Xerox still exists. But one doesn’t see the yellow STD, ISD, PCO, Xerox signs as much these days. It was a temple of learning during my childhood. How frequently did we go there with books and notes to be Xerox’ed? I didn’t spend much at the Xerox shops during my school days (my mother took care of that). But college days were a different story. The Xerox/phone shop opposite to the hostel was a frequent haunt for everything from emergency survival chocolates to long distance phone calls.

In memory of the photocopying Xerox shops,

Black and white sheaves

Smelling of ink and freshness

Books, guides, codes and more

 

Records, reports, notes

Copies – exact, precise, same

Copied, bound, preserved

 

Lilliputian space

Humming copier machine

Whirling and grunting

 

Jammed and torn papers

Crumbled into balls, thrown away

Paper everywhere

 

Constricted tiny space

Chocolates, candies and smokes

Not for claustrophobic