Our Song

Dear Chaap Tilak,

We came across you by accident, and you have been on our playlist ever since!

My partner is a big music devotee; he always has music playing around him. All our moments have been drenched in the beautiful melody of music; it’s almost as if we are in a clichéd romantic movie with music constantly playing in the background. Somehow by accident, we came across you, and you have been on our playlist ever since. It is something about you that has made you far more engaging, melodious, and heart-touching than other songs. I personally never believed that music could take you back to a certain place. Yes, it was an escape from reality, but it never took me to someplace or some person. Until Chaap Tilak happened.

That day, I was on the balcony with my partner, with friends surrounding us and the stars perfectly lined up in the sky. Until that day, I never gave our relationship the tag of ‘something special’, I thought nothing like that existed, and even this is going to end like the others. I was enjoying my time with him and waiting for the shelf life of this relationship to end. But that very day I realized something that made this song special than the others, not just others, from all the songs I have ever heard. The moment it played, something clinched my heart.

I have always safely guarded my heart so that I don’t let anyone in, but this person sitting right in front of me, I wanted to give him a chance. Never in my life had I felt like this. When this feeling was consuming me, I also realized that if this relationship had a shelf life, it would end up making me more miserable. Was I ready for this gamble? I don’t know what made me take that leap of faith, but it did feel right. I never understood why I started my journey with him from the first day, so why find a reason now? He seemed worth the risk that day, worth lifting the guards for so in that moment I surrendered. And then the lyrics perfectly blended with what I felt at that moment…

“Khusro baaji prem ki

Jo main kheli pi ke sang

Jeet gayi to piya more

Jo main haari pi ke sang”

There was something in the way he looked at me, those small eye contacts that we were stealing mid-conversation were like rain on the barren land, like somebody had just lifted the shades and light had entered all through the windows, and I’m right here in the middle. Those eyes were catastrophic yet calm; it was destroying me, and yet I was feeling strong. Birds chirping, the sound of water lashing on the rocks. It was like he could see beyond the face I put up in front of the crowd. It might be difficult to weave it into words. It was so soothing that it made me cry; never have I been under such power of anybody. If he had asked me to jump from that balcony, I would have done it in a heartbeat, I was so hypnotized by his eyes.

“Matwaari kar deeni re mose nainaan milaaike…

Chhaap tilak sab chheen li re

Mose nainaan milaaike”

That night, when I reached home, I heard it over and over again until I was asleep. I understood the real impact when we were forced to stay away for a while. Every time I tuned in the song, it would take me back to that night, that very moment. I can see him right in front of me, staring with love in his eyes. I should have hugged him right there when I had the opportunity, and now every day when I go back to that place, I have tears flowing almost involuntarily. I feel there’s a giant hole inside me, and it’s longing for the missing part. Sometimes, even breathing gets difficult, the emotions are so overwhelming.

“Chhaap tilak sab chheen li re

Mose nainaan milaaike”

This translates to “You have snatched away all trace of me…With one glance of your enchanting eyes”. Something exceptional happens when you have almost given up. This guy, without doing anything, managed to put me head over heels in love with him. I discovered him when I had given up on real relationships. I felt this emotion when I thought a feeling like this could never exist, and I found this song when I thought music had no power to take people to places. You are an underrated song, but once somebody listens to you, they might know what depth you hold in terms of music, lyrics, and even the voice. For us, you will always be special and top on our playlist. Thank you for being so beautiful.

Your addicted listener!