Autobiography of a Cassette Tape

My story began when my master brought me to his house in Pakistan from Japan, in the late 20th century when the 21st century was eagerly waiting to make an entry.

I opened my eyes to a desi household full of people living together in a joint family system. These people were very simple and didn't know much about what discoveries were taking place in the world.

All their entertainment was TV and dramas, which used to come on PTV at 8 pm each day.

When these people came to know about me they all got super excited seeing the latest development in the field of technology.

Poor souls are always being late everywhere.

I was a young mechanical tape recorder with dual functions. It consisted of two types of cassettes.

• I came with pre-recorded cassettes encasing songs and music reels.
• I could also record voices and songs on my blank cassettes.

These people abused me, they exploited me and never paid me back.

First, it was the men in their house who started listening to Punjabi songs on me followed by sad and romantic Bollywood songs with full volume on.

I couldn't bear those pathetic Punjabi songs, my ears were about to bleed if only I had them in the first place.

The world that introduced me first( Germany/Europe) had already taken advantage of us fully.

I thought things would be different in developing countries, these people would be already busy to make their economy flourish, but what the hack is this?

They were glued to me 24/7, always listening to music and FM radio.

Some of their family members even took me to their workplace, so unprofessional of them.

They would record songs playing on the radio or a borrowed music cassette from their friends, in my blank cassette.

Only if they knew it was a violation of copyrights, they would be sued in any civilized society where it was a crime, it remained a law only for a few years.

Because they knew some people would still exploit tape recorders like this family did.

"Home Taping Is Killing Music".

However, things became different when a baby girl was born in my master's home, who was abroad and left me behind with his insane family.

Anyhow this little girl(of 2-3years) was a spoiled brat who would talk nonsense with his grandma Sometimes. I pity that old lady but she was intelligent enough.

When I was young I could record voices for 30 minutes to one hour. This ability of mine diminished with time as I grew older.

One day that old lady recorded her granddaughter's voice in my empty cassette when she was misbehaving. They put me on recording for hours and I had to listen to their stupid gossip.

Her granny warned her to show this tape to her father once he was back.

That time of listening to his daughter's mischief never came because that old and kind lady passed away.

Time passed by and the girl grew older and started listening to songs. However, her taste wasn't pathetic like her elders, fortunately.

I started liking her company, she would put me near her room's window near a switchboard (because electricity was my food). Then it was that girl, me, and her music playing in the room.

No one else was giving me attention in the house because her cousins had already owned a computer by that time. The world was shifting from cassettes to CDs and DVDs.

Her attention span also lasted very short because they bought another entertainment, yes it was called Cable. These people were so full of music, dramas and movies that they had no time for reading good books.

Only if they read good books they would know how to take care of elders in the house( like me).

But they hadn't so i was put on a dressing table as a decoration piece. No one spent time with me again let alone played me on.

I was seeing them upgrading their children and house silently. No one thought to upgrade me, they forgot I was made in Japan, not China, I had feelings that lasted longer than Chinese products.

I saw this girl listening to music on mp3, I wish I was a Walkman, small enough to let her carry me in her hands.

They brought me to their new house and put me in the lowest cabin of their TV trolley. Dust occupied me, they were nice enough to dust it off, and my fate kept me in the same place in their new home.

I still have recorded cassettes of their grandparent's folk songs, which they sang by themselves.

No one has time to play them.

I was over the moon when this girl took me out and dusted me off one day. Finally, she will play music again and bring out my cassettes(I thought so)

My bubble of happiness vanished when she put me on the ground and brought her mobile phone camera to click my photos.

Yes, you got it right, she was clicking vintage photos of antiques for some steemit contest, I heard her mentioning this with excitement.

I was about to cry on her cruelty only if I had eyes.

But I chose to pose like a good object, if she was happy her way I wouldn't complain anyone.

She put me back in the last cabin of the cupboard again. I have stayed there since that day, seeing everyone around me treating me as they treat their old parents, after taking advantage of their whole youth.

I just wish she bring me out again with love, to show me off to her friends, proving that she owns antique(I am just a decoration item or what they say: i have got vintage vibes)

This generation cares more about perfect pictures than things in real life.

I'm also of no use now, my wire is broken, and they can never listen to those recorded cassettes of their grandparents. 26-30 years have passed and they have expired now.

Everything has an expiry date before we can consume them fully, these kids will realize it in the future or maybe not, as they are too busy with their gadgets to think deeply or take care of old things.