Nithya

Chapter 9: Melody

I was on my lunch break walking down the street with the aim of getting to the chippy.

WHAT, DON'T JUDGE. I CAN'T HELP THAT MY PACKED LUNCH WASN'T ENOUGH FOR MY STOMACH.

I hummed absentmindedly until I felt someone tap my shoulder.

Ed appeared beside me
"Hey Nithya, what that song you're humming to, its beautiful. "

HEHEHE. APPARENTLY MY SINGING IS GOOD.

"I'm actually not sure Ed, it's been in my head since I woke up, " I said feeling my face change into a smile.

"It sounds south asian maybe even South Indian. Am I right?" He said.

"I didn't know you were into your music ethnography." I said with maybe A BIT TOO MUCH SURPRISE.

"Hey," he said elongating the word, trying to get my attention.
"I have interests beyond work. I write songs part time. I know they won't get me anywhere but there is just that magic in music which I cannot find anywhere else. "

THAT IS SUCH A DEEP THING TO SAY. HUH SO ED HAS A DEEP SIDE AS WELL AS A FUNNY SIDE.

"Ed I think it may actually be a song from a tamil film because my dad was blaring the tamil music channel through the house last week. "

"Nithya, it sounds more like a carnatic or indian folk tune, as you were humming it with modulations and variations. There a word for it. I think it's sa- sange?"

"Sangathi"

HOW DID I KNOW THAT? I'VE NEVER LEARNT INDIAN MUSIC MY WHOLE LIFE.

My turn came to order so I told the cashier to get me a small portion of chips. I thanked her and she smiled like I had said that nicest thing in the world. Seriously more people need to be polite and say nice things to lighten up others' days.

HASHTAG: RANDOMACTSOFKINDNESS

That had distracted me from my strange memory outburst.

We walked back to the office and joined the others in the canteen.

"Guys how could you go to the chippy without me!" Sandra pouted.

"I know you too well. I got you this," Ed said whilst handing her a wrapped kebab.

"Mmmmm feast!" Sandra said.

Felix was daydreaming with no food in front of him. His brown hair lay so delicately on his head and if it has been gently swept by the a breeze.

Out of the blue I said,
"Do you want some chips?"

The boy didn't even stir. I hope he doesn't cross the road in that state.

TRY THE ACCIDENT PROTOCOL.
(In case you want to know, the accident protocol is used when you are worried about the reaction of a person if you approach them. This is usually slyly nudging someone as if you bump into them so you can grab their attention.
Or if its your brother dozing off, scream the lyrics of a song while listening to earphones. )

I stuffed my hand in my pocket to get a tissue which on our crowded table made me elbow Felix lightly.

I could see his eyes dart from his daydream into reality as I apologised.
He looked at me with innocent question.

"Would you like some chips?"

"Yeah sure" and he returned to his secret world of thoughts.

Kathir appeared at the doorway. Being the business department representative in our group, he was usually away from the office, meeting clients.