Desperado

For those who love spanish songs, here's an interesting number. I loved Antonio in this song. Didn't realize he could handle the guitar so well. Looks like he has had his innings with guitar playing earlier. Entitled " El Mariachi" it is the title song of the movie, Desperado. It's a short but very heart-thumpy song. Enjoy!

Picture Imperfect!

Among the few things I fancy are: goggles. It wouldn’t be stretching too far, if I say I have a decent collection of several reputed brands. Moreover, I hold this collection close to my heart. So, imagine my fright when I almost lost one of these prized possessions. It began with a brainwave, when I suddenly decided to translate my photos on laptop into an album. Subsequently, after picking up a few good photos, I dashed off to the studio, fearing the thought wouldn’t materialize if I didn’t hastily act on it. With my passion for photography on an upswing these days, I was there at the studio within minutes from the time the thought tingled my grey cells.

I decided to get the negatives developed at Mahaveer, a photo studio where ace photographers flock to get their negatives exposed. The only hassle is that the studio is located in an area that is prone to traffic jams and would seem forever to get there and forever to get out. Moreover, that particular morning, the studio was annoyingly crammed with customers and I had some pressing assignments to deal with, therefore, I decided to throw my weight around and get things done at a quicker pace. In the process, I mindlessly left my goggles on a counter.

When I thought I had initiated the process for my work, I returned and searched for the goggles. But lo and behold, my goggles were gone! Some sinister magician with the sleight of his hand had made them mysteriously disappear. And I stood there like the hapless woman sawed in half by the magician. Not knowing what to do, hoping for the magician to perform another trick which will restore my shades. But I am sure this isn’t a Hogwarts school and there isn’t an honest Houdini. Where magic of the good kind happens!

With rage seething over, I gave a piece of my mind to the proprietor for not having surveillance cameras in place. I handed out a pretty good dressing down to every one who stood in the line of fire. The staff really didn’t know what to say or where to look. They were at loss of words. One of them hesitatingly informed me that he had seen one customer eyeing the goggles. In other words, suggesting that the customer could have pinched the goggles. I was able to recall that customer’s face, he looked like a pucca gentleman, a clad in white shirt and khaki trousers with an air of dignity. But then you never know. Petty thieves come in all shapes and sizes and in decent clothing too! So I presumed.

The employee too suggested that the man didn’t look like someone who would pinch goggles. But looking at me and my rage he fumbled, “He might have pinched the goggles, for all we know, nobody can be trusted.” My wavering mind found immediate solace in his words, and in him, a confidante. I drew closer to him and asked if he could interrogate this man on my behalf regarding the goggles when he returns to collect his photos. He asserted that he certainly would.

Then, I stormed out disheartened and angry as hell for being such a slapdash idiot.

I had completely given up hope on seeing my goggles again. Later that evening, when I went back to collect the photos, I casually remarked about the morning’s happening. The entire staff stopped working and gave me a stare that could have frozen a polar bear. I couldn’t fathom what caused such a sharp reaction. Then, the employee, I had earlier talked to, said “Sir, you forgot your goggles inside the lab and you started searching here in reception area.” This time I didn’t know what to say or where to look. I was at complete loss of words. My feet and hands turned sweaty watching so many eyes shooting daggers at me. I murmured something and secretly hoped some magician would wave his wand over me and make me disappear, Poof! But this is a real world, where such magic hardly happens. I realized you got to face the reality whether it’s thrilling or “chilling.” Numbed with fear I expected the staff to go berserk with rage.

But there weren’t any fireworks. Instead, what truly came as a balm of relief was that the staff took this whole thing in a good stride and didn’t once scream at me. But, however, they suggested I be more careful before I blew my top the next time. To which I humbly nodded with my head down, thinking it would have been better if they had screamed at me. I wouldn’t be feeling so damn guilty.

In retrospection, the fact that I screamed at them when the actual fault was at my end – was like somebody kicking me hard in the shins. It hurt like hell. After picking up my goggles and photos, and in heart of hearts thanking the staff for not pouncing and taking me out limb by limb, I quickly disappeared from the spot.