Book Anecdote

Ultimate breakup line

Ranz — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 07:03:01 +0000

I always wonder how come I remember the day I broke up but never the day we started to fall for each other. Is it because love is such a feeling that it creeps into the heart and its so fragile that it vaporises itself the moment it exposes itself to hot lava.

I found that he was already engaged.

“you are engaged?” I confronted him. He looked at me. I couldn’t read his eyes. His brown eyes stared at me blank as a grey blank sheet.

“Yes” he heaved a sigh. “I didn’t want to tell you, but yes..its before we met” I heard him say.

I remember the feeling. The wind stopped dead and it was hard to breath. I was burning from the rays of sun and rays of despair within me. The world around me became just a sketches with no colours. I forgot where I was and who I am. I got up and ran as fast as I can. I heard him calling but I was already drifting away, from him.

Next day we met again. For closure. Just to respect what we had and to end this love. Then I uttered the line, the ultimate break up line. “Let’s stop this forbidden love”

So we broke up. Walked away from each other. One spring day we broke up and the world still spins.

Posted in Short Story

I have a Camera – Part I

Ranz — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 14:33:25 +0000

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.

Posted in I have a Camera Tagged: Camera, Journalist, Photography

Free me!!!

Ranz — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 16:15:56 +0000

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.

Posted in Short Story Tagged: Crows, nonsense, peace, privacy, Saturday

Three colours…

Ranz — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 06:27:20 +0000

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.

One day Edward came to meet him.

“Machan Timothy, I am getting married to Anna, need you to do me a painting, both me and her”

“Sure man.. We’ll do it this weekend”

*************************************************

She entered the room, all he could see was the three colours. Blue Yellow and Red. Pricking his eyes and losing his senses. Timothy was shaking inside; the heart was beating so fast that he looked at Edward fearing that he could hear the thumping sound rising with every move she made. She was not beautiful. Timothy was not sure what the exact word this creature in front of him must be called. All he could think was she is Blue Yellow and Red.

The picture was of them. Of Edward and this creature of three colours. Edward was holding these three colours. Timothy started to draw. Drew Edward in Yellow. Light yellow, that there were no feelings for anyone but himself. Had everything brought on to him. Made him wear a Blue suit. Dark blue. With a dark tie that has a yellow line running over.

Then Timothy looked at her. Her red dress. The lips. Crimson lips matching what she was making him feel inside. He drew her, took extra effort to make the right red for her lips. Still he didn’t have the right colour.

The painting was done. Edward in pale yellow made Timothy jealous more as he looked. The blue suit just matched the power he was born with. And then her. The creature of three colours smiling at him with her red lips slightly curved around the corners. She was looking at him. As if she was talking something that he never understand.

He gave the painting away. As a wedding gift. Their wedding gift. He gave away his three colours, as the wedding gift.

******************************************

Now the rain has stopped. He needed money. Paintings were hanging on their own. He never wanted to sell them to those women coming in over protective cars and bargain for a price they half understand and snatch them away. Their only question was, why all the painting has only three main colours. These women half understand that these three colours are the beginning of the world. And he was too tired to answer them.

He stepped outside. Mud puddles in each step he take. Still he has to go for this interview somehow. Must make a living. Must forget about the three colours.

Posted in Short Story Tagged: Blue, Jealousy, Passion, Power, Red, Yellow

Friction

Ranz — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 06:26:00 +0000

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.

Looked at herself in the mirror on her way to the bathroom. “Eh.. I seriously need another hair-cut”. She tried to smooth her hair. Still it was too stubborn. Just like her. Never listen to anyone. He used to love her hair. She remembered. It was wild and uncontrollable. She was surprised, because her mom said that with hair like that no body is going to like her. But he loved it. Well at least he said that he liked it. “You are too stubborn” Thats the reason he gave the last day they met. She remembered how stunned she was to listen to those words. But the words were out. They ran through her wild hair and in to her heart.

She looked at her again. Well no more wild hair. She just went and cut it short. Wanted a new look. A new attitude. Now she have one. With lots of hair care products. The hair looks decent. But when she wakes up each morning, the hair looks messy. But after she is all dressed up and ready to go to work, she turns to be quite nicely dressed,neat sophisticated girl. Even she likes that person in the mirror. Everyone loves her.

Dina had a wash. Got dressed to go out. Got her gypsy bag under her bed. Checked her purse. Enough money to go for a drink. Took her mobile phone out. Called Gisha. It took sometime for her to pick up the phone.

“Ello, who is this” Gina sounds sleepy.
“Hi Gi..what’s up?”
“Wha??? who?? eh..you? whats wrong with you woman?… “
“What you say? I don’t wanna be at home..shall we go for some shopping..???”
“Shopping?? thought you are broke..besides i am too sleepy ya..”

Gisha, you spoiil sport. “c’mon will you just window shopping.. i will buy you a drink afterwards..will come and pick you too..”

“No.. No .. No.. i am still in my hungover..no can do.. bye” Click. She kept the phone.

Dina put the phone inside her bag. Didn’t feel like calling up anyone else. Too bad no one is helping her to pass this lazy Saturday off.May be its time for her to go alone for a ride. She was never alone after he left her. She didn’t want to be. She wanted people around her just to make herself forget about him. It was hard to move on. It reminded her advanced level physics class.

“A block weighing 75 kilos is placed on a plank angled at 35 degree. The coefficient of friction between block and plank is 0.25. A force of 50N was given to the block The force is given parallel and towards upward direction of the plank. Now calculate the distance the block will move…”

She failed physics. Never knew what force over powered what force. She was confused all the time. She was confused why everyone wanted to know how far things move. And what force they should apply to stop objects that was moving. She was just too good in chemistry. Then again it was useless too. Because apparently there was no chemistry in her life. That’s what he said “We have no chemistry together..”

Dina sighed. It is hard to move on. Everything reminds me of him. Well enough of this she decided to go out by herself.

She came down stairs. Dad was at home. For a change.

“Dina I am taking your car today”
“what? why?”
“The breaks are not working in my car. And the tires are all used, not enough friction.. Call the mechanic and get it fixed”
“But..but… but I wanted to go out.. promised my friends..can i take your car?”

Dad just took her keys and went out. Damn you friction you just made my day.

Posted in Short Story Tagged: Love, Saturday