Melodies of Forbidden Love

“Alright, so now we can get to the good stuff.”

I nodded my head in agreement. “Yes, please!” I had been watching this man play for hours on end, and although his music was interesting and captivating, I was very eager to get to the actual learning part of my mission.

“Okay, so here is the first song that you have to learn. It's the national anthem of France.” The man smiled as he started playing a lively tune. I began singing along with him:

The man stopped playing after I got through the last line. He stared at me as if waiting for something. “Was it okay?” I asked hesitantly. “Did I do it right?”

I had only heard the songs performed once before at a banquet hosted by King Louis XI himself. Once I had memorized all of them, the king then sent me on my way to learn those songs from different countries and cultures around the world. In just two weeks, I had learned from Germany (a simple melody) and from Italy (a rather long song with many verses). My favorite one so far was from Spain, which went like this:

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Oh ye men of Spain, oh ye men of Spain, why are ye always fighting? Oh ye men of Spain, oh ye men of Spain, why does it have to be this way? Oh ye men of Spain, oh ye men of Spain, why must you kill each other? Oh ye men of Spain, oh ye men of Spain...etcetera etcetera etcetera...

I looked up expectantly at the French bard who was staring at me with this perplexed look on his face. “They didn't teach you 'O Canada' back in India did they?” he asked me slowly as if talking to a very young child who didn't understand basic English.

I shook my head in disappointment. “No! We are not Canadians! Nor do we want to be! Go talk to some Americans about that song or something!”

Before he could say anything else, another man dressed in light blue rushed towards us from behind a stage backdrop. He looked around frantically until he spotted us standing there together and walked over quickly without stopping for a breath till he reached us. As soon as he reached us though, he stopped abruptly and stood before us with an outstretched hand towards each of us. “Hi! My name is Jean-Paul!” He said enthusiastically as if expecting a handshake from both of us simultaneously. I looked over questioningly at the French bard to see if I should give him a hand shake back or not but all he did was shrug his shoulders helplessly while Jean-Paul continued talking rapidly without noticing our hesitation: “I'm going to be your teacher for today since Jacques has another engagement elsewhere! See you later Jacques! Bye bye! Have fun teaching Jhanvi! See ya later Jhanvi! Bye bye! See you Jean-Paul! See you later Jhanvi! Bye Jhanvi! Bye bye everybody!!” And with that he turned around and ran off even faster than when he had arrived there previously while still waving his hands in an excited manner overhead with absolutely no regard for his own safety whatsoever until he disappeared behind a stage backdrop again without any warning whatsoever . All that was left standing there was myself standing in silent shock and an equally shocked French bard named Jacques who stared incredulously at where Jean-Paul had just disappeared into before turning back towards me again with a raised eyebrow and saying: “Well…that's our most excitable student right there…never seen anybody run faster than him except maybe rabbits and cats…but even they slow down eventually when they get tired…not sure what keeps Jean-Paul going though…honestly don't know how somebody can run like that endlessly without getting tired or even slowing down…honestly don't know how..”

I couldn't help but be amazed at the sheer energy and enthusiasm of Jean-Paul. He seemed like a whirlwind, leaving behind a trail of excitement and chaos wherever he went. As Jacques continued to ramble about Jean-Paul's running abilities, my mind began to wander, trying to make sense of what had just happened.

Eventually, Jacques snapped me out of my thoughts. "Anyway, let's not dwell on Jean-Paul and his antics. We have a lesson to continue, don't we?"

I nodded, eager to move past the strange encounter. "Yes, of course. What are we going to learn next?"

Jacques smiled and retrieved a small sheet of music from his bag. "I think it's time for you to try your hand at composing."

"Composing?" I echoed, a mix of excitement and nervousness bubbling up inside me. I had never considered myself to be a creative person, but the idea of creating something entirely my own intrigued me.

Jacques handed me the sheet, and I saw blank staves waiting to be filled with notes. "I want you to think of a melody, something that reflects your own experiences and emotions. Let the music flow from within you."

I stared at the empty page, feeling a surge of inspiration mixed with uncertainty. Closing my eyes, I allowed memories to surface, images of my childhood in India, and the journey that had brought me here, learning music from different cultures. Slowly, a tune began to form in my mind, a combination of traditional Indian instruments and the melodies I had been exposed to throughout my travels.

With newfound determination, I picked up a pen and started to write down the notes. The melody flowed effortlessly, as if it had been waiting to be brought to life. My fingers moved across the staves, leaving a trail of music behind. As I continued, I couldn't help but feel a sense of accomplishment and liberation, as if I had tapped into an untapped reservoir of creativity.

Jacques watched with a growing smile, clearly impressed by what he was hearing. When I finally finished, there was a moment of silence, before Jacques broke it with a heartfelt applause. "Magnifique! That was truly remarkable, Jhanvi. Your composition holds a beauty that is uniquely yours."

I blushed, overwhelmed by Jacques' praise. "Thank you so much. I never imagined I could do something like this."

Jacques nodded knowingly. "Sometimes, all it takes is a little push, a spark of inspiration to ignite the flame within you. It seems like you have found your musical voice, Jhanvi. Now, let's see how we can polish this composition and add more depth to it."

For the rest of the day, Jacques and I worked tirelessly, exploring different harmonies, experimenting with new melodies, and weaving intricate layers into my composition. Jacques proved to be a patient and insightful teacher, guiding me through each step with expertise and encouragement.

By the time the sun began to set, we had transformed my simple melody into a powerful piece that resonated with my own story. I played the final notes and looked up at Jacques, feeling a sense of pride and satisfaction.

Jacques clapped his hands, a glimmer of pride in his eyes. "Bravo, Jhanvi! Your composition is nothing short of extraordinary. You have a true talent for music."

As the words sank in, I couldn't help but feel a renewed sense of purpose and excitement. Through the guidance of Jacques and the unexpected encounter with Jean-Paul, I had discovered a new dimension to my journey. It was no longer just about learning songs, but about expressing myself through music, connecting with others on a deeper level.

As I packed up my belongings and bid farewell to Jacques, I couldn't help but feel grateful for the unexpected twists and turns of the day. I knew that this was only the beginning of my musical odyssey, and I eagerly welcomed the adventures that lay ahead.