Waiting has a strange energy—sometimes more intense than the thing we are waiting for.
The Excitement of Waiting
Waiting is often more exciting than arrival. It has its own kind of energy. And right now, I am feeling that very strongly.
It has been more than twelve years since I bought my current camera. In all these years, every time I bought a smartphone, the feeling of a new camera did cross my mind in a limited way. But a real, dedicated camera always feels different. The experience of holding one in hand is not the same as holding a flat block of material as a smartphone.
My current camera, though excellent, is not something I feel like carrying often. I only take it out for specific purposes or events. Otherwise, it feels like a hassle—to carry and manage.
After being influenced by several videos and appreciating the Ricoh GR IIIx, I finally ordered one a few days ago, at a price of almost a lakh rupees.
That is not a small amount. Even if it may be reasonable for a good camera, a lakh still feels like a lot to me. I had been deliberating on this purchase for a few months. It is more of a desire than a need, despite the benefits it may have.
For a camera that is in high demand across the world and already out of stock in some places, at least in India, it seems like I managed to get the last available piece.
I ordered mine directly from the manufacturer. Within ten minutes of placing the order, the product became unavailable on their portal. Even on Amazon, the product had not been listed for the past few weeks.
So it really feels like I was the lucky one to get the last piece available—something I ordered just three days ago.
I am excited that it might be delivered today. I have been checking the seller portal and the courier updates every few hours over the last few days. This is something I rarely do. Usually, I am content knowing it will arrive someday soon. But this time, I couldn’t resist wanting to know exactly when.
Neither the courier nor the company clearly indicated the delivery timeline. The last update yesterday evening said it had reached a local warehouse and would be delivered today.
I was even tempted to go and collect it directly from the warehouse yesterday evening. But I kept my impulse at a controllable distance.
Today, hopefully, I will have it in my hands.
I know for sure that visually, this camera will be far less striking than all the cameras I have owned over the past four and half decades. My excitement is not about how it looks.
It is about the convenience it promises in carrying—and the quality of pictures it produces. There is also a certain nostalgia to it, something that reminds me of the early days of journalism.
And for now, more than the camera itself, I am experiencing the quiet thrill of waiting.
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