I have always wished I had gotten some formal musical education in my childhood, so that instead of just listening to Indian Classical music with a kind of blind appetite, I would have been able to tell the ingredients apart, would have been able to connect certain melodies that have entered into me to their well known names.

But since I have no formal training (but then perhaps, it is for the better for I have chafed at "pleasures" such as mathematics that I was forced to enjoy, and learned to partake in illicit activities such as reading Russian novels camouflaged by textbooks at an early age) I am limited to putting my ear as close I can to the speakers of the stereo and let the notes devour me, on this muggy night. So here is some music: Pt. Jasraj's soulful performance of Rag Bihag (or Behag as it is sometimes spelt) - an important evening raga. The rasa (mood) is romantic combined with pathos, as in longing for one's lover. For the technically minded, here is Rajan P. Parrikar's extensive tour to Bihag-desh. Also this performance is 30 minutes long.

But every beginning is only a continuation and the book of fate is always open in the middle.

-Wislawa Szymborska in "Love At First Sight"

[a] Till yesterday in the rain (How does rain murmur In that country of yours?) One could only hear The lone voice of a wood Thrush, calling out in its Flutelike voice, A question followed by An uncertain answer, Deep in the emerald summer Woods, over and over.

[b] This changed today, When two song sparrows Flew under the overhang Above the west window Chirping to one another, A melodic conversation as they ferried Bits of wet grass, a length of thread, Black twigs somewhere to the heights Beyond any line of sight.

[c] Two other sparrows, each of whom had Wondered if they were solitary Wood thrushes for so long, also met Today, under the rafters of clouds, In the overhang of rain, And sang out in a three note song, A new beginning from the book of fate, which was lying open at a poem.