And so it began, 5 boys who were a total stranger to each other came together to form a band to make it big. But it's been days and we were struggling to get a gig even in Jorhat.
The scene wasn't ready for this kind of chaotic music driven by pain and scars. We wanted anarchy, rage, intensity and a little creative chaos. A little riot in the local FM radio that was known to play mainstream rock from Floyd to Maiden and Priest. But this? This was new and was hard to adapt to.
SFX: - [Future event] DAVID NO!
[PRESENT DAY] "Guys we can't be sitting like ducks here, come on find any promoter or label to get us a gig." Zayne in a frustrated tone was telling this like a mission statement meant for us to comply with.
"Suggestions?" Lohit asked with a concerned tone.
"I am blank at the moment." Yugal, clueless and zoned out.
"Don't ask me." Riyan, as if he gave up.
"We go DIY! Like real punk rockers." I was confirmed at that moment.
And so, the brainstorming began, new songs were written, new sound was being made in silence, within this chaos. And a set list? Some originals and some covers.
"Present day, January 17th, 2021."
Finally with the time for SCARFEST! Our own DIY gig at a local underground pup at Lichubari, Jorhat. A thousand of people came to our show, headbanged, moshed, crowd surfed like it was Woodstock all over at KOI FISH PUB, JORHAT. And then, he saw was. David fucking Kennedy.
SFX: - [2023, JANUARY.] DAVID, WAKE UP! PLEASE FOR HEAVEN'S SAKE, DON'T LEAVE ME. BROTHER, I BEG YOU.
"AA…. AAA….AARON KASHYAP!" David in a tired state.
"No way!" David's sister, in more concerned tone.
[Back to January 17th 2022]
"Great show, a little amateur but great. David Kennedy by the way." Him with a cigar, (I hate the smell as I have been sobered since 2018 and been hitting gym.) was both complimenting and being sarcastic at the same time.
"Thank you, I suppose, Mr. Kennedy. I know who you are, a big promoter." I told this like a fanboy.
"I see you've done your homework, Mr…?" he was both enigmatic and charismatic in his tone.
"It's Aaron Kashyap sir." I was humble enough to introduce myself to the veteran.
A name he would never forget till his dying days. A name he is more afraid of now. A name who has shown him hell unleashed with a weapon, Music.
"Here's my card, call or WhatsApp if you need any help. I'll see you around kid, tata!" he makes the statement and leaves the club by tipping his fedora. Classic Jazz club owner move, Although the place wasn't a jazz club.
"Hello? What was all that about?" Zayne, with a both concerned and awkward tone.
"Don't you know him? That's David Rae Kennedy, Army and Scene veteran, ex singer of the black metal band Magna Carta which got disbanded." I schooled him like professor of metal university.
"Yeah, nice guy and all, but can he help us get signed or not? Money and recognition matter homie! Coz free gigs ain't gonna pay our bills and your gym fees." Like an elder brother wisdom, Zayne made me let my guard down.
[Elsewhere]
"Did you made contact?" A man in the shadows asked this to David.
"All done, his soul shall be mine soon. [evil grin.]" David, with a sinister tone.
"The game begins then." Man in the shadows with more sinister tone.
"You're playing a dangerous game brother; it will push you into the abyss soon." Trisha with a concerned tone
"Don't lecture me, you're only a lawyer in the courtroom in home you're just my sister." David with a rough tone.
David was more than meets the eye and I knew that the moment I met his gaze at the KOI FISH. He looked like Satan in devil's skin.
"You've been spiraling way too much since you've met MR. Kennedy. Is something worrying you?" Zayne with a concerned tone.
"I don't know, what if we are walking into a chaos unlike what we create." My intuition was speaking this and not just me in literal sense.
"Come again?" Zayne showed more concern now.
"He seems like too good to be true with that French hat, cigar and the suits." I said that because I knew that a storm was approaching.
"Enough talk for today, let's hit the gym and get our nerves pumping." Zayne was more than excited about his chest day and so he got me hyped by saying so.
Me on the other hand was supposed to hit the leg. New gym, new people. But I still carried the 4 years of experience to make an experience. I still miss Guwahati but Jorhat was treating me well enough as the hospitality was good and people has been more than humble.
It's true that there's beauty in the chaos, we just need to get creative sometimes to bend that chaotic energy to our own will.
And with each rep at the new gym, I made it home.
"Deadlift done, time for calf raise." I muttered while I still had my headphones one.
"B….b….b….bro? A….a….a….are you n….n…..n…new?" A random stammering kid approached me.
"Aaron, Aaron Kashyap, I am new in Jorhat." I replied in a friendly tone.
"H….h…..h…..Harshit Das. N...n…..n…..nice to meet you. Y...y…..y…..your form is sick and c…..c….c…..chaotic." He complemented in a impressive tone.
"Thank you, bro, how old are you?" I asked
"19. I st….st….stammer a lot which is why i….i…..i have less friends." Harshit said this like he is a bully victim.
"No worries, we are a family here, keep up the grind." I encouraged him.
"Thanks." Harshit gave me a thumbs up.
"Well, that was awkward." Zayne with his stoic nature.
"He is just a kid." I showed concern.
"Well, I am done for today." Zayne was telling the truth; he burned himself to the weights.
"I still have abs left." I am serious about it, so I made him wait after saying this.
[Elsewhere]
"Such an ethereal display of adrenaline rush. He will be a perfect contract for us." A cult leader.
"Absolutely sire!" cult member.
"Ah David." Says after spotting David. "Did you make contact with the child?" continues.
"I indeed did. Now the game shall begin." David with a sinister tone.
"Well then, the events are set in motion and his destiny shall be set by us, HAIL MAGNA CARTA!" cult leader in a leader like tone.
"HAIL MAGNA CARTA!"