The Songs Sachu Left Behind
Summer 2024: At five and three quarters year of age, Sachit left behind ear worm(s).
Note: This essay should really have been a video. I haven’t done this justice. There is a tiny surprise at the end. But many years from now, Sachit will discover that Bui wrote about him and feel incredibly embarrassed. With that hope, I present to you…
“What are you up to, Sachoos?”
Sachit was standing in front of the mirror, playing with styling his hair. A middle part. Repeated attempts to pat the hair into a half-heart like shape over his forehead.
“I’m trying to make my hair look like Johnny Walker!”
A month prior while still in the US, Sachit had requested his hairstylist to cut his hair like Johnny Walker’s hair. The hairstylist was familiar with Johnny Walker, not Johnny Walker. She was amused and reported this back to his mother (with possible concerns of why a five year old child had requested a hairstyle based on alcohol brand). Susmita, my sister-in-law, explained to her that Johnny Walker was an Indian actor.
This summer, Sachit, at five and three quarters year of age, left behind ear worm(s): songs from Johnny’s movies.
Sometime before their annual visit to India, my brother and sister-in-law had managed to negotiate with their son to allow them a chance to play a song of their liking. They happened to play Sar Jo Tera Chakraye which attracted the attention of this 5 3/4 year old to their surprise. He requested translated lyrics. He picked it up rather quickly and started singing along.
There has been no turning back. Really took us back to the era of Baby Shark.
This fan of Badruddin Jamaluddin Kazi is nearly a century younger to the actor. According to Wikipedia, Kazi was named Johnny Walker after playing a hapless drunkard with reference to the brand of Scotch whisky. When I found this fact, I told Sachit. He asked me what whisky was. For a moment, I forgot my nephew was probably too young to grasp what alcohol was and what it meant to be drunk. You see, he appeared to be rather precocious what with his sociological commentary, particularly on marriage and childbearing. Pointing to Pranshu and me, “You’re married, so you’ll now have a baby.” “I’m going to sell Pranshu athimber for a gazillion trillion dollars.” “Oh no, what will I do then?” “You can just marry someone else.” “Amma, why is ____ not married?” “Some people live alone without getting married.” I told him alcohol was grown up juice and pretended to not hear his follow-up questions.
“Sachit, do you want to go out?” Ignoring me and singing:
Jaane Kahaan Meraa Jigar Gayaa Ji, Abhii Abhii Yahiin Thaa Kidhar Gayaa Ji, Kisii Kii Adaaon Pe Mar Gayaa Ji [Thanks Google Translate: I don't know where my heart has gone, just now it was here, where did it go, it died at someone's whims.]
“Sachit, did you know I was in Calcutta last month?”
Suno Suno Miss Chatterjee mere dil ka matter ji, kal-katte wali ruth gayi kyu bat nahi ye better ji, b-e-t-t-e-r better b-e-t-t-e-r betterrrrr [Thanks Google Translate: Listen listen Miss Chatterjee my heart's plea, Kal-Kattawali got upset why this thing is not better ji, b-e-t-t-e-r better b-e-t-t-e-r betterrrrr]
“Pranshu athimber, you know I learnt a new song where he’s singing to a dog!”
O mere yaar tommy, Deta hoon main salaami, Rastaa naa rok meraa jaane de [Thanks Google Translate: Oh my friend Tommy, I salute you, don't block my way
, let me go]
My brother explaining to me about his work. Sachit: “Appa, what’s that song where two women want to marry him? Was it Ek Anar Do Bimar, Kaisi Uljhan Mein Pyar?” [Thanks Google Translate: One pomegranate, two sick, what kind of confused love?]
Sachit, fixing his hair in the mirror:
Haseeno sambhalo apni ye duniya, Hum to chale veerano mein [Thanks Google Translate: Beautiful ladies, take care of this world of yours, let us go into the wilderness.]
Susmita and I discussing something deep and meaningful. Sachit passing us by with an “All line clearrrrrrrrrrrrr”
“Amma, can I have a Johnny Walker themed birthday?”
Well, Appa, Amma, Bui probably wouldn’t have minded a JW themed birthday party…
His parents convinced him that his Indian birthday - to be celebrated a week before his (actual) American birthday - could be Johnny Walker themed. I ordered a picture cake with Mr Kazi’s face - he was thrilled. His grandmother prepared surprise masks with Mr Kazi’s face to wear as we brought in his birthday cake. I cued Spotify to play "Happy birthday to you”.
On cue, he screamed. He cried. Johnny Walker, we have a meltdown.
“Amma but I didn’t plan any of this!”
“This is not the song I wanted to be played!”
Hum bhi agar bache hote… Took my parents and me right back to my fifth birthday where all my photos of cake cutting were post meltdown. My parents gave an older friend the responsibility of tying a ribbon around the knife, instead of me, a responsible five year old.
Eventually, the cake was cut, then devoured. The right song was played. The party ended. They left for the airport.
Since my parents accompanied back to the US, I was tasked with cleaning up their house and occasionally check in. Every time I opened the huge, empty house, I could feel Johnny’s ghost and hear Sachit’s voice…
My YouTube algorithm stands altered from my work staple playlist BTS x Linkin Park x BSB x Coke Studio x AP Dhillon mix to all of Johnny’s greatest hits.
How sweet and magical ✨️ is this.
Yayy i chanced upon the perfect essay to read at six am on a Sunday 🤠