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It sounds too good to be true- How can someone as popular and in demand as Armin Van Buuren decide to perform in India? The Number One Trance DJ in the world..the reigning God of Trance. Doesn’t he only play for crowds bigger than ten thousand? I share my predicament with my trance lover friend in Europe. He dismisses it right away, ‘it is not listed on Armin’s official website… most probably, it is a gimmick, you should forget about it.’ Somehow, I am still not convinced. The event details are there on the Club’s website! They have listed out contacts of the organizers… and regular updates are popping up on my Facebook wall!
What if it is true? What if he is coming to New Delhi, for real? Logically, if big names like, Above and Beyond and Gareth Emery can make it, then MAYBE even Armin would. Let’s just assume that it is indeed, true. BUT, how will I get there? Who will I go with? How will I get back home safely?
I live alone, in Gurgaon, a satellite town of Delhi, in an area with negligible local conveyance. I don’t have my own vehicle, I don’t want to be stuck in evening traffic, so I don’t want to take a cab either. I figured, the fastest way to get there would be to travel by Metro. The club is so far away that it requires me to get to Central Delhi, go across it to the State on the other side. Travel time-1 hour 45 mins.
My party friends in Delhi are not too keen, ‘it is the rowdiest clubs in the area, why do you want to go there?? Forget about us, even you shouldn’t go! and who the hell is Arvin?!(Armin).’
Alas! none of my ‘locally available’ friends are up for it. I don’t want to take ‘just anyone’ with me. The last thing I want is to drag along a friend and find him sulking and looking at the watch while I pay respect to my God. But, I better not be all by myself. The passes are rather expensive. It is less than four days away AND it is still not confirmed on his website. Hmm…
In the meanwhile, the organizers – Deep Sound Entertainment, had started flooding facebook with Early Bird Passes frenzy. It just fuels my sense of urgency.
Life had been different, just fifteen days ago. Upon hearing that Gareth Emery was visiting, my dearest friend- Monika and me had jumped at the opportunity, grabbed a guy friend (of hers) and gone to the Club! (As fate would have it, she was in the process of switching jobs and had to move out of the city for good, that very weekend.)
No conveyance, no company, no assurance… Hmm..’LET ME JUST GET THE PASS, at least..one pass valid for two people.’ I thought to myself. I had happened to make friends with one guy out of the team. This organizer- was a typical young, cute, dynamic Delhi boy. I called him up to inquire. He told me that one pass will be valid for one ‘couple’. And, because this is huge,(it is Armin), two girls will not be allowed in as a couple. They will be considered stags. Two girls, two passes. Take it or leave it.’ ‘Umm, OK, let me get back to you.’
How I wish Monika was here! Yes, she loves ‘drum and bass’ more than trance, but she is always game for a good time! Who Do I go with now?! A part of me says ‘So what if she has moved to another city! At least, talk to her about it!’ So I speak to my Hungarian friend, Monika. (We both had moved to Gurgaon around the same time and had shared the most amazing friendship, living together for three months.) Now, she was eight hours away by road. And guess what, the powerhouse of energy that she is; she wants to attend the event! It is too short a notice. She has very little idea of local Indian transport, does not speak the language, has no company yet and lives eight hours away. But she is game! WHY? Because she loves me and would love to meet me! I have never bonded with another, the way I have with her. Such intense platonic love that it amazes both of us. We are soul sisters…..and she knows how much I love Armin.
How does she know? From the desktop wallpapers, from it being the only thing I listen to at work, after work, in the Metro. She is willing to travel ALL the way, just to attend it, with ME.. even though she loves ‘drum n bass’ more!!. How will she travel? No train tickets are available – local buses? Who will she travel with? We don’t know for sure, yet..but she figures that it would be great to meet me… it had been two weeks since she had moved out..and attending Gareth Emery’s show together was an exhilarating experience, simply off the roof… It had liberated both of us. It elevated us from the complex emotional quagmires each one of us was in. Plus, we love challenges. Moreover, that’s what real friends are for, right?!
‘Two female stags cannot go as a couple.’ Fine! we’ll buy two couple passes. Now, we need to ‘arrange’ two boys. How ironic. Usually, boys are the ones looking for female companions. And look at us!!
Wanted: two boys, who are nice to be with, but not too clingy and not too stingy. Hopefully, they will be willing to go Dutch about the ticket .. and more importantly, whose presence next to us will keep shallow, stubborn drunk loafers at bay…but won’t turn into shallow, stubborn drunk themselves.
Let me get four tickets for the time being…We’ll find a way out!