Like every other day I was playing my guitar. I love that guitar and it is magical I must say, quite literally, at hindsight. It was almost midnight when I was sitting in my balcony playing a Joe Satriani lick (or at least trying to). While I was trying the riffs, I started playing some of the notes without my knowledge. Suddenly any note I hit sounded heavenly. I did not do that deliberately, but it sounded as if those notes were ever made to be played at those times in those riffs. At first I just assumed that I was a bit tired and any music sounded good at that time of the night. But the calm chill of the air only added to the goose bumps along my spine.
All of a sudden I stopped playing my guitar as if someone held my hands and pushed them away. There was a blinding light that flashed for a few minutes and then endured. The environment became so vibrant and so energetic that I started to perspire. My hands with the ease of a maestro went to the guitar and started playing notes that I had never heard before. My fingers seemed so supple and numb that I could play anything. I was sure that these notes existed, but I had never looked at them like that before, nor played them with so much passion. It was like this guiding force in my fingers that let me play whatever that came to my mind without a moment’s thought.
I tried to peer into the light to find someone or some form. I could see none. The energy of that light was so much, that I could not even hear anything. It was like this noise that was inaudible but so loud yet comforting. It was like a dream sequence where everything that happened only felt good. I continued playing the guitar on and on still looking for some form in the source of light. By now the light had spread all around me and I could only see the light. It was like I had come so close to the sun. And suddenly I heard a voice.
It was first a low droning sound. It picked up in frequency and changed into a very sweet melodic angelic voice. The voice was singing in some strange language. I first doubted if it was Russian or French. But as the voice became clearer I realised it was only a melody without any words. It would be difficult to explain how there can be such meaningful music without the use of words. They seemed to be fitting in with what I was playing. Then I realised that it was actually following what I was playing. The sight and sound was so over whelming that I was about to break down. But the light just kept sourcing me with some energy. It was heavenly. It was as if the Lord was pleased with me and came to sing with me.
By now tears were rolling down my eyes. I could not take it anymore. I started to scream. I screamed out loud asking it to stop. I screamed out so loud that I was sure it would awaken everyone around. But I was wrong. The energy around me had enveloped everything and was binding anything I said or did. I was going crazy. It was like I was on some drug, whose effect is taking over me. I started feeling dizzy and everything around me was turning into a blur. It was all so hazy and indescribable when I passed out and fell, presumably to the floor.
Subconsciously I felt that some one was carrying me somewhere. I felt like a new born being carried to the mother – a feeling which I can never forget in my life. Some voice whispered something inaudible. I could feel someone speaking into my ears though. It was something important. It was also a lullaby I think because I went into a deep sleep after that. It was like a rest taken after a very long arduous journey. I didn’t know where I was. I knew for sure that wherever I was, I was safe and comfortable.
When I woke up next, it was around 4 AM in the morning. I was lying right next to my bed on the floor. I don’t know how I reached there. I could have not possibly slept so well on the cold floor. My guitar was lying on the floor in the balcony. I got up immediately to pick up my guitar and place it safely. It was shining for some reason. Its black sheen was brighter, and more energetic I thought. Anyway, I was glad that nothing happened to the guitar, which I decided that I must have dropped in my sleep, while playing it in the balcony.
Something dawned on me suddenly. Until yesterday, I did not own an electric guitar. It was a dream that I had seen. It was my acoustic guitar I was playing in my balcony last. How could I have been playing an electric guitar without an amp in my balcony? I was so overwhelmed by my dream that it did not occour to me that my acoustic guitar got transformed into a Stratocastor – a dream guitar. I was shocked, dazed and literally trembling in fear. What had happened in the night? I ran outside the room to check where I was. Everything was the same. My parents room empty as they had left it 3 days ago when they left for a holiday. The kitchen lights still on as I had left them. My laptop power discharged and shut down.
I sat there trying to find composure. Trying to relax and concentrate to think of what had happened in the night. I could not think of anything. Just then I started humming a tune. The words were so meaningful and clear and with some message. It was a song that I had heard, but I didn’t know where. It was something that really never existed I think, as far as I knew.
‘Take my hand while you are lost
There is no way I will let you down
Before you lay your lost cause
But there is still a long way now
Fear not what lies within your reach
Fear not what lies beyond
Fear only all the forces in you
And all the fears you found
Listen to me Oh wandering one
There is no way you can turn back
And while you ponder o’er what I say
Walk on before it is dark
Fear not the chance of being hurt
Fear not just being defied
Fear only the thoughts that pull you down
And the reasons you never tried
And as I whisper a secret to you
I wish you may never forget
Fear only what blinded you
Not what your ambition sets’
Those were the words whispered to me last night. I was stunned. I took a paper and pen and wrote down the words immediately. I still had no explanation for what happened that night and what entailed after that.
My friend called me later that day and said that he was leaving the town in a few days, since he got the job he always wanted. He had an amp which he had never used and wanted to give it away. Without a second thought I arranged a meeting with him to take it from him. Throughout the day I could only see signs. Things that pointed to me what I should do and where I should go. One such notable sign pointed out that I must go to a particular coffee house that evening. Not knowing what to expect, I just sat there sipping on a coffee, when a group of guys entered the place. Behind them followed a very old friend of mine. It was his band he was with. They were looking for a guitarist cum vocalist for their band, since their lead guitarist was about to leave the band. They had a gig at hand, and they did not know what to do. I immediately offered my services. As time went by I had more and more influence on the band and the music we made. I even got them to rename the band from ‘Scalpels Forensic’ to ‘Light Divinity’. We are a very successful band now and have released an album called ‘Fear’ recently.
That was the least I could do to thank the light that saved me. It was something that changed my life. It was something that would remain in my heart forever as a pure experience of bliss. If someone asked me how would it be in heaven, you know that my answer would be – ‘Very bright!’
