Life may be a flow of moments that play on as compound ragas, different emotions converging on a common note, sometimes setting off a dichotomous melody, or blending into the mood of the minute. Within this interplay, the varjit swara, the unheard note, plays a crucial part in balancing the identity of the raga. As we remember a life steeped in solitude, we see a passion immersed in the insular and determined pursuit of knowledge. Dhondutai Kulkarni passed away on 1 June, 2014, leaving behind a void that continues to carry around it the aura of uncompromising love and devotion to music. This absent note today emphasises the presence of the strong legacy of Jaipur-Atrauli gharana that the veteran vocalist nurtured.