This isn’t a review about a pub I used to frequent; rather it is more about an emotional connect I have with it. This write up might not fit into whatever I have written so far, but this is perhaps my show of gratitude to a place which helped me in suppressing the demons I was fighting within.
They say , “Music Heals”, and sure it does; I discovered this healing touch the day I checked in there for the first time – ‘Urban Mantra’ it was. I thank my mate Navajit for introducing me to this place which would later turn out to be a healer in the real sense. From the music that was being played to the beer that was being served, everything seemed just so chilled out. But, given the state of mind that I was in, it didn’t really make any sense to me then. The crowd was young and the songs peppy, the beer was chilled and the fries were crispy, but that was something I wasn’t looking for, and just as I was about to leave, a band came up on stage; and there it was – my affair with THE PLACE started.
Depression, be it professional or personal can creep in at any point of time. There are a lot of remedies people suggest to get out of it. I have been a victim of it and there were times when I almost gave up. From not meeting targets to not getting a call from a beloved one, there are things that suck you in like a black hole, the mind seeks solace and the soul seeks rest; and I discovered music could do what anti depressants couldn’t .
There are times when the demons you fight within crave for some attention and I realized I should give them just what they needed – some chilled beer, and I was there at Urban Mantra again. Soon, the affair deepened, the frequency of my visits increased. There had been times when I had to persuade my friends to come along and there were times when I didn’t mind being there alone. From making numerous calls to Gautam to keep a seat reserved to even making myself comfortable on the floor, I just went there for the music they played. The bands that belted out numbers that I knew and could sing along to literally pleading them to sing something I wanted to hear. It was just about the music and the beer, for once and perhaps for a good couple of hours or more it took me out of the mess I was in. The targets didn’t matter; my non-existent love life didn’t matter, all that made sense then was that I was having a jolly good time, I was healing.
Finally I had found something to look forward to; I found a place I needed to get out of the crap I had surrounded myself with. From cheering for Liverpool to applauding P.V Sindhu, this place made me fall in love with sports other than football too. The place made me realize my ex wasn’t as beautiful as I had always assumed her to be, there were others who were a few notches higher (unfortunately all of them were taken, I assume). Jokes apart, the place did infuse a bit of life in me.
I had always believed I needed people around to get my shit in place, and this place was just beyond perfect. To be able to mingle with random people and to see those who were so much in love, around, it did make me feel that happiness is indeed contagious. The ambiance, the crowd and the staff indeed left an everlasting impression in my mind.
As, I had mentioned; this isn’t a review, I won’t rate the quality or the service or the ambiance, this piece is just an ode to a place that pulled me out of something, perhaps pulled the demons out of me and calmed them down with some chilled beer and good music.
P.S : Thanks Gautam for picking up the phone each time I called. For making me appreciate Sia and The ChainSmokers. And yes, I now know James Blunt does make a hell lot of sense. 🙂 🙂
abhishek purkayastha 