I have a Camera – Part I

I am a photographer. Not that I don’t have any other choice. May be I had but the solidarity that I was trapped in did not allow me to explore any of the other possibilities out there. My father was a renowned cameraman for a well known state newspaper. He was sometimes too busy capturing colours on to his reels and showing it off to the world who were not lucky enough to see whats out there. Perhaps they were too busy with their lives and trusted people like my father to deliver them in a sheet of paper.
I live in a society like that. Yes, we all are spectators of what’s going around but the interest is so far as the sheet of paper, which we call a “News paper” was bringing us. Eventually I grow up in this society, got myself edified and adopted photography. The smell of the newly printed photos was something that made me close to my father. His Camera’s reels lab and equipments passed on to me. And he did share his knowledge. I faintly listen to it. However not the pursuit he had for the art. I am a photographer. Not by choice but because I was trapped into it.
I am just a photographer. And I was asked to come to her office. To be given a special task. In her office. Take me in as a junior photographer. Should I be worried, happy or disturbed? I was dumbstruck from the moment I heard her voice. Her deep hoarse voice just gives the chills that most of the high class men in this country and those who have black spots laying deep had to think twice before they spoke to her. She was the hyena. She knew where the meat was rotting. Hence they made it a point to avoid her.
I accepted to be there that Monday morning. My mother was happy. She blessed me and it was a blessing coming from my father as well. That’s what she said. And she believed that I will live up to my dead fathers expectations. And she was proud that I got this position however I was skeptical to accept that I got this position not because of any talent that I may posses but my last name had its own stand point.
She was not in office when I got there. The heat was so much that I was sweating and my light blue shirt had spots. The time was half past nine and my future colleagues were settling themselves in. And she was not there still. I waited sitting on a seemingly to be comfortable but a chair that give a painful cry as I try to change position. So eventually I was uncomfortable. Because every time the chair made this sound, the woman with too much make up looks at me and gives a penetrating look.
And I waited. No sign of her. It was ten thirty. Then I saw it. Her white car. Speeding and stopping with a screech in front of the office. The whole office suddenly started to work with so much power that it reminded me of some old advertisement where they showed how bright a light would be just so you got new batteries for the torch. They were all hurrying up and I was dumb struck, of this sudden flip in people. Guess that’s what we are pretenders. We just do what we are supposed to do in front of those who have command and control over us. If not we are those lame lazy jerk. Wasting out lives, wasting time, wasting money wasting moments.
” Ah you are here.. come in..” I looked up but she was not looking at me. I looked at the secretary, the woman with make up rubbed into her face, mouthed that I am suppose to go in. So I went inside. To her office. It was not one of those perfect offices you see in tv. Papers were pilling up dust were resting peaceful on few of them. A lucky bamboo tree was placed on her table. The bamboo tree was inside a long glass filled with clear water. And the roots can be seen. A maze of roots were showing that it have a history of its own. It was watered and cared I suppose.
“I got that bamboo tree from my ex fiancée. You must have read it in news papers. Nothing is safe with these prying journalists” She laughed. I was dumbstruck for the second time. She was dangerously attractive. Her age was brilliantly disguised. “and I am one of them, well what goes around comes around, okay lets get on to business. I have to make myself present public lecture on Fair and Square journalism. She said with smirk in her face.” And you know how to take photographs? so get your stuff ready. My secretary has your name and identity card number. She will get your documents ready. You can come with me NOW.”
I was stupefied. Guess I got my first assignment. Clutched my camera, and got up to follow her as she took off.

Freedom I wanted and freedom I got.. (short story)

I got up early. Had no work. It was a Saturday. Everybody knows Saturday comes after Friday. Yes “Thank god its Friday” Friday. And now I am awake. Why? Because I actually didn’t have anything better to do. I live alone in this house. My fault, was too quick making a decision to leave home. Thinking that I need my privacy. Yes I got it here, in this four walls of a room, but the disadvantage I lost the free supply of food and free accommodation.

So I got out. From the trap made of four walls. Breathed in and breathed out the cool Saturday air. Very relaxing. Something about this Saturday morning. Even the air seems less intense. The sunlight seems to bounce on the water, of the small pond my land lady had built in the middle of the garden. Well though she calls it a pond and seems to be fond of it, its only a cement basin kept on a cement pillar. “Ah hope you want mind, I just love birds and this pond is for them” She said the day I came here. At first I thought she must be living in a dream. This is Colombo. Where the air is black and men have no time to spare for birds. And as for birds, I didn’t see any of them since I moved in here, that was four days ago.

Suddenly I heard it. Yes a caw. Looked up. Yes a crow was looking right at me. And what more to say. The thing has already built a nest. And seems to be guarding something and seems to be looking at me skeptically. I being the person I am thought its about time the crow to move from my land, which I pay a ridiculous amount, and she can go and build her own nest some where else.

Climbed the tree. Reached the nest. To my astonishment the crow just stayed on her nest. But for my most shocking surprise, I felt a sharp, peck from the back of my head, causing me to fall down upright on the hard soil. Only to notice another crow that was looking massive for a normal crow is about to charge at me. I got up to run, to be pecked by both crows. Covering my head all I could do was duck and run for the love of my head inside the house. Closed the door. Then the windows as one of them was trying to creep in. Sat on the floor. Breathed as fast as I can. And the pain was so much and felt blood rushing out. Well thats it. I shall not back down. Its either them or me. Got hold of my bat and went out. To my dismay, there were more crows. Some of them quenching their thirst from “the pond”. And two were looking at the door as they were expecting me. They saw me. I stared at them and my helpless bat just flew over and my helpless self ran inside and closed the door.

After gathering my thoughts, listened to whats happening outside. They seems to be having a big discussion. I peeped from the small crack in the door. All of them were waiting out side. For me. Me the intruder. Me who pay for this land. Me who wanted to have a good peaceful quite Saturday. What does this means? Yes I am unable to go out. I am actually trapped inside the four walls. Nothing to eat. Nothing to watch. Nothing to read. I was trapped. I was trapped inside because of my quick decision making. And somehow my boss seems to like that about me. How ironic? Well guess I will have to ask my parents to clean my room which they happily use as a store room. Yes I am moving back there. At least the crows love me back at home.

Three colours…

It has being raining all day. Damn this rain. It never understand the importance of the interview. Timothy was quite upset. He was looking forward to get himself this new job. But deep inside. He was happy. Yes one of those happy feelings that is associated with wickedness. He wanted to stay home and work on his art. He has a passion for art. His walls were filled with paintings. He just love abstract painting. It brings out the wicked feeling he has inside. Used maximum of three colours for each painting, because he believed that life is not a rainbow. It was just a colourful world, with three colours power, jealousy and passion. His favourite painting of all his work was the work he did for his best friend. Edward de Avoy. The youngest son of Mayor de Avoy. The owner of a woman that no man will ever stand a chance to look twice and live.

Friction

Dina woke up from her slumber. The day was hot. Its another weekend. Which means more people in the house. And your privacy is invaded. “Well whats my plan?” She thought, still hung over by yesterdays party, she was not quite up for a energetic day anyways. Still she had to get out. Looked at the clock hung in her room. “Woa its still 7 o’clock” she was surprised. She was suprised because she remembered her mom watching Mid day news. “Gah, I forgot to get new batteries, Well so much for hanging there o-timer, I am not in the mood fix my time, or my life for that matter”
Dina tossed and covered herself with the bed sheet. It was a hot day. She was burning inside. The fan was in its full speed. Turning turning and turning.
“Oh you turner its time you do something else watching you turn on and on make me dizzy”. She laughed.

“Egad whats wrong with me, I am talking to the fan”. Finally with lots of motivational quotes and swearing flying over head she got up.