Neeti Kaikini, our Nightingale

Neeti Kaikini

As I’d mentioned before, Neeti’s inclusion in Team Miracle was truly a miracle. A former colleague of Amitabh, she just happened to hear that he was rehearsing for a music program to cheer up patients at the Cancer Ward in Command Hospital.

“Would you mind if I joined in,” she popped the question.

Mind? We were delighted because that is exactly what we needed! And when Neeti regaled us with one Golden Oldie after the other, we knew we had struck gold. Neeti can sing in any voice – Lata, Asha Bhonsle, Geeta Dutt…and even Sunidhi Chauhan’s sexy ‘Kaisi paheli zindagani’. In fact, she’s particularly good with what we laughingly call drunken songs – Aao huzoor tumko, Aaiye meherbaan, Raat akeli hai  …and all the rest.

We love her feisty smiling face, her untiring enthu. Neeti is not just a great singer …she’s a general do-gooder. She left her hot-shot corporate job a few years ago to have a more meaningful life. She volunteers regular teaching time with kids at Akanksha. On Saturdays, she’s set herself another goal. On these days, you’ll find Neeti in her kitchen, cooking up a lunch, packing it and then distributing it amongst beggars in her locality.

And why did she volunteer to sing at the Command Hospital? Both her parents are cancer survivors…and her father being a retired Army officer, they were both treated at the Command Hospital. This was Neeti’s way of giving back!

Enthooz – our music band!

Enthooz - rehearsal in progress

One of Team Miracle’s first activities was to hold Music Programs at the Paraplegic Rehab Centre, Artificial Limb Centre or at the Cancer Wards of hospitals. Nowadays, we have tie-ups with various schools, and music and dance academies, who volunteer wonderful programs. But it all started as an in-house family band – my husband Anup who plays the mouth organ, his brother Amitabh on the guitar, his wife Neelima, and Art Based Therapy practitioner who is a wizard on a variety of unusual instruments and last but not least – Neeti Kaikini our vocalist, (whom we have nicknamed our Nightingale  because of her beautiful voice).

Fired by our enthusiasm for making music and spreading cheer through music, Neeti has nicknamed us the ‘Enthooz’.

Our regular get-togethers at Amitabh-Neelima’s home to rehearse our Golden Oldies songs are a real picnic. Sometimes. Their kids Mohit and Shubha also join in – Mohit on the tabla, and Shobha on the keyboards. And after the rigorous four-hour session, Neelu rewards us with a scrumptious lunch (or dinner if it’s evening).

Now that’s a great reason to have a Music get-together isn’t it?