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home happily with the antique frame.
The drawing room was clean enough. The showcase was glistening with some old and new books of literary value. Over it the newly brought frame was awaiting to embrace their photograph. But the fateful day was yet 2 days away.
Came 15th August with the completion of P.M.'s address to the Nation, Raman & Co. started to groom themselves up to set out for a studio. At the bang of 10 O'clock everybody was ready. Ting-Tong-Ting-Tong.......... the calling bell banged at the same time. Mrs. Raman started to curse the stranger behind the door as he or she had come to spoil their plan. "After so much deliberations we made a plan but it seems it will not materialise." Mr. Raman cried........"Have you all given up all the sense of courtesy? First see who has come." Monu rushed to open the door in a reaction. It was none other than Vicky and Monty. Actually they had come to wish them as their friends were going to studio. What happened actually in the last 10 days that almost everybody of the Nagma Apartment came to know about the plan of Ramans. Those who were free at the moment were peeping out of their windows to see the old couple of the complex going out side with their sons for the 1st time in many months.
Today, Mr. Raman and his family were in their best looks. They boarded a taxi. It roughly took 12 minutes to reach the destination. Everybody instructed the photographer in his own way. The poor photographer was really confused for the 1st time. Seeing him confused, family members started to discuss the problem for a few minutes. Then the photographer was instructed. This led to double confusion of the photographer about how to take the snap and at which angle that would suit their drawing room. As the photographer had to see his business, too, he started to handle the problem by negotiating in the best possible way. All the four were arranged a little smile and "klick". Now their fate was locked in a piece of film. The day after tomorrow was fixed as the delivery date by the photographer. Before leaving his premises Mrs. Raman continued the instructions now about washing of the flim and the paper of the photograph.
The Raman family returned home happily but with an anxiety. Now the topic of discussion was the would be photograph. In the evening Sonu and Monu were elaborately explaining the whole episode to Vicky and
Monty and others too were enjoying. In the evening Mrs. Raman went to Mrs. Chawla and she too explained her the "photograph episode" with what's and how's of the photographer's confusion.
Came the D. Day. Everybody was in suspense. Their suspense could have been compared with the suspense that prevails before the declaration of an exam result. It was Mr. Raman's duty to bring the photograph this evening after leaving his office.
Whole day passed off anyway with looking at the door and empty frame. Today, when the children had gone to school, Mrs. Raman very laboriously cleaned the flat, as if, some very important guest was to come. She put the table-lamp on the showcase...... to have a look at the photo to be fitted into, in the lamp light.
Ting-Tong-Ting-tong.......... sonu - Monu including Mrs. Raman rushed to open the door. The suspense ended. It was Mr. Raman. Six pairs of eyes were staring him in the face with a sense of search. After taking his shoes off, he opened his brief case and handed over the packet to his wife. With a grin she took it and boys glued near her.
"How insensate the photographer is! How ugly we look here I See, how bad we are looking ! My God! oh! He has really cheated us." that's how Mrs. Raman remarked and it was dittoed by the kids. "Look, it seems we are straight out from the bed with drowsy eyes and unkempt faces," continued Mrs. Raman, "So much time, money and energy lost in it!" Everybody was staring at one copy each with a dejected wry face. Sonu commented..." who is this rustic in my dress? Papa, why did you take it from him?" "You should not have. You should not have to pay a single penny to the fool. Our dream is shattered. You simply had to spank him."
Mr. Raman was looking at them mutely. Mrs. Raman too joined the children and demanded.... "why did you bring the bad photographs here?" "It is a heart-breaking event for us. You simply had to return after snubbing him." "Anjali!" ...... stammered Mr. Raman ........ "You see if I had not brought the photographs you all would blame me ........ so what if it was not good and to the liking.... "you might say, "you had to bring it here because so much preparation had been done for it. "But now that I have brought it you all utter words like these. what I want to say Anjali...... "we have had bad luck. Had it been good we would have been smiling by now. "Anjali, look at Monu. At least he is looking his natural self here.
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