Pathologically camera shy

"Say cheeeeez everybody c'mon!!!!" Before taking a perfect family picture of a perfect Indian big fat wedding, I said.

Bride and groom are in the center in their glorious wedding outfits with the rest of the family members of nearly all possible age groups, on the sides. They all dispersed after the picture was taken, and one little girl pulled me down to check my camera too; kids!

It was a happy evening I must say. As I turned, there he was. He, as usual, stood behind me, guiding everyone on how to pose and be jocular, to create an environment of joy. He was different, not for everyone, just me. I am a photographer, I see things, the little things.

In nearly all the pictures I took, he was the one who prepared the setting. For quite some time I was content that I had someone to help me out. When I asked him to go stand with the crowd, he denied it. He denied once, twice, he denied every time. His sister, mom dad, and the bride herself tried to convince him to get some, just a few, proper family pictures; but he was stubborn. So stubborn that he would fight all of them to get out of the group, rather watch them getting happily snapped.

Big aesthetic waves of dark black hair, a few strands strangling down to his eyes, perfect nose, lips, eyes, and tall but thin body with the perfect shade of skin for an Indian. Smart, decently dressed, like a gentleman. It may look like many noticed him, but they didn't. Just me. The reason he bothered me so much was that I am a very charming photographer as they tell me; I'd make everyone get pictures clicked no matter how ugly they must be looking. I love it, it's my passion. This charm did not work on him and I could not wait to find out why. Neither did he look bad, nor were his clothes messy. He was not sad, but rather at his happiest. This is annoying and mysterious.

So I followed him. It was wrong, but I'm not innocuous! I felt tempted to let him know that he was enticing. This impression in my mind was so loud that without realising it, I took more than fifty candid pictures of him while he was just sitting, dancing, laughing, eating, or doing anything at all, making absolutely sure he doesn't find out. A few times I was about to get caught but I am good at pretending and he might have felt stupid after doubting me, I know. Who wouldn't want to follow such a pleasure to the eyes, with a silent yet charming, sweet tender smile as if saying "I am a gem, you can't find me".

It was almost dinner time and my shift unluckily had to end after 12 a.m. They would make me go, I know. Girls are not made to work night shifts here, I am young and no one would permit either. In no time, the date changed and I had to leave. I looked at him for one last time, hoping to see him again, which obviously was like just another wish which would never come true. It was a good evening and I really hoped they were happy with me.

Long day. I was tired, but also glad. Before going to bed, I checked some of the selfies I took with my mates. I did the job right. He was there within the frame, in the background, with a smile. The one thing that surprised me was, that he was looking in the camera. He looked at my camera. In the picture 'I' was taking. How on earth did this happen? If my state of mind could be defined in one word, it was 'frenzy'. Frenzy enough to keep me awake throughout the night. With one question hovering over my head, 'Why?'

My brain was ceaselessly flushed with beginnings and ends of a thousand possibilities and reasons for my question. It was something important that I needed to know, but what? I was luckily able to find that my brain had such vast dimensions, that day. Probably can't even think of the last time I had thought about anything so much. I don't need to think so much, I am a very simple person who knows what's next. Contrary to someone like me, I did not know what was next then. I flushed open the curtains only to realise it was a sleepless night.

"I am agitated", I sighed.

Sun was starting to rise and I couldn't sleep after being dead tired. This was eating me up. My phone rang, it was Adil, my mate in the selfie.

"Hello?"

"Good morning miss popular!"

"Popular what?"

"Miss popular charming photographer", he said with fits of fun.

"Explain please.....!?"

"Alright so the people of the wedding have really liked your photos and they want you here in an hour for the last ceremony."

"I'll be there but-......" the line was cut.

This was a work call, and I had no other option than to be present there, in time. I decided to revisit my thoughts sometime later. So I quickly got dressed, packed up my stuff, and hit on the road. While driving, I realised I forgot to eat. It didn't matter much since I was not hungry due to an obvious adrenaline rush. Nature has different plans for everyone, let's see what happens with me, I thought.

To my disbelief, the first person I see upon reaching there, is him, all over again. This strange guy whose name I do not know, but with a radiant energetic smile this time, for the first time he smiled at me like 'greetings!' and walked past. That probably made my day. I went inside and in no time BOOM! The popular charming camerawoman psyche is back. With so much joy in crazy rich Indian weddings, even the dead would dance.

"Everyone ready?", I asked Adil. "Just a few minutes", he said arranging our things. This time, something was missing. I turned around and there was no one behind me to set the crowd. "So unfaithful of him", I thought jokingly with a small ray of hope still hidden somewhere in me. Adil handed me the camera and tripod, "Since when did you become this fast little intern?", he said. Yes, I am an intern for photography school. This is a diploma course and I opted for wildlife photography. Funny how I landed here, but real-life photography has this part where we practice with humans too. This is just a practice.

I quickly set my lenses and "Cheeeeeezzzz!!!!" Looking at the photograph, with a sense of pride for clicking the happiest picture ever; I saw something. For the first time it was him, not behind, but inside the photograph. So now the happiest picture ever, had a reason for its name. That grin on my face, he saw. Our eyes exchanged a feeling of "Thank you" and "Welcome" from both ends, just not sure who said what.

He was happy, much jubilant than yesterday. He came closer bringing up more people with him, put his hands around their shoulders, and I understood it was time to click. With the best of my spirits, I did my job.

Everyone headed for the farewell of the bride while I stayed back to pack up my things. He came up, this time with something in his hands as far as I could guess. It was hidden.

"Hey! Thank you so much! I could never have done that without you."

"Welcome, but is it really what I am thinking it is?"

"Absolutely", he said with glee.

"Well then thank you too, for letting me have my best workday ever!", I said trying to suppress my extra joyish, broad ear-to-ear smile.

He offered me cold coffee. He knew I didn't have breakfast.

"Who told you?"

"I know", he said again with the same sense of 'Mysterio' like yesterday.

"I saw the pictures you took of me", he said looking down, with a blush trying to hide, which I unapologetically saw.

"I am sorry, but you should know I do not regret doing it. It was fun."

"You made it so easy for me", he said with the beam. "I knew you were taking my pictures yesterday"

He knew!? So he saw how I almost chased him everywhere all that time? I was red-faced and he saw me, yet turned away so that I don't feel uneasy. I was going to ask him the same question out, loud, right now but what came out from my mouth instead-

"You're camera shy, right?"- with an effort to hide my emotions and be a mysterio like him.

"Ahhh...yeahhh, I try not to be, but not at the same time. Some things are not my cup of tea. Bad memories maybe.....makes sense?"

"Absolutely", I said with warmth.

"You wouldn't get me, you're a photographer."

"What made you think I am not camera shy?", I asked.

He turned to look at me; the astounded look on his face said it clearly. We vibed, and he understood. These two days made more sense to both of us now. That selfie with two camera shy people, was more than just a picture. It was evidence of two minds defeating their fears, both being the reason as well as a source of help. Embrace life. We don't meet people for no reason. Like I said, nature has different plans for everyone. Here was mine!

We talked for a while, after which I took him into the hall and made him pose.

"Here, stand here. Show your magic, I'll show mine."

He stood, mister 'pathologically camera shy' , for the following picture~

Told you, he was differently perfect. Not for you, just me.

~Morphinated