Limits

Arjun has always been a bit more interested in music than I think is average (he once requested a specific Bob Dylan song), but Abhi is a bit more derivative in his interests - usually, keying off what Arjun, Malini, or I like. With "Rock-On" it was different though - both boys firmly took possession of the album and Abhi, in particular would hum garbled phrases from the songs throughout the day. One line (from the title song) in particular used to puzzle me a great deal. He would go: "Hurlum Huppukkara." Now, I am the guy who sang, "Samjota Samose Kar Lo" instead of "Samjota Gumon Se Kar Lo" so who was I to throw stones? I finally asked Malini what Abhi was trying to say. Turned out the line is "Har Lamha Yehe Pukara."

Arjun is a lot more catholic in his musical taste - tolerating, and even enjoying almost anything I would play for him - Jazz, Carnatic, Hindi film music, and of course, ghazals. Abhi, on the other hand is a lot less tolerant of all this non-kid friendly music and doesn't hesitate to express his displeasure. While driving him to school every morning, if its not the Eagles (specifically, Hotel California, which he can listen to on a loop), it better be some kid's music. Of course, he is equally happy, if not happier, if I turn off the music and answer his questions about the cars next to us or specific situations that might arise in an NFL game.

Even so, I thought he was getting indoctrinated what with Malini also playing Ghulam Ali songs almost incessantly at home. Then one night I was trying to put the boys to sleep. Our normal modus operandi for this is to lie down with them, read them each their book selections, and then turn off the lights and fall asleep - there is no use pretending to do so - I tried that once and opened my eyes to find Abhi staring at me from about 2 inches away checking on me. Since sleep does not come that easily, I take requests for songs and they are usually some rhymes. On this night, I proposed a ghazal and Arjun agreed. Abhi demurred and then changed his mind - ghazal was ok with him. Invoking my best Ghulam Ali, I started:
Hum ko kiske gum ne mara...
Hum ko kiske gum ne mara... (repeating the opening line as in every ghazal rendition).
But, Abhi had already had enough. I was just starting to repeat the line again when he broke in with almost perfect timing: "Is that all you know, acha?"
I burst out laughing and while he had no idea why it was amusing, he took full credit for it and for several days afterwards would ask me to sing this song just so that he could interject with, "Is that all you know, acha?"