Mind Frame

It is something I have never written about here. But when an old friend mentioned that I must arrange for a snake to be brought home for a shoot I could not help but oblige. Its been nearly 11 years from Nagpur with my first encounter with a snake that left me speechless due to fear. Reading about them their species made me only grow more fonder of this misunderstood species. It was soon that I go into releasing them from the unsafe confines of my house each time one made its way inside (earlier they ended up getting killed. We rescued scores of snakes in that small tenure in Nagpur and on coming to Pune the entire activity stopped. Only once we relocated to Viman nagar I soon began chancing upon these gorgeous creatures. So these are a few shots we took on his release while he swayed and stood in all gratitude.

These are the few of those who have made an impact in the last 2 years to my world around me. Its funny that time spent will be memory now although the relations will run deeper.  Be it dinner at Shri or just a walk post class that is destressing, the coffee at the tuck or the wild gaping at the time tables...the angst against the system, exchanging travel plans, the meat at Kareeems... Its been a wild ride and its just begun. Thank you- Renu, Venky, Chintan,Mehul, DB, PC

The lady with the eyes. Eyes that talk, eyes that kill, eyes that convey myriad emotions. Her antics and talk keep the mood afloat. The kiddo, the supervisor, the instructor.... Loved by all..... Aarit! The wizard with the tongs! Neha I love you!  Your hands can stir up magic and sever meat - humans and animals alike!

Dedicated below these few lines are for the unrelenting spirit of a few of my colleagues: You have been blooded, said the old man to his son, It’s now that you are fit to fight, I know you are now wounded; it’s only now your minds in flight. The sound of a moist pen on the arid folds of paper, Its crease on the wilted white, Proved more firm than words on stone, For you knew your spirit was right. Write on, pledge every drop of blood to the color in your pen, For I know this was not once, such battles will happen again. Go on Bangkwang!

A day before Diwali, in New Delhi...Saw her on the other side of the car window... Sadistic the winter air beats across her bones, Open palms,watery eyes & rags for what she calls clothes, Blisters on her knuckles and a smile upon her lips, A three year old by her side,a younger one on the hips. Gods name she calls for alms to help her by, Shadowed is her future as lights light up the sky, Diwali is what she asks me for, gives blessings in return, Her frail hands near the fire, shreds of wood they burn. My hands search my pockets for remnants of her hope, They too are empty, but at least am warm in the biting cold.

2 year old Lara at the NGO i interned at in Dec 2008... Somethings grow on you... the dogs did...

24th April 2009....2300 hours outside Wilson...Macchican Hall.. Mumbai... The city does not sleep.. My cellphone camera again..