Page 67 - You Only Live Once [BooksLD]

‘I am not coming back. Maybe I don’t have it in me. And no matter how
hard I practise, I can’t get past the thoughts of Tara.’

‘We all have our means of release. Some of us like to run, some of us
play sports, some of us dance our hurt out, some of us sing it out aloud,
while the rest of us choose to cry. There’s nothing wrong about crying, once
in a while. You must cry. Vulnerability is your strength. But to cry over and
over will not lead you anywhere. Rather, if you feel joy, find your release. If
you feel hurt, find your release. You can’t burden your people with the task

of making you feel good about yourself all the time. At times, you must
choose an activity that liberates your mind from the pain. And trust me, we
all might have different methods of release, but we all have one for sure. I
want this stage to be your method of release. Understand?’

I pick a corner and gulp my eighth drink of the day. Dejected and
clueless, Aarav sits next to me. Alara drags a chair to sit with us. She points
to an old photograph of hers, ‘This is me, singing at the age of nine. Never
have I ever cared about who’s watching! I sing, in joy and in pain. When in
pain, I sing louder, clearer! It’s not about reaching out to someone else. It’s
about talking to my own soul. I heal. I mostly heal after that!’

‘He stills needs lots of practising and brushing up. It is definitely not his
best. But I am sure that the best is yet to come. Let him take his time.’

‘You remind me of someone,’ I say as I look into Alara’s eyes.
‘Should I be concerned?’ she smiles at me. That smile! That smile in
particular reminds me of Elisha, and her songs, innocence.

‘Who all have been your musical influences?’ I ask.
‘Not many. Madonna, Shakira, Avril, these are the ones that I have grown

up watching,’ she replies.
‘Your style isn’t mainstream, it’s not like one of those pop singers. It’s
hard to believe that you’re telling the right thing.’

‘Why would I lie?’ she smiles with confidence.
And, yes! Why would she lie? My drinks get the better of me sometimes.

But there’s something really strange about her.
‘What brings you here?’
‘I need to write new songs. Travel is the best way they say.’

Elisha was not particularly good at handling criticism, I remember. ‘Your
voice is perfect, but it feels like something is missing.’