The rugged wall clock showed 02:02 am....the dawn was about to touch us but we were still not done with the night....
The Lake view resort was buzzing with silence throughout.Only the sound of water can be heard and that water belonged to the lake
Naini-the mango shaped Heart of Nainital.
In the room 103,two empty glasses were kept beautifully on a glass table besides a bottle of Scotch.Ofcourse Unintentionally.
Every piece of the 'tikkas' and peanuts were comfortably allocated in the empty spaces of stomach.All that was left were some silver paper plates and red chilly sauce that can keep one on toes in the entire morning.
The Florescent light was making its presence felt by striking on the aviators kept on the wooden cupboard and the small ancient chandelier was in full mood to fall right over us.
Kay's eyes were half closed.He seems to be knocked out but I am sure sleep won't catch him so easily.Soon the king will be up and get engaged in some sweet conversations with one of his damsels who must be by now all fired up.
I made myself the last drink of the night,took the packet of cigarettes & lighter(was not sure if i am gonna smoke but sometimes just to wake up my creative spirits,I need those white pipes) and with utmost care, picked up my baby SLR.I think i whispered to him"let's create some magic..."..Not sure though and i walked out of the room...I loved the sound my feet made when i walked on the wooden floor.It gave me an impression that as if i am transported to some different world and live in a tree house.I so wish to do that one day.
Just outside our wooden room ,there was a common bay area.Two chairs and a table were placed perfectly in the middle.A board hanging on the wall welcomed me by saying "No drinking & No Smoking'.I closely saw my glass and it saw me back.If i remember clearly,it winked and grinned at me.
In the quest of my perfect shot,i hurriedly put my glass on the table,removed the cap of my camera and opened the window. As soon as I did that,I was greeted with soft cool breeze hitting peacefully my face and my eyes witnessed a scene that i am dead sure ,words will fall flat in describing it.But still if i dare to try...it was like Mother nature was all dressed up for some heavenly occasion.With the full moon shining on her forehead and the black clouds were giving a perfect impression of those shiny locks. The water underneath was slow and steady making some enticing sounds.All the trees around were dancing beautifully to the tunes of the water.The lake had amazingly captivated the aura of the moon and embraced it as if it belonged to her. I was taken aback as being a big city slicker this was all unreal for me .God's brush just created a masterpiece.
Without losing any time i quickly adjusted my camera and started clicking some random shots.I knew this is the moment when i am gonna get my best shot till date.Everything is in place...great set up,high spirits and no one to bother me.
But it wasn't so easy.I checked in the camera monitor and found every shot a mere ordinary one.Not even closest to my expectations.My SLR actually failed to capture the beauty of that eternal moment.I tried again with some different settings but all in vain.Nothing better.
I was frustrated to the core.I put back the camera on the table,sipped my drink and lighted up a cigarette.I closed my eyes for a moment and again stared back at the lake.Few moments passed by and then suddenly i realized the whole reason of me being there.
My perfect shot was right there in front of my eyes,its just that i needed to have a deeper look...penetrating into all of the self created boundaries.
That shot was all reserved for me.It doesn't deserved to be captured in any digital medium.It has to be set free.I have to give it the wings of imagination so that it can fly higher & higher in the skies of my memory.
My eyes refused to blink and my heart skipped a beat or two.
It was all there.Nothing else needed,Nothing else mattered...
I saw my childhood drawings on the surface of water....I felt my parents blessings with each blows of the wind....I sensed my friends joys and sorrows hidden all over the valley....I heard her enchanting voice softly blending with the sounds of lake....I faced all those unanswered questions of my life blinking in the sky...I witnessed few of my buried regrets walking down the lonely road and somewhere also i saw my future clinging to one of the branches of the dancing trees waiting for me with arms wide open.
It was a rare defining moment and a perfect one.I was glad that i was here,I was happy that lake Naini chosed me to be part of her adventure that night.
Just to pay my last respect,I spilled my rest of the drink outside the window.It gave me a sense of fulfillment that i shared my last drink with the lake naini and her party
.It felt like being in a state of ecstasy.I took a deep breath and made a promise to myself and the lake...that one day i will be back again but with next time i will surely have the answers to some of the questions of my life.
Now it was time to get back to reality so as i was about to end up my priceless experience and close the window,i saw a man walking down the steep street beneath.He seems to be in a very jovial mood. He was listening to some local music on his radio.I couldn't make out the meaning of the words but the tune was mesmerizing.He waved me....and i waved him back with a smile on my face. That's what i love the most about all the small towns of India.All you need is a smile on your face and every one will treat you as if you were part of that place since the dawn of the time.I thank him for giving me that music in my mind that actually concluded the whole scene in a cinematic fashion..
After discovering the contentment,I reached back my room and surprisingly found,Kay snoring loudly with his Iphone still on his ears.I freed him from his I'devil ,gave him a blanket and switched off the lights.While i also prepared myself to surrender to some sound sleep.
I gently closed my eyes and guess what...
The Perfect Shot was all i can see.
Au Revoir...
