Pink Floyd - The Greatest

It was not a conventional rainy Sunday or a cloudy Saturday or anything. I don't remember what day it was. This was during the time when I had quit a job and had not joined elsewhere. I was happy like any other lazy pig that didn't have to do much apart from reading something and sleeping. The 25 day break between two jobs seemed exciting, but not for long. I had force myself out of the last few days.

It so happened that, as usual I was at home and suddenly a friend called asking me 'Kya karra?'. Then I gave the standard reply, 'Kuch bhi nai...kaiku?. Then he blurted out something which still excites me. I was mad. He, in a soft voice said, "Tereku Malum, Roger Waters India ku aara katey". I almost fell out of my chair and said, "Kya phekra? Sach me aara ki mereku ch***** banara?". He said, "Mai kaiku mazaak kartu bhai?. Kabhi bhi dekho un logon ke baare me bol bol ke g**** me dum karta na, isiliye tereku pailey phone karaa.''

Both my close friends knew the history of Pink Floyd though neither of them ever heard their music. I keep telling them about Pink Floyd, Roger Waters, David Gilmour, etc. In spite of their lack of interest in rock music, they had to bear with my Saturday late night discussion (only i spoke) on rock bands, stars and their lifestyle. They never make any excuses. I love them a lot.

Here began my plans for a second visit to Mumbai. The first one was for TATA Crucible Quiz National Finals in 2005. I arrived in Mumbai on 17th Feb, Saturday and was on cloud 9 for I knew I shall see god the next day.

On 18th Feb., After waiting in a long queue to exchange the online booking e-mail with the actual tickets, I finally got the entry pass. I could see a few new things which generally don't happen in Hyderabad, or at least not to my knowledge. I saw 20 something girls selling grass and I saw 40 something men asking for company for the show. I saw guys zooming into the venue on their Kawasaki Ninjas and Yamaha R1s and the Enefield 550ccs. Well, for a middle class guy like me who hasn't seen much of all this, it made me feel.....I dunno what to say, but I was surprised.

Then came the moment. Cometh the hour, cometh the man on stage. Yes, the legend himself. It was not any pin-up art or animation. There he was, Roger Waters in the flesh. Live in Mumbai. And what happened after that has provoked me to write this post.