Power of Music

It was a busy Monday morning; I parked my car in the parking garage and entered the city's tallest building. People were rushing; I waited for all those in hurry-up mode, then I took an empty elevator and clicked on the floor number in the panel. The elevator started moving upwards; almost 4 seconds later, I heard some weird noise three times, and suddenly the elevator stopped.

Knowingly or unknowingly, all these years, I have been paying attention to the sound created by the elevator when it passes every floor. I knew that the elevator crossed the 5th floor, and I was stranded alone in the elevator between the 5th and 6th floors.

First, I clicked on the alarm button in the panel; it rang a bell, and I thought someone would hear it and inform the facilities management. I waited a few minutes and tried the alarm button again, but I had no luck.

Next, I saw a small door under the number panel and tried opening it. When I opened it, I saw the phone, lifted the handset and put it in my ears. I didn't hear any sound. I noticed no dial pad associated with the phone except one call button. I clicked the call button and waited for someone to pick up and talk to me, but it left a voice message. I called the emergency phone the second time, but I had no luck again.

Next, I called my manager, who could not hear me well as the Cell Phone signal strength was deficient. I repeated the exact words "Stuck in Elevator." He understood my situation, and he told me he would reach out to Facilities management.

"Worry is like a rocking chair: it gives you something to do

but never gets you anywhere."

— Erma Bombeck

I waited for a few minutes and again tried calling through the emergency phone in the elevator; finally, someone picked up and asked, "May I help you?"

I said, "Yes, I am stuck in Elevator."

He asked, "Where are you calling from? Address? Elevator number? What is your name? What is your cell phone number?." I calmly answered all the questions.

He told me, "Do not panic. You will be fine, and We will call back when we have an update."

After this, there was no communication, and I pressed the Alarm button every 5 minutes, thinking someone would hear and arrange for help".

"To fear is one thing.

To let fear grab you by the tail and swing you around is another."

— Katherine Paterson

Meanwhile, My wife called me and said, "You forgot to carry your lunchbox today."

My inner voice said," I did not even have breakfast."

I didn't want her to panic, So I told her, "I am swamped and getting ready for the meeting and will call back later."

I tried everything I knew, but nothing worked, and time was running out; I started feeling tired and sweating. And I noticed that I was breathing more than usual. I told myself I had to control my breath and should not create room for negative thoughts.

"Panic causes tunnel vision.

Calm acceptance of danger allows us to assess the situation

and see the options more efficiently."

— Simon Sinek

I sat in the elevator, took my phone, and turned on the itanpura app. Listening to the drone music, I closed my eyes and did not think about anything except the music. I started singing slokas and songs in Revathi raaga. This melody creates positive energy, and people chant Indian Vedic verses and slokas in this Raaga Revathi.

"If there is one thing that is constant in this world, it is the power of music."

— Josh Groban

Suddenly, I heard a loud banging noise that scared me, but I continued to sing without opening my eyes. The more I merged into that music, the more it dissolved all my thoughts, including thoughts about being stuck in an elevator, pressing the alarm button, breathing heavily, and sweating.

"Music has healing power.

It has the ability to take people out of themselves for a few hours."

— Elton John

After some time, I heard a banging noise again, and someone spoke, "Are you doing okay? Don't worry; we are here to save you." When I continuously heard some noise, I opened my eyes and saw someone trying to open the door. They could open the half door a little and saw me sitting on the floor with drone music in the background.

They asked me, "Are you okay?"

I said, "I am doing well." I could feel new air rushing through the small opening of the door. Facilities management notified Emergency personnel, who arrived in another 10 minutes and were able to open the door. Finally, after over two and a half hours stranded in the elevator, I came out.

There were at least ten people outside; they all looked stressed, and I was so calm and quiet.

One after the other asked me several questions,

How come you are smiling? We expected you to be in panic mode.

How come you are so calm? Were you not worrying all this time?

Are you fine? Do you want us to call 911 / medical support?

I thanked them for their help and told them that I was excellent. I continued to take another elevator to go to my office.

If I panicked, worried, and opened my mind to allow negative thoughts, that would have worsened my situation. I was able to handle the problem because of MUSIC.

The event was not under my control, but MUSIC completely changed the outcome.

“svAdu phala prada sapta. svara rAga nicaya sahita

nAda lOluDai brahm-AnandamandavE manasA”

— Sri Thyagaraja

O My Mind! Attain the Supreme bliss by being immersed in the music which

Consisting of seven notes and a multitude of melodies that bestows sweet results.