once cluttered with worries, began to clear.
The veena's lamenting voice spoke directly to Jack's soul, awakening emotions long hidden. His heart swelled, and his chest relaxed.
Time dissolved, leaving only the music and Jack's quiet presence.
The old man played on, lost in the rhythm. His eyes closed, his face tilted upward.
The room filled with an otherworldly beauty, as if the music summoned ancient spirits.
"Come to your senses, boy," said the old man with a proud and calm face. Jack returned to his senses, having been mesmerized by the music. "Ah... Hah... um...," Jack stuttered, unable to say anything for a minute as his mind was blank.
The old man smiled, looking at Jack. "It... It was so good," Jack said with sparkling eyes. "I have never heard anything this mesmerizing before."
The old man nodded, analyzing Jack's face and noticing the spark in his eyes that indicated a eagerness to learn something new. "Hmm," he murmured, his expression thoughtful.
Jack looked at the instrument.
"Umm, what is this instrument, sir?" Jack questioned with curiosity.
"This is called a veena," the old man explained. "It's one of the oldest musical instruments, and it's said to have been played by Goddess Saraswati herself."
"Goddess Saraswati... who is she, sir?" Jack asked, his eyes wide with wonder.
"She is the Goddess of knowledge, wisdom, and the arts," the old man replied. "She's known for her purity, music, and her role as the embodiment of creativity and inspiration. She's the one who brings light to our minds, who inspires us to create and to learn."
Jack listened intently, fascinated by the old man's words. He had never heard of Goddess Saraswati before, but something about her resonated with him.
"What's the story behind the veena, sir?" Jack asked, his curiosity getting the better of him.
The old man smiled, settling into the story. "According to legend, Goddess Saraswati created the veena to bring joy and harmony to the world. She played it to bring peace to the gods and to inspire creativity in all who listened."
As the old man spoke, Jack's imagination ran wild. He pictured Goddess Saraswati playing the veena, her music filling the air with sweetness and light.
The old man noticed Jack face that was so lost in his imagination.
The old man's laughter filled the room, warm and infectious. "What are you thinking boy?," he said, his eyes twinkling with delight.
Jack looked up at the old man, a smile spreading across his face. "I was just thinking about how beautiful the music must have been when Goddess Saraswati played the veena," he explained.
The old man nodded, his expression thoughtful. "Yes, it's said that her music had the power to bring joy and harmony to the universe," he said.
Jack's eyes widened in awe. "That's amazing," he breathed.
The old man smiled, his eyes shining with warmth. "Music has the power to touch our souls and bring us closer to the divine," he said.
Jack nodded, feeling a sense of wonder and excitement. He couldn't wait to learn more about the veena and the music it made.
Jack stared at the veena with sparkling eyes. "Do you want to learn?" the old man asked, noticing Jack's desire to play the veena and the spark in his eyes.
"Hmm... I don't know if I'm good enough to play something as sacred as this," Jack hesitated. "I don't know anything about it, and I'm scared I could break it."
The old man smiled. "Have you ever seen a bumblebee, boy?" he asked.
"Yes, I have," Jack replied, confused by the sudden change in topic.
"You know its body is made in such a way that it cannot fly," said the old man.
"I... didn't know that," said Jack.
The old man continued, "It has a really big body and small wings that couldn't support its heavy body. But you know what? It still flies, from one flower to another."
Jack listened intently, his eyes locked onto the old man's face.
The old man smiled. "Cranes travel hundreds, thousands of kilometers when they migrate from country to country. A mantis can fight an animal twenty times bigger than its size. Even an ant can build colonies when working together. So, why can't you play the veena?"
Jack's eyes sparkled as he nodded. "Hmm," he murmured.
The old man smiled. "So, I'll ask again, do you want to learn how to play the veena?"
"Yes, please teach me, sir," Jack replied, his eyes shining with excitement.
The old man beamed with delight. "Yes, yes! Let us begin!"
The old man's eyes twinkled with excitement as he began to teach Jack the basics of playing the veena. Jack's fingers trembled with anticipation as he tentatively touched the instrument's strings.
"First, you must learn to hold the veena correctly," the old man instructed, gently guiding Jack's hands into position. "Feel the weight of the instrument, the vibrations of the strings."
Jack nodded, his eyes fixed intently on the old man's hands as he demonstrated the proper technique.
"Now, try to play a simple note," the old man encouraged, his voice warm and encouraging.
Jack's fingers hesitated, then pressed down on the string. A clear, resonant note filled the air, and Jack's face lit up with delight.
The old man smiled, his eyes shining with pride. "You have a natural talent, boy," he said. "With dedication and practice, you will become a master of the veena."
As the lesson progressed, Jack found himself becoming more and more absorbed in the music. His fingers moved with increasing confidence, coaxing beautiful sounds from the veena.
The old man watched, a warm smile on his face. "You are a quick learner, boy," he said. "I am glad to see you have a passion for music."
As the sun began to rise, casting a warm orange glow over the room, the old man nodded in satisfaction. "I think that is enough, boy, its dawn already" he said.
Jack nodded, his eyes shining with excitement. "Thank you, sir," he said. "I will practice every day."
The old man smiled, his eyes twinkling with delight. "I have no doubt you will, boy," he said. "You have the heart of a musician."
"Then I'll take my leave, sir," Jack stated, preparing to depart.
The old man stopped him with a gentle gesture. "Before you go, would you not tell me your name?" he asked, his face creasing into a warm smile.
Jack hesitated for a moment before responding, "Jack... it's Jack, sir."
The old man nodded thoughtfully, his eyes sparkling with interest. "Hmm," he murmured, as if committing the name to memory.
Jack returned to his room, feeling elated and exhausted from his encounter with the old man. He lay down on his bed, his mind still reeling with excitement as he thought about playing the veena. He couldn't stop smiling, feeling grateful for having found a teacher who could guide him on his musical journey.
Despite only having a few hours of sleep before his work shift, Jack felt surprisingly refreshed. His excitement and anticipation for his next lesson with the old man seemed to energize him, making him feel more alert and focused than he would have expected given the lack of sleep.
As he drifted off to sleep, Jack's heart remained filled with joy and anticipation, his mind already looking forward to his next encounter with the veena and his new teacher.
**In the morning**
Jack was in a deep sleep, exhausted from the previous night's all-nighter. "Jack... Jack... Jack, oye Jack!" Raghu called out, trying to rouse him.
Jack stirred, his eyes blurry. "Hmm..." he murmured, thinking it was Indravati who had come to wake him up. "Indra..." he said, reaching out to touch Raghu's face.
Raghu was taken aback, his expression a mix of disgust and embarrassment. "Huh, JACK!" he exclaimed, snatching his blanket and pushing Jack off the bed.
**Bang**
Jack landed with a thud, the sudden shock jolting him awake. "Ah... ouch!" he cried out, rubbing his sore head.
Raghu stood over him, his arms crossed. "Work... ABHI CHALO (Work... LET'S GO NOW)!" he shouted, his voice loud and angry.
Jack scrambled to his feet, still disoriented. "Okay!" he replied hastily, Jack took a quick bath and quickly grabbed his things as they both headed out to work at the stables.
To be continued...