Dreams Compromised?? Part IV - Pink Floyd Night

Pink Floyd is always best when it is heard in pitch darkness, past midnight, when there is not a soul awake. I had so many of those nights when I would stay awake till 2am, listening to Floyd, chatting, playing computer games. But now with this job and all, I have to sleep at 10.30 max, in order to wake up to go to office next day. I miss those night excursions on the internet, feeling like a explorer on internet explorer, with the world in the screen. I miss trying to convince Avi my standpoint on things, and cursing the world.

While we were coming back from Trivandrum, I remember the second night in that compartment. Since we had only 2 seats, and there were 4 of us, there were two of us squeezed into each compartment. And that night it had rained, and the coach was leaking , and there was water everywhere. I found it difficult to sleep that night, especially with Ashish occupying more than half the space. So at around 1.30 am, I decided to call my sleep quits, and woke up and somehow managed to jump over Ashish to get out, without waking him up. I don't think even if I would have walked over him, he would have woke up.

Opposite our seat was an elderly couple and their grandson - Justin. We had been playing around with the little kid the whole way. They had to get off at Bhopal, at 2.30 am. So I thought I would take over their seat once they left. I went outside the A/C Coach, only to discover to my horror that there were hundreds of small cockroaches outside!! I quickly went inside. I dug out a little bit of space, and pushed Ashish a little inside. With Leena and Monika sleeping on the overhead berth, I had no choice but to sit uncomfortable on half my butt. The train had stopped. The elderly couple were still sleeping.

I pulled out my headphone, and started playing music - Pink Floyd - Shine on you Crazy Diamond. There is something about this song that I just love. And if you have ever heard it past midnight, you would know what I mean. And you don't need to be drunk or high on drugs to feel that magic. By the way, you never need to be drunk or trippy to feel magic. The music started playing, and I was lost in it. The first Eight and Half minutes of the song there are no words. Avi once said that music without words is better than music with words, I totally agree. I didn't have my glasses on, so I was kinda half blind anyway. But from the window I could see a blaze of light passing us. It was probably another train, but it looked somewhat different without the glasses on. At 3.58 in the song, the IInd part of the song starts. Ting Ting Ting Ting. And then it just builds, and then it takes you away.

The elderly uncle had woken up, probably curious as to what I was upto. I pushed the earphones harder into my ear, I didn't wanna be disturbed. He didn't disturb me either. He was probably babbling something to his wife.

Remember when you were young, you shone like the sun
Shine on you crazy diamond
Now there is a look in your eyes, like black holes in the sky
Shine on you crazy diamond.......

I pulled out my mobile, I didn't have network. For the next hour or so, I was listening to Pink Floyd. It was awesome. Then I pulled out the earphones truly satisfied. The train was late, Bhopal came at around 4. I helped them out with their luggage, a lot of luggage, and said goodbye to Justin. Then I came inside and went to sleep on their berth. Didn't sleep much after that either, but it was truly a Pink Floyd night. Can't explain it to those who wouldn't understand.....