Lata Mangeshkar's call perks up Adnan Sami's ailing father

Mumbai, March 2 (IANS) Pakistani singer Adnan Sami says doctors noticed miraculous change in his ailing father's condition when singing legend Lata Mangeshkar called him up to enquire about his health.

Adnan says that both he and his father, Arshad Sami Khan, were overjoyed when they got a call from the singer Wednesday.

'Lataji had heard that my baba was her ardent fan. 'It's Lataji', I shook my father awake and thrust the phone in his hand. My father woke up groggy and disoriented. 'Lata who?' he said. When I told him it was the Lata Mangeshkar, his absolute favourite, my sick dad suddenly came alive. Even his personal doctor from Houston noticed the miraculous change in my father,' Adnan told IANS.

The relationship between Adnan's dad and Lata goes back a long way.

'My dad's mother used to sing one of Lataji's lullabye's 'Dheere se aaja ri ankhiyan mein' to put my father to sleep. And as a child I remember my father singing the same lullaby for me every night. And now I sing 'Dheere se aaja' for my son Azaan.

'Now when my dad sleeps, he likes to hear the same lullaby. So Lataji is more than just a musical icon for me. In our family she is a symbol of continuity, bonding and eternal harmony,' said Adnan.

'Lataji doesn't know what she has done for my father. She has made his dream come true. She spoke to him for nearly an hour, soothing his nerves, calming him with wonderful words of encouragement. She then spoke to me at length and told me to be strong and a courageous son and prepare for the inevitable. I broke down repeatedly while talking to her,' he said.

The happiest moment for Adnan was when he composed a duet for Lata in 'Lucky' and sang it with her.

'I now want to do a full album with her. It's my dad's wish,' he said.

And now Adnan's content father has one last wish - he wants Lata to visit Pakistan for the sake of her fans across the border.