On Thursday, I was shooting some images for the on of the project at work and as usual I took my camera with me as I like using my own camera instead of the Sony that we have in our office. After shooting the images, I downloaded them on my machine and put it in my drawer. When I went home, I switched on the computer and connected the camera to it to download images. To my horror, the camera didn't start. It was something similar to last time only this time the power light would turn on and the lights of Flash and auto-focus would keep blinking.
One of the last pictures I took with my camera.
It is something that I find very difficult to handle. I have a very close and emotional relation with my camera, something like that of a small kid and his favorite toy. You can imagine how a kid must feel if his favorite toy is broken. Actually I can say in this respect Manu would be a lot more mature than I am.
We decided to do what we last time as well. We planned to go to JJ Mehta for repair on Saturday. On Saturday we drove to Phoenix Mall in Parel. That is the only place (that I am aware of) where I can park my car and be confident about it being safe. We had to wait for about 20-25 minutes for a parking spot and by the time we were allowed to go in, the heat and the wait had taken it's toll. I got out of the car, locked the door and walked. Barely two steps later I realised that I had licked the key in the ignition. The first option that came to mind was to go home and come back with a spare key and frankly speaking I thought breaking a glass of the car was a more viable option.
Following Mira's suggestion, I spoke to the parking attendant for a Maruti key to try if the door opens with that. He didn't have it but a couple of guys overheard us and came to me asking what has happened. He picked a wire, rolled to make a loop of it and slid it through the door and in about 5 minutes, he succeeded in pulling the lever of the car and bingo! The car was open. This reminded me of the money I paid the guy to install two metal plates so that no one can slide a ruler and open the lock. Now I know that my car is safe not because of the precautionary measures I have taken but because someone has not made an attempt to steal it. One would expect Maruti Suzuki to fix these security flaws in their car. An 800 is cheep but it is not free.
Anyway, I took the keys and we took a cab to Dadar. In JJ Mehta I met the same guy I met last time as well. I showed him the camera and he told me that he would give it back on Tuesday “Did the camera fell down? It seems the lens has jammed” I asked him how much it would cost me and he made a phone call and told me 2500 bucks.
“Is that the standard fee you charge for any problem”?
“Excuse me”
“Last time also I came and you charged me Rs. 2500, this time you are saying the same thing”
This is the gentleman who told me that he changed the switch while it was visibally old and this time as well asked me Rs. 2500 for something that I think
I also made a call and spoke to my brother and asked him to confirm with his photographer friend to see if I should pay him so much. He called be back in 5 minutes and told me that the eyes of his photographer friend almost popped out when he heard about the problem and the money. I walked out of the store without getting the camera fixed. Now I feel that last time also he fleeced me. He told me that he had changed the power switch and when I looked at the switch and back at him with a little suspicion, he told me that he had not changed the outside switch, but the inside of it. I guess Nikon would not make these things in parts. It would be just one whole thing.
We went back to Parel and realised that my quota of bad luck was not over yet. We went to Domino's and ordered a pizza. Their tagline is "30 minutes, nahin to free" they talk about delivering a pizza in 30 minutes but they couldn't provide me one while I was sitting right there in their store. I had to remind them a couple of time and finally after 40 minutes my pizza came.
“I was wondering if this would come today”
“Oh. No no sir, actually there are a lot of orders”
“What about the garlic bread?”
“Sir I will bring it as soon as it is ready”
We had out pizza and nothing came. Finally after an hour I went back to them and asked for the garlic bread. It was ready but they just didn't bother to bring it to me.
Even when I call Domino's from my home, they straightaway tell me that the delivery will take 1 hour.
The last option I had exercised was a Camera repair shop in Lamington Road, Bandra. I called them and was shocked by the attitude of the man who answered the phone. When I asked him if they could fix the camera on the spot, he told me that their microwave oven is not working. No point in discussing anything further with that man. I guess the only option I have now is to send the camera to Delhi as I don't feel I am able to find someone I can trust in Bombay.
So here I am, without a camera, feeling handicapped. I have even stopped updating my site because I don't feel like. Mira is upset and feels that I should use images from my archive (I plan to do that but not just now). She also had a dream that I am telling her that the number of visitors to Picturejockey has fallen down to 30-35.
Update
Mr. Kartik Mehta has pointed out that it is not fair on my part to blame someone for over chanrging. I completely agree with that and apologise for the figuer of 100 bucks I quoted. I take my words back but I still maintain that I can get it fixed cheeper and when I do that, I will put the name of the shop that fixed it and for how much. Till then Mr. Mehta, I am sorry for putting figures that have not been certified.
