We had a photoshoot yesterday, at the company..We were warned that the photographer was being paid quite a bit to make us look good so we were supposed to make his job slightly easier by making an effort ourselves.. Anyone who knows me well enough by now will know I prefer being behind the camera rather than in front of it..It was supposed to be after lunch but the tension was palpable since the start of the day..Everyone started to file in late to work, looking expectantly at others to pass a compliment so that they could get one themselves.. It was like a hornet's nest of vanity with everyone flicking their hair for the upteenth time,discreetly glacing at the mirror when they pass by it(even the glass walls werent spared) and talking about the different brands of make up, exchanging blazers, jewellery..souls..
Seriously.
When it was announced that the photographer was half an hour away, it was like some emergency fire alarm ringing and suddenly the loo was the hottest place to be. It reminded me of kids running as fast as they could when their recess bells ring. I managed to remain unnoticed for a while until Darshana swooped down on me, nattering about my hair and the lack of make up on my face. She practically kicked me into the loo and told me to do the needful. I managed to force myself to comb the knots out that I had blissfully ignored in the morning cause I prefer my mother's wrath compared to Darshana's. I thought washing my face would do the trick but it wasnt enough, apparently. I was then bodily handled into her chair and she opened her bag. Let's not talk about what was there in that bag.More like various torture instruments. She rummaged thoroughly and bought out this devious looking bottle with a lot of brown goo in it. She was like this dentist telling me it will be allright when I know it wouldnt.All I had to do was remain still. Seriously, if looking pretty was that easy...
So she applied that goo on my lips and I thought I was going to be left alone when Miti came. I think my blouse was going to be ripped by the end of the day with all the dragging around. She wanted to put black liquid stuff on my eyes. All I had to do was sit still.... again.
After applying, she told me to wait with my eyes closed for two minutes. Unfortunately, my impatient mind doesnt know how long that is and I opened them. Let's just say it was a disaster..and then they had to do some serious damage control..It was like being taken to the ER room in a hospital with the cotton swabs, the poking, the prodding and the swearing...
At last, I was ready to go and the photographer had arrived. He set up his lighting and everyone was made to go in individually and be subjected to flashing, blinding lights in his torture chamber. A blazer was put on my back and I walked in tentatively. The only good thing about this, I told myself, was that the photographer was hot. I must admit, he was. But there was, unfortunately, no enthusiasm on my part because I'm still hung up on another upturned nose guy wearing an oversized blazer. I thought it would, maybe, be better if I imagined him instead of this grungy, straight nosed, tall man.
Not a good idea. It made me feel even worse. So I took a deep breath and followed his instructions deligently, trying hard not to think of the 'other man'.
Flash.
I flinched. I wasnt ready for that. And he knew, so he said, "Smile for me!"
So I did.
Flash. Flash. Flash.
"Beautiful!"
I couldnt help grinning when he said that. He nodded, an indication that I could leave so I walked out, coming face to face with 'the other man', holding his oversized jacket and looking past me,at someone else.
I sighed and the smile slipped a little. They really were paying this photographer a lot.
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