I was in school. She was shooting for my brother's film Barsaat.

Nothing like free lunch in the studio. I noticed that she did not eat with the rest, as was the usual practice. I went to her make-up room and found her in tears. What happened, I asked. She told me she was miserable as her family had just refused to let her work with my brother in his next film, Awara. I told her if she really wanted it, all she had to do was pray and she would get to do the film. Big words from a young tot, but it made her happy. She said "Shammi, If I get to work in Awara I shall kiss you", end of conversation. And time rolled on. Barsaat was released and was a super hit. I passed out from school, went to college, left college, and joined my father's Theater company. My brother started his next film Awara and, she was starring in it. Another fine day, and for another free lunch, I went to the shooting of Awara when she was filming. On seeing me she said, "I know, I promised, but now you are a big boy. Ask for anything else"

​

That is what I wanted to hear and blurted out "I want a gramophone". She did not even blink at my sudden response. "Come with me" she said and taking hold of my hand led me to her Riley car and drove out of the Studio. She took me to the HMV shop which was quite far from the studio, I got to select the color I wanted. Of course it had to be red, and she had it packed and put in the car. Then she drove to the Rhythm House, a record shop; I am talking of the 78 rpm days, and asked me to select 20 records. I did. My first record was The Gypsy Love Song. This was followed by Arti Shaw's Jungle Drums, Glen Miller's In the Mood and a lot of Rumbas and Sambas. My day was made, I thought. It was going to be my life that was taking off. And thus the music grew within me. I spent every moment of sober and not too sober life in the ensuing period of my life deeply involved with different phrases of music. The beat and the swing engulfed me completely. I was totally spaced out in a form of blending with the music to such an extent that there were times I danced to it in the middle of the night, lone and lost. At last I found it. My way of expressing to every form of music reached a state where I did not need to hear the music itself. It had embedded itself so deep within me that I even lost track of it. It lay dormant for a long time. And the day I had need for it, I found myself dancing and singing to every type of music. I had created a style. And it all started from a red gramophone I received instead of a kiss. For this I shall ever be grateful to her, Nargisji.