Friday, January 06, 2006

Those two days..

The homa kunda had been laid. I had brought with my own bare hands bricks from a considerable distance. Shastrijis were busy decorating the homa kunda. We managed to get a table fan from the adjacent house. We put the fans near the window so that they could blow out the smoke. I got ready and hung my newly bought digicam around my neck.

The homa started. I started clicking my camera at virtually everything that seemed remotely interesting. After all I could take 300+ photos even at 3mega pixel resolution. When I was turning my camera in all directions, my camera’s eyes fell on a beautiful girl. She smiled at her companion. My heart missed a beat. She was wearing a pink dress, the favorite color of most girls. I showed her to my brother. He didn’t show much interest. But I was determined to take her photo but somehow deferred it.

That afternoon, she sat for lunch on one side. Tables had been laid in two rows facing one another. I wanted to sit right opposite to her and watch her from close quarters. But this opposite row was completely empty. I waited for some seats to be occupied and just when it got filled till the middle of the row I jumped to the seat. Ya I got to see her closely. I could stare at her for just 1 or 2 seconds. I felt I was being watched so turned my to my left. ThenI started taking photos. I took some 3 photos when came her turn. I zoomed in to get the closest picture and clicked.

That evening one of my friends was to come from Shimoga, I went and received him at the railway station. After introducing him to my parents I took away and told him about her and showed her photo. He did not show much interest either instead he asked – “Did you talk to her”. “Talk what? I don’t even know her”. “You don’t need to know everybody to talk to them. You could have asked how the food and all was”. I nodded nonchalantly indicating that that could have been done. But it would have been rather uncharacteristic of me to ask her. I usually am more reactive than proactive. If a person starts the conversation then I would happily continue it but I am usually a bit hesitant to start any conversation. Also I couldn’t have escaped the 50 odd people’s prying eyes who seemed more interested about others than themselves.
The next day afternoon she had come again for lunch. But I was busy with some other work so I could not take another photo of her. After the lunch my doddamma(my father’s cousin’s wife) asked “There is not even a single girl to cool your eyes right?” I was taken aback. I mean she would talk quite freely everybody, but still this came as a surprise to me. But i recovered quickly and said – “No yesterday I saw one good looking girl here. I have even taken her photo”. Before I could complete my words someone else dragged her to conversation.

In the evening I had gone out with some relatives to have some junk food. When we returned, there she was having dinner in the hall. She was already half way thru.I hurried into the room to get the camera. While coming out of the room doddamma quipped “I know why you took the camera. In the afternoon I was wondering who that girl could be. Now I saw her. But she is not all that good”. “May be you have seen her friend. She is good looking” I bargained. “Just ok-dokey”. I ran to the other room from where I could see her. But there were already 7-8 people sitting on the bed and chairs. I went to the farthest end of the bed behind everyone. My brother came and sat beside me. I focused on her and…Click…flash…flash...flash. My uncle who was busy conversing now got curious and asked for the photo. Fortunately or unfortunately somebody had come in between and only his back could be seen. I clicked for the second time…click…flash…flash…flash. This time again some one who was sitting, got up just in time. She was already having curd rice and could finish off any moment. I told to myself ”C’mon man…do it fast”. I focused for the third time and clicked…my aunt moved sideways…and you know what would have happened. It seemed like all the gods had conspired against me. This time, the girl turned around to see where all these flashes were coming from. She saw me holding the camera. The zoomed out lenses pointed towards her. She smiled to her friend and whispered something. They were off the next moment. Seeing my pale face my uncle seemed to have understood my feelings, he didn’t ask for the photo again. I was happy I had communicated what I could not say.

After this incident I did not see her again but she came in my dreams twice. I have been longing to see her…I came to know she is the sister of one of the Shastriji's daughter-in-law.And that shastriji is my father's friend and stays near my house. So..i am still in with a chance :)