For want of a nail kingdom was won
Conquering heroes or cuckolds? Your choice
Kadir and Paramesh were born in nearby houses in the same street in Chennai. They were childhood friends whose friendship continued during their school and college days and after. They still live in the ancestral homes of their childhood. Both are married and have a child each. Their wives are friends too. They do things together, whether visiting the local movie theatres or going to Banares on pilgrimage.
Our story starts in a camera store where the two men were shopping for digital cameras. Kadir, who was in computer hardware, was checking the technical details while Paramesh, the accountant, was looking into the prices and sale offers. Finally they got each a 4-mega pixels camera. As both cameras were on one bill a 512 MB memory stick was added on. The stick they would share for exchanging photos.
The men launched themselves headlong into photography. Elil, Kadir's wife was not so much unimpressed as bewildered. She was unable to understand her husband's attraction for crows. Kadir, who fancied himself a wild life photographer, said that crows were the only wild creatures that came within range. She found his explanation obscure, but forbore to question him further. Nitya, Paramesh's wife did not find much to enthuse about in her husband's efforts either. He specialised in still life; flowers in vases mainly. Both men could not persuade their children to pose for them.
The men, undeterred by the cold reception accorded to their efforts by their near and dear, clicked on with energy. Kadir would copy his images to the memory stick and send it across to his friend, and he would return the compliment. Then suddenly Kadir found a subject that was willing. It was an exciting prospect. This is how he chanced upon the treasure.
Digital photography has one undoubted advantage over film photography: one can view the images without the services of a third party to process it. In short one can take exciting images of one's wife, something that is not possible with film photography. All men sooner or later venture into nude or semi nude photography of their wives with or without their spouses' knowledge. Kadir was certain that Elil would flare up if he so much as suggested that she pose even in bra and panties. He decided he would do it on the sly.
Their bathroom was so small that Elil had to come out to the bedroom to powder and dress. Kadir made use of this need to plot his shooting sessions. Using small bit of plaster he blocked the red light in front of the camera that glowed when it was in use. He then took trial shots to find the right place and angle for the camera. He marked the place on his table. He then left the camera on the table for several days so that Elil did not get suspicious. Then one day when Elil was in the bathroom he set the camera in the video mode and placed it on the marked spot on the table and waited like a sprinter with ears pricked for the starter gun. As soon as he heard the latch he pressed the button and disappeared into the drawing room.
The first effort was disappointing. For reasons unknown Elil did not stand where she normally stood with the result that only a small part her was in the frame. That little was her rear. Kadir spent the rest of day viewing the clip. He never imagined that his wife had the ass of dreams. The next day he had the camera pointing to corner Elil now seemed to prefer. Again he was disappointed. Elil stood where she should have on the first day. Unlike directors of movies Kadir could not mark the spot on the floor and order the artist to stand there, but a wild life photographer, even one whose work so far has only been with crows, knows how to be patient. He did what a professional would do: He pointed the camera to the ideal spot and waited for the day the quarry will choose the right spot.
It happened on the fifth day; but many other things also happened. Eagle-eyed Elil noted the blinking on the back of the camera. She summoned Kadir.
"Download what's in that camera. I want to see what you have sneaked in." The game was up; there was no point in dithering. He downloaded and played the clip. The centring and the lighting were just perfect. She wanted a replay. He did so.
"Good," she said. "I did not know that I am so slim and dainty. This clip must not get into the wrong hands. Write it on a CD, delete it from the PC, and hand over the CD to me. I will keep it with my jewels.
"But darling, my day will be a disaster unless I see this clip at least once before I leave for office." She looked sharply into his eyes.
"So?"
"I'll keep the CD hidden in my cash box. I will delete it from my hard disk.
"OK. Now I want to see it again." She did, and liked it all the more.
"Darling, this is a candid shot. Just imagine how you would look if you pose. Why not we have a session for stills." She agreed. It was not one session but several. Kadir was in cloud nine. Clips and stills they exposed in abundance. Kadir tried to reproduce his favourite poses from his (secret) collection of nudes, but Elil was only willing to go so far and no further.
"Does your friend allows such photos," he asked her.
"I don't know and I do not intend to ask," she said.
But this was a tricky game. Even the cleverest trapeze artist once in a while lands on the net. Kadir did not have to wait long for trouble.
Kadir got up in the middle of one night. He seemed distraught. Elil became anxious.
"Are you unwell Kadir?"
"No I'm OK."
"You seem extremely worried. Anything happened in office?"
"Nothing, I'm OK."
"You are not," she said in peremptory tones. "You have to tell me what is bothering you." Kadir dodged, but finally when it appeared that he could no longer hold on he came out with it. Kadir suspected that in the loaded memory stick he sent his friend that evening he had accidentally included one folder with some of the photos of Elil in her poses. Elil broke into loud wails. There was some talk of ending her life for the shame was something she could not bear.
"Are you sure Kadir?"
"That is the problem darling, I am not. I suspect I have."
"How could it happen?"
"Some confusion about file names." Elil was now quite hysterical.
"I knew if you sin retribution is sure to catch up with you. I was a fool in falling into your dirty trap. At least show me which photos were in that folder." Elil fidgeted as the computer took its time to boot. Eventually when she saw the photos she screamed. There was one with her legs crossed with the pussy peeping with parted lips between them that was raw by any standards.
"What to do Kadir. I wish I were dead."
"We will wait till tomorrow. It is twelve already."
"Your friend would have seen me in those poses." She wailed and would not be comforted.
They heard someone at the door. Something dropped into the post box; the doorbell rang once. Kadir rushed to the door. The caller whoever it was had left.
"Come in Kadir there might be mischief ahead," said Elil in agitated tones. "Close the door. I thought something dropping into the letterbox. Open carefully. It might be a bomb."
Kadir mindful of danger switched on his torch and peeped in.