The scooty’s kicker pedal was broken. Dad had kept the broken piece separately near the night lamp at the gate. I started using the button start. I drove to the grocery shop nearby. I parked in the shadow. A small shop. I took ladyfingers and chillies, in the plastic basket they had kept, and gave it to the shop guy for weighing. I looked at the shop guy.. keenly observed his mannerisms..(storytellers and directors got to and like to observe people a lot) he had placed the ball pen in his ear fold.. as if it was a pen stand.. most of the shopkeepers do that.. traditional style.. because it is very easy for them to grab it quickly from there and write bills. “19 rupees “he said.. I paid and as I waited for the change I noticed the little kid who was dedicatedly looking into the glass of the box where the confectionery was kept. ‘Bourbon’ caught his eyes strongly. He bugged his grandma (almost around 60) who was carrying the baby (probably the guy’s sister) on her waist. He said in the usual kiddy moaning tone “grandma I want this..” She did not refuse.. but he still added a “pleassee” She slowly took out a 20 rupee note from her little purse as she looked through her thick glasses. The shop guy gave me the change. I took it. As I watched all these in the shop,I slowly, pleasantly, got into my usual aesthetic mood. ‘Aesthetic’ The scene and situation at the shop inspired some aesthetic smell inside me. I started thinking how to make it as a scene in case I get to have a scene like this in any of my films in the future. Storytelling is such an interesting job. The passion of my life. The mood was so pleasant. The scene at the shop seemed to be so nice, like the scenes in the aesthetic films which I have watched in ‘UTV World Movies'. I got the cover from the shop guy, and slowly walked back home..thoughtfully..on the way in the arisi mandi the boy who was made to sit at the cash table was singing loud “en ucchi mandaila girrungudhu…….”with so much expression..closing his eyes tight.. I giggled to myself.... Aesthetic mood.. the faces of people, their mannerisms.. sounds on the street, the cattle walking dead slow on the pathway.. sometimes when the mind is very light and relaxed and I see ordinary situations like these.. it inspires me a lot.. I get to think that scenes in my films have to be realistic like these.. with only a little bit of dramatism..Storytelling has to be this way in the screen.. Pleasant walk it was.. I reached home.. dad was watering the little garden. I felt something was missing. Something.. no not in my mind.. nothing philosophical.. something was missing....something…physically.. I shooed away the crow that sat near the night lamp at the gate. It pushed down the small pedal dad had kept there as it flew off. It was scooty’s pedal. Got to give it to mechanic in the evening, to fix it. Dad looked at me, as he was holding the hose.
He said “what..? “
I replied “what....?”
“Where’s scooty ?”
“Scooty uh?”
”yeah..where’s scooty?”
“Ohhh my..........!”
I rushed back to the shop !!!!
