For a man who is not known for consistency, this is an important event; I am publishing my tenth PhotoJournal. I have been publishing one each month since January this year, much to the annoyance of many who want me to write only HR or Labour related blogposts.

I seek understanding. A person who retired more than 16 years ago has to make great efforts to find subjects to write about. It is akin to extracting gold from the abandoned Kolar gold mine.

Turn to photography and there is scope for creativity. My favourite places for street photography are the airports and the railway stations. They are to me what the sea is to a fisherman. Here is one where I spotted a gentleman waiting for his cup of tea.

Tea relaxes people. The gentleman standing at the Chai Point is in a relaxed mood while waiting for his cup of tea!

Borivali railway station is not a photographer’s paradise. But a street photographer is a different breed, he would not agree. A small group of ladies wearing red and yellow sarees captured my attention.

And so also the red shirts of Hamals (Porters) who were enjoying a casual chat. A friend on FB who saw this photograph said, ‘They are the only people in the world who are looking forward to carrying others’ burden.’ And it is true literally and figuratively.

A Railway platform is also the place where people wait for their relatives or friends to arrive. And when they meet, the burst of energy as well as happiness is infectious; people who notice it would smile.

Yes, smile is infectious; you will agree when you see a little girl who sits in the trolley carrying her octopus.

Google brought this to me:

‘Smile is infectious You catch it like the flu, When someone smiled at me today I started smiling too .

I walked around the corner, and someone saw me grin, when he smiled I realized I passed it on to him.

I thought about the smile and then realized its worth, a single smile like mine could travel around the earth!’

Smiles are not often seen in the corporate world, smirks are plenty. Victoria Beckham said, ‘I have started smiling. I have mastered this smirk; it’s a smile that isn’t a smile.’

Such were my thoughts when I sat down in the Swedish Restaurant of IKEA. I had reached there early before the crowd came in and it gave me the space I wanted. I clicked a photograph. And a lesson was learnt.

You click a nice photograph if you are happy. Your mood influences the outcome. That is what Quantum Living says – that ‘individuals can actively create their reality by shifting their consciousness.’

I walked aimlessly in IKEA and found these wine glasses. A quick shot of wine glasses had to be done, although they were empty. Even empty wine glasses sing poetry to me!

Why? Why do wine glasses sing poetry to me? Because we work ‘nine to wine!’

And this takes the cake: ‘Wine + Dinner = Winner!’

Vivek S Patwardhan

“What you leave behind is not what is engraved in stone monuments, but what is woven into the lives of others.” All matter copyrighted.