Daung Nwe Swe - Women's Short Stories

"I'm just giving a concert... It's better for the actor and actress to come early. The audience is waiting to see them, so the show will be good."

"The actor wakes up at 9 o'clock. He can't come with a clean face and a shaved head. He has to be painted. It takes about half an hour to finish the actor's hair. If you're an actress, don't tell me. You don't know anything about movies yet."

Writer Ko Thita took a sip of orange juice and listened to the sounds around him. Amidst the sound of spoons, forks, and plates, among the laughter that scratched his throat at unfunny things, laughter that pretended to be hospitable, and laughter that could not be found in a meaningful way, writer Ko Thita was all alone.

Ko Thita, who had arrived at the Aung Aw Ba Film Company's Baar Road just after 8am, didn't speak to anyone except for the director he knew, Po Naing. He just ate a bowl of rice noodles that was served and waited patiently for today's boxing match.

Ko Thita attended the ceremony to present the film adaptation of her novel "My Lover Smiles and Hates Me," which she had written and was retitled "If You Love Me," which was to be made into a feature film.

Among the guests who attended the Kantok ceremony, there were only three or four people from the press and literary world who were familiar with him, while the rest of the audience was completely unfamiliar with him.

"Ko Thita.. don't be upset... Can you please have another bowl of rice noodles? Don't finish the orange juice, will you?"

"I can't drink anymore... That's enough."

"Oh, I'm busy too, so I can't even talk to you calmly. Now, I have some guests to attend to, so I'll go... Please excuse me."

Director Po Naing was barely able to speak, and before writer Ko Thita could turn around and look, he disappeared into the noisy audience.

The number of spectators coming to the Kantō festival is increasing. The glittering clothes and the sparkling diamonds and gold colors even dim the neon lights.

There was not a single word “art” in the words they spoke. They only talked about a Thai patik, a zin mae devina, a hundred and eighty tons of gold, a silver longyi, a bra without a strap, three eggs for one kyat, a perfume bottle that didn’t need to be lined up, a three-petaled dragonfly, a Kawthaung handbag, a pair of sunglasses… and so on.

After sitting for more than an hour, Ko Thita became very angry. The art he wanted was drowning in the shadows of the shadows. He himself was drowning in this community, unable to find his way out.

It seems that this audience does not even know that the main story of the movie that is being shown today is the work of a person named Thida. And even if they did know, it would not be surprising. Because, isn't it, all the audience is waiting eagerly for the actress and the actor?

The company owner and his wife, U Thaung Min and his wife, wearing long, khaki robes with large bellies, came and stood next to Ko Thita, but they did not treat him with any friendliness. They were no different from ordinary spectators, not even speaking to him. Ko Thita, smoking a cigarette, watched the whole scene in a daze.

"How is Ko Pa Naing? Are the actors and actresses late?"

A photographer with a camera strapped to his head approached Director Po Naing and asked.

"The prince didn't sleep last night. He said he would arrive at 11 o'clock. He called earlier. Please wait."

"If you wait, you have to wait....., the main thing is the prince and princess, right? You have to give me a special experience."

The director appeared to be in a daze, arching his back and stretching his shirt up to his fingertips, trying not to laugh.

"It's not a trial, I'll give you a big,

As soon as Director Pao Naing finished speaking, the waves of laughter waiting to be heard from the sidelines erupted into a rhythmic, rhythmic noise.

Ko Thita sat in a corner, watching their behavior in amazement as if she were watching a movie. Dissatisfied feelings began to build up inside her.

In any case, as the director Paungay, it would be good to introduce him to the audience as the writer who wrote the main story of the film that is being screened today. The story that is the basis for the film that is being screened today is his story, and Ko Thita feels deeply sorry for his life that is being ignored by the audience from a dim place. Where is the place of the art that he created?

Ko Thita thought, and waves began to rise inside him. If the waves inside him were real ocean waves, all these fans would be swept away by them. Ko Thita stopped thinking, controlling her mind as much as she could, and continued to smoke.

"Hello.. hello.. the princess is here... the princess is here..."

The audience at the movie premiere turned to look back at the street. The sound of spoons and forks fell silent.

"Please serve it on a big plate for the princess, she's still eating, isn't she?"

Director Pao Naing's voice was fresher than before. The famous actress Thin Thin Hlaing, flanked by two women and wrapped in a white silk scarf, stepped out of the red car. She entered the audience with her shiny golden high heels, looking more like a young horse than a golden deer.

“Oh... she's so beautiful... that's why she's famous.” “Her waist is also slim and curvy, tied with a string.”