Some memories never fade. They stay quietly hidden in our hearts until a familiar melody brings them back with perfect clarity. For me, that melody is “Chahunga Main Tujhe Saanjh Savere,” sung by Mohammed Rafi in the classic Hindi film Dosti.
Even today, whenever I hear that song, the present disappears. I am immediately taken back to the crowded auditorium of Amrit Science College (ASCOL) in Kathmandu, where I was attending orientation as a newly admitted Class 11 student.
By all accounts, it should have been one of the happiest days of my youth. I had passed my School Leaving Certificate (SLC) examination and earned a seat at one of Nepal’s top science colleges. All around me, hundreds of students were excited to start a new chapter in their lives. The room was filled with youthful energy, laughter, and hope.
Yet, my heart was heavy with fear.
That morning, before leaving for college, I had seen my mother lying seriously ill at home. It was incredibly hard to leave her side, but the orientation was important and I had no choice. Throughout the journey to college and long after I took my seat in the auditorium, my thoughts stayed with her. I kept wondering how she was doing, if she was getting worse, and if I would find her alive when I returned home.
As part of the orientation, the college screened the Hindi film Dosti. The movie is a beautiful story of friendship, sacrifice, and resilience. Then came the unforgettable song, “Chahunga Main Tujhe Saanjh Savere.”
The words speak of deep love and lifelong devotion. They express the pain of being separated and the promise that true love never dies, no matter what happens in life. Even though the song was meant to show the close friendship between the two boys in the film, my heart heard something completely different.
For me, every word became a conversation with my mother.
As Mohammed Rafi’s voice filled the auditorium, I could no longer hold back my emotions. My fear, my helplessness, my love for my mother, and the uncertainty of the future completely overwhelmed me. I burst into tears.
I did not just cry—I sobbed uncontrollably. My crying became so loud that the students sitting around me stopped watching the movie and turned to look at me. I barely noticed them. At that moment, nothing else mattered. The only person in my thoughts was my mother.
Looking back now, I understand why I reacted so strongly. The song gave a voice to the emotions I had been trying to hide all morning. It allowed me to let out the grief and fear that I had locked inside. Music has a special power to reach deep places in the human heart that regular words cannot touch.
Many decades have passed since that afternoon. I have experienced success and loss, happiness and sorrow. I have grown older and seen many changes in life. Yet, that day in the ASCOL auditorium remains as vivid as ever.
Whenever I hear “Chahunga Main Tujhe Saanjh Savere,” I become that girl all over again—sitting silently among hundreds of students, with a heart full of anxiety for her sick mother. The melody instantly brings back her face, her gentle presence, and the deep bond we shared.
Some songs entertain us. Some songs inspire us. But a very few become a part of our life story.
For me, this song is not just music from an old film. It is a timeless reminder of my mother’s love, my love for her, and one unforgettable day that will stay etched in my heart forever.