Earlier
Knocking on the door, Raoul entered the office on his hearing 'Come' from the inside. Akim was a wiry man aged about 47 (at least that was what he had been celebrating for the last 3 years... Raoul thought to himself). Akim was a man with liberal outlook to life and was always in a peaceful place. Even though he was a Muslim by religion, he believed in the teachings of Buddha and was often surrounded by Buddhist paraphernalia in his office. He used to get so excited when he found anything new, be it any teaching or a new Buddha image. Once he got to know of anything related to Buddhism being available he was overcome with a holy zeal to possess it. Today was no different; Raoul found him engrossed in poring over a 'thangka' available on a website on the desktop, with many files lying opened on the table. A large number of files lay on the floor indicating that Akim had been the office since long. Raoul was impressed with his dedication to work.
Akim looked up from the screen and motioned him to sit down, getting once again engrossed in the screen. He motioned Raoul to come and take a look at the 'thangka' he had been so absorbed with. Raoul knew he would have to humor his boss, in order to get him to hear the news. Raoul groaned inwardly and got up from his chair, a plastic smile plastered on face, and joined Akim in looking at the 'thangka'. If it had been any other day and Raoul had time to kill, he would have been very happy to indulge Akim, but today Raoul was in a hurry. The 'thangka' he saw was very beautiful, with Buddha seated on a lotus flower with his eyes closed, right hand holding on to a rice bowl 'Buddha Shakyamuni- The Awakened One from Shakya Clan'.
Raoul nodded his head in agreement on Akim asked him if it was worth the buy. His restlessness was showing on his face, observing that Akim asked him as to what he could do. Raoul took a deep breath and launched into the recounting of yesterday's incidents. He told Akim about his meeting with the Chief Curator and his over-hearing the conversation between the two men.
After Raoul had finished, Akim rubbed his hand across his day old beard, thinking about what he had just heard; his eyes had lit up showing he had liked what he had heard. Raoul looked on expectantly, waiting with bated breath for his boss's reply. Deliberating for a couple of minutes, Akim nodded his head in agreement. Raoul leaped up from his seat, thanking Akim profusely and rushed out of the office. He heard Akim before the door closed, 'Get back all the information, I think this is going to be big'. Raoul grinned to himself, eager to reach in time.
Raoul was breathing heavy with excitement, but waited patiently discretely hidden behind the pillar for the men to come back to the 'Standing Buddha'. He looked nervously at his watch, half -expecting the men to delay their coming to the museum. He had almost given up when he had to wait for over an hour after the scheduled time had passed by. Just as he was about to move away, dejected, he saw the men coming inside.
Raoul made sure he was not visible from where he stood. The men came near to the display and waited. Raoul found this odd, but decided to wait it out. One of them spoke up, 'How long, Anees?' The other one who obviously was Anees, replied, 'A few more minutes would not kill you Hanif. We've been asked to wait, so we wait.' Raoul was sure Anees was the one in charge. Hanif lowered his eyes and looked away, clearly embarrassed at being snubbed but unable to retort back.
There were three of them waiting, two of them aware and one waiting for the drama to unfold. Raoul was feeling tired standing with the camera hanging around his neck, which he had borrowed on his way out from a colleague. He was not taking any chances this time.
Anees and Hanif were soon joined by another person, who had his face hidden under the baseball cap and was wearing clothes which were a size too big for him. Raoul took a few pictures, to be used later. The man who had joined asked Anees something, Anees obliged him and lead him closer to the 'Standing Buddha'. The man looked at the statue and appeared to be get very flustered. The longer he stood near the statue, more angrier he got.
He rushed out of the museum followed by Anees and Hanif closely followed by Raoul.
... to be continued.. Raoul - 4
Knocking on the door, Raoul entered the office on his hearing 'Come' from the inside. Akim was a wiry man aged about 47 (at least that was what he had been celebrating for the last 3 years... Raoul thought to himself). Akim was a man with liberal outlook to life and was always in a peaceful place. Even though he was a Muslim by religion, he believed in the teachings of Buddha and was often surrounded by Buddhist paraphernalia in his office. He used to get so excited when he found anything new, be it any teaching or a new Buddha image. Once he got to know of anything related to Buddhism being available he was overcome with a holy zeal to possess it. Today was no different; Raoul found him engrossed in poring over a 'thangka' available on a website on the desktop, with many files lying opened on the table. A large number of files lay on the floor indicating that Akim had been the office since long. Raoul was impressed with his dedication to work.
Akim looked up from the screen and motioned him to sit down, getting once again engrossed in the screen. He motioned Raoul to come and take a look at the 'thangka' he had been so absorbed with. Raoul knew he would have to humor his boss, in order to get him to hear the news. Raoul groaned inwardly and got up from his chair, a plastic smile plastered on face, and joined Akim in looking at the 'thangka'. If it had been any other day and Raoul had time to kill, he would have been very happy to indulge Akim, but today Raoul was in a hurry. The 'thangka' he saw was very beautiful, with Buddha seated on a lotus flower with his eyes closed, right hand holding on to a rice bowl 'Buddha Shakyamuni- The Awakened One from Shakya Clan'.
Raoul nodded his head in agreement on Akim asked him if it was worth the buy. His restlessness was showing on his face, observing that Akim asked him as to what he could do. Raoul took a deep breath and launched into the recounting of yesterday's incidents. He told Akim about his meeting with the Chief Curator and his over-hearing the conversation between the two men.
After Raoul had finished, Akim rubbed his hand across his day old beard, thinking about what he had just heard; his eyes had lit up showing he had liked what he had heard. Raoul looked on expectantly, waiting with bated breath for his boss's reply. Deliberating for a couple of minutes, Akim nodded his head in agreement. Raoul leaped up from his seat, thanking Akim profusely and rushed out of the office. He heard Akim before the door closed, 'Get back all the information, I think this is going to be big'. Raoul grinned to himself, eager to reach in time.
Raoul was breathing heavy with excitement, but waited patiently discretely hidden behind the pillar for the men to come back to the 'Standing Buddha'. He looked nervously at his watch, half -expecting the men to delay their coming to the museum. He had almost given up when he had to wait for over an hour after the scheduled time had passed by. Just as he was about to move away, dejected, he saw the men coming inside.
Raoul made sure he was not visible from where he stood. The men came near to the display and waited. Raoul found this odd, but decided to wait it out. One of them spoke up, 'How long, Anees?' The other one who obviously was Anees, replied, 'A few more minutes would not kill you Hanif. We've been asked to wait, so we wait.' Raoul was sure Anees was the one in charge. Hanif lowered his eyes and looked away, clearly embarrassed at being snubbed but unable to retort back.
There were three of them waiting, two of them aware and one waiting for the drama to unfold. Raoul was feeling tired standing with the camera hanging around his neck, which he had borrowed on his way out from a colleague. He was not taking any chances this time.
Anees and Hanif were soon joined by another person, who had his face hidden under the baseball cap and was wearing clothes which were a size too big for him. Raoul took a few pictures, to be used later. The man who had joined asked Anees something, Anees obliged him and lead him closer to the 'Standing Buddha'. The man looked at the statue and appeared to be get very flustered. The longer he stood near the statue, more angrier he got.
He rushed out of the museum followed by Anees and Hanif closely followed by Raoul.
... to be continued.. Raoul - 4
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