Me, my camera and not HIM

I like photography… I like taking photos… but with one exception. I don't want to take photos of him. I hate that job of taking photo of someone who poses the same way every time I try to click. Same blank smile looking into the camera lens as if though trying to tell everyone that he is in the photo. Come on. Give me a break…. Even my camera would have got tired of capturing the same guy.
Sometimes I don't want to see the album with his photo. I get irritated not able to find any change between the photos. Its only the backdrop that changes. And with his staring straight at us takes out the beauty of the photograph. Photograph should convey a message. Not just a portrait. You are not taking your photograph for Passport. When you want to capture a lively moment be alive and be natural. Don't act infront of a camera. Be casual. Be what you are and not what you want to be seen. And to show what you want to be, you need to be an expert in facing the camera and expressing your thoughts. A blank smile wont show that you are happy.
For example, if you are standing by the sea and want to express the beauty of the water, don't show your blank smile at the camera. See the sea, breathe the freshness of sea water, close your eyes and breathe the fresh air, imagine diving into the waves and open your eyes. You will feel your happiness and your face will look cheerful and that's what will be the time to take your memorable photo. Remember, its not your face that smiles, its your mind that smiles and is shown on your face. I can click thousands of photo of the same person who expresses his thoughts and not just stares at the lens. Try to be one of them. And you will have your best photograph taken.

But how can I tell all these without hurting that person. I couldn't do it. He left feeling bad hearing my comments. What to do?

Tale of two other kitties

*******SPOILER WARNING*******

"The British are coming… The British are coming……" Garfield is seen chased by British guards. That's the funniest scene in the movie. To say it right, one of the very few funny scenes in the movie. The first movie itself showed a different Garfield from that of the original character. John was shown as a lucky guy and he found a GIRL for him. But somehow the story was good and it was funny. But come on, you can't take the same formula for the next movie. Garfield plays a dual role in the second movie. And both the characters don't have any resemble to the original Garfield. Please try to think. Garfield enjoying the life by RUNNING AROUND THE HOUSE???? If you say that he enjoys walking two steps from his place, I would suspect if that's the original Garfield. Here he plays with his animal friends and there is a new sidekick too. A competitor to Odie? Nah… It's a bulldog and an intelligent one. For a difference, even Odie acts intelligent in the movie. Odie could spot Garfield in the newspaper and show it to John. What more. Now we have a big group of animals, talking and planning to save the world….sorry… planning to save Garfield. Sometimes, it makes us wonder whether Garfield is the main character in the movie. He is shadowed by the other animals. To make things worse, Garfield even hands over the ring to John. Does this mean Garfield is ready to accept a woman in John's life? No way. I want a full health check up on Garfield soon. He must have got hurt in his small head (you know it's just his tummy that's big). To sum it up, I think the movie name should have been changed from "Tale of two kitties" to "Tale of two other kitties" for there is no Garfield in the movie.

*******SPOILER WARNING*******

Why

I just wonder what happened to me!
I am not the same guy I used to be!

I am not working well now a days.
I am not putting my best efforts these days.
I get distracted easily and
My concentration in work has gone badly.

I just wonder what happened to me!
I am not the same guy I used to be.

There was a time when I would stay
all night to complete the task assigned that day.Now
I feel tasks are just
another part of life and mostly delay in doing that.

I just wonder what happened to me!
I am not the same guy I used to be.

I leave the office so early
with more work of the day left knowingly.
I need to get back to my life
Leaving all these changes far behind.

I just wonder what happened to me!
I am not the same guy I used to be.

Nothing changes

Disclaimer: All characters and incidents told or inferred in this story are fictious. Though this might appear as a real incident to some persons and they may have experienced themselves, this is completely imaginative. Only the underlying theme is real.

"Who is it?" the voice came from the house. It was the familiar voice. A voice that I have heard for more than 10 years in my young age. I didn't say anything. I just knocked the door again. "Cant you hear that I am asking who it is?" the voice came again this time growing louder. I didn't know how to answer. How should I answer? Should I call her in the same way as "Miss" or should I say "I am here to see Srimagal teacher". I don't know. It's been 12 years since I saw her. The door opened and I saw Srimagal miss coming out with an angry look. She saw me. I didn't know how to respond. I just stood there smiling. She has grown older. But still looked very familiar to me. Seeing my smile, she was confused. She might have thought I am some mad guy. Then she raised her eyebrow and began to think. I couldn't control giggling. She started to recognize me. I said "Miss….." to help her know me. Immediately she knew who I am. She felt happy and called "Dai...Vinoth!". I laughed. I was actually surprised she can still recognise me. She opened the door completely and invited me inside the house. I could still remember the days in which she will not allow me inside her house when I come late for the tuition. Our house was only next to Srimagal miss's house. Whenever I go late, she used to shout the same words, "Will it take one hour to take 10 steps from your house to here for you?" . And I will just look on the floor and the dog on the road. I think this is the first time, she is inviting me inside the house.

She was very happy to see me and started asking questions continuously.

"When did you come to India?". "Yesterday", I answered.

"How are your parents?"

"Fine"

"How are you?"

"Fine miss"

"How is the work?"

"It's good"

"Where is your mom?"

"In home"

Watching me answer in single words she laughed and acted like being angry "… dai tell something?"

I laughed. "Miss, what can I ask if you keep on asking questions like the one mark questions in Geography"

She again laughed. "Vinoth… you have learnt to talk well".

I realised that I have never answered in more than one or two words before to her.

I just smiled. And this is the first time she has shown happiness in talking to me. I was always afraid of her in school days and will avoid facing her at any time. Even if I had come to her house to play with Tommy, their pup dog, I would run back to my house if she enters the house. And she would shout "Dog came to play with dogs while there is lot to study" "I would start crying and run to my mom who would laugh and say "That's why we didn't buy any dog in our home". Even I would start laughing at that but will try to cry to show that I don't want to be said as dog". My mom will always make me laugh at the end. Only Srimagal miss's mother used to support me. She would say "Why do you have to scold the small boy even on Sunday?"

We just stood without knowing what to talk. "Vinothu!!" a voice came from behind. It was her mother. She identified me even without seeing my face. "How are you aachi?" I asked we used to call her before. "Everything and everyone are fine. How are you da Kanna?" was her reply. The same old reply. Nothing has changed from her. Srimagal miss asked what I was wondering in my mind, "How did you identify Vinoth, ma?" She answered, "I was in the market and saw Vinoth's mom. I was thinking about him all the way and seeing a big person inside our house thought it must be our Vinoth". We all laughed.

"Then I heard that you are getting married. Is that true?" she asked. Srimagal miss started her questions again.

"When is it?"

"Next month miss"

"Which Place?"

"US only"

"American????" she asked shockingly.

I started laughing. "No! no! Indian only."

"Oh! What is she doing?"

"She is my colleague in office"

"Oh great!.......what….. Love marriage?"

I laughed again. "No… no… actually.. yes.. but no. Mom only decided"

"What yes and no?"

"I liked her. But I didn't propose to her. Somehow mom found out and all was decided"

"Dai….. tell me the truth"

"Seriously, actually it's all mom. Not like a love marriage." Aachi also started to tease me. "I know about you. You will never talk to any other girl".

She was true. When I was a kid, I won't feel comfortable talking to girls. Everyone used to tease me for that reason.

I just laughed.

"You have really grown up" exclaimed my teacher.

"Don't praise too much. It's not good for health", aachi stopped her in the middle. Same old sentiments.

We talked for two hours. She was so happy to hear about my work and achievements in US. Tears fell down from her eyes when she heard that I am taking my parents to US along with me and will get settled there. She said that she knew that I will become like this one day. I don't know what to say. I have only heard her scolding me all the time in my school days. She used to say "That I should buy buffaloes and become a shepherd in the future" Aachi used to support me again "Don't discourage the small boy". Today, she is in happy tears hearing about my work. Seeing her, tears started coming out of my eyes too. She smiled and shook my hair. I stopped her from doing that by instinct. She laughed. "You have never changed". I don't like anyone to touch my hair from my childhood. My hand will automatically stop anyone touching my head. We all laughed. After sometime, I prepared to leave. I came out of the house and said good bye to them. Suddenly, some small kid ran past me faster into the house. He almost knocked me down. Teacher started shouting "Ravi. Go back to your house and study. No playing toda…." She stopped. She turned to me and laughed. "He is the new Vinoth here" He is staying in your old house. I saw him peeping from the door inside. "Ravi, you can play. Only for today" she said to him. The small boy ran again inside the house. I started hearing balls knocking the wall.

I smiled and got into my car. I waved good bye and drove away. Has she changed? No.... Teachers never change. They care even though you never know them.

Follow your Instincts!?

My brain was suspicious. But my mind hesitated. I could be wrong and it will be embarrassing not only for me but for the other person too. But what if my instincts are correct? They say we should follow our instincts. But I am really worried about following that now. The question "What if I am wrong?" was bothering me again and again. I raised my face towards his direction and I saw him standing in the crowd again. He also noticed me. I pretended that I was looking at someone else behind him. With my brain still trying to make some logical reasons for me to think I might be right, my mind tried to do what it does best. Move away the thought and get distracted to something else. With the clock ticking, the train reached the second station. Should I get down of the train? No. That would be foolish. But who cares? Everyone will think that it's my stop. But won't I be fooling myself. Or is this a selfish act. Yeah. It will be a selfish act and also an irresponsible one. I saw him again. My instincts were telling that I am right. I don't want to be right. I shouldn't be. I hoped that I am wrong. He looked young. Must be below 25 years of age and wears the long kurta with a woolen sweater. The more the thought that he can't be one of them, the more I got suspicious that I might be right. After all, you can never expect how a person like him would look like. I have never met someone like him for real. Or I hope I haven't. My stop came. I was still confused what to do. I just got down of the train slowly. I said to myself tht I am wrong about that guy. He can't be. The announcement went on repeating "If you find anything suspicious please report it to the member of the staff immediately". Should I report about him? I dismissed the idea and went to my office. I felt ashamed that my instincts might have been correct, but still I risked the life of 1000 passengers including me. The next day, I checked the news. There was no incident of bomb blasts or terrorist attack in the trains. I felt relieved. I was wrong. He was not a terrorist.

Part of life

My fellow treatfreak Ramesh posted this message in our orkut community.
Ramesh: I was in Hyderabad, but i was away from all fellow treat freaks ...But i'm now in japan talking to them more frequentlyu or as frequwntly as we were in Bnglre ...It seems that distance from aussie tojapan to uk to Us accross the world is shrinking ...Guys wht do u say ......:D
And here is my thought on it.
INJEY: Neither the world is shrinking nor the personal space coming closer. Its just the part of life. Being in offshore, we had lot of responsibilities. I mean it. We had lot of responsibilities. Weekdays are always working hours. And limited connectivity to the internet too. And in weekends, who wanted to sit infront of the computer (except me) and wait for the friends to come online. Everyone wanted a change. Now most of us are in onsite, the need for communication has increased. With connected to the internet and the long gap of less communication, has moved us in the cycle. we are back here trying to contact each other a lot. After sometime, this will come to a optimal level and stabilise. May be it will go for a fall. But it will raise again. Its all part of life.
Am I preaching????? ha ha. What to do. Sitting infront of the computer as usual today.

Stone soup

To the highest level of surprise for me, Shariq said that we can make sandwich at home. Shariq is my new housemate in London. He is a guy from UP. To tell about him, he believes that he still lives in India. For him, food means spicy hot curry with lot of masala and pulses in it. Anything else like burger or bread is a side dish. And most importantly he thinks vegetarian food is a speciality that we can once in a while. He is always at such a high level of diversification from my views yet I like to make fun of him most of the time. Coming to the story, he always discourages at the idea of having sandwich for a complete meal. But that day, he himself suggested we can make sandwiches. So with much enthusiasm I entered the kitchen. Though I like cooking, I rarely try it. He asked me to cut vegetables first. We looked into the fridge to find what vegetables we have. There were few potatoes, onions and carrot. Now the biggest question is what we should use for the sandwich. While I was wondering what to make, Shariq suggested mixing some masala powders to the vegetable mix. Oops. Here we go again. "Shariq, sandwich is supposed to be plain vegetables. Not your curry masala in it". He came back with his usual reply, "It will be good and it's healthy. We can make aloo baaji too". I know where this is going. It will end up in some potato curry and we will have to eat the curry with bread. It will not be a sandwich. His name for this idea was "Indian Sandwich". I wonder if that's another name for "Shariq's masala baaji bread". My dreams of having a vegetable sandwich started evaporating. Determined not to leave my dream, we had an argument in which he said he will show me how to cook. Oh oh. I can just recall the old story "Stone Soup".

Somehow I managed to make his mind to work on cooking sandwich and not sabji. It took sometime for me to explain him that Sandwich is different from sabji. But still his recipe for the filling went on with masala powders and included chillies too. And to add more on that, we were frying the vegetables. I thought he is teaching me how to make stone soup. After an hour of cooking, we finally made the vegetable mix. It was neither a salad nor a curry. And we stuffed it inside bread along with ketchup. With triangular slices of sandwich stacked on the plate, we started the dinner watching the movie "The memento". I felt that I am having sandwich at last. Good day that it didn't turned to be chicken soup instead of stone soup