A Bend in the River of Life (36 page)

Rana asked mischievously, “Heather, that means if you happen to see me at the shopping mall or a theater, you would simply look away or ignore me.”

Heather replied seriously, “Our contract does not say anything about meeting in public places. However, I can say that I will not
look away and will try to be as friendly and as courteous as possible.”

Rana asked teasingly, “Then chance encounter is allowed!”

Heather laughed and said, “Mr. Roy, I can see that you are very clever.”

Rana said, “Heather, now you are contradicting yourself. Though you said initially that I was smart and polished, you did not mean it. Unless one is clever enough one cannot really be smart. Without being clever smartness would sound superficial.”

This time Heather laughed heartily and said, “Excuse me; you are too intelligent for me.”

Rana said, “Heather, irrespective of intelligence, there appears to be nothing against chance encounter. So let's have a chance encounter this Friday evening. We will go to a theater of your choice and also take our dinner there. I will arrange for the tickets. You have my phone number. Just call me to let me know where you want to go.”

Heather said, “Mr.Roy, it will be my pleasure to have your company. But please make sure no one in the hotel knows about it.”

Rana said humorously, “I will get a leaflet printed and circulated everywhere in the hotel including the guest rooms to make sure that not only everyone in the hotel knows about the rendezvous, but also takes a peek at it.”

Heather giggled like a teenager and confirmed that Shakespeare's Othello would be the best play to enjoy and begin the friendship.

There was no question about Heather's choice of Othello which was one of the most read about and appreciated Shakespearian plays enacted for centuries in the British theaters. So Heather and Rana decided to enjoy Othello being played then at a theater at Piccadilly. However, it was neither the drama nor even the food or drinks which were their primary quest. Each of them was the object of scrutiny of the other. Theater was merely an age-accepted convenient venue where they could get together to seek answers to their much inquisitiveness about the other.

Their appointment hour at the theater kept in consideration
enough time for casual dinner before the drama began. Order for the food and drinks were taken as soon as they took their seat. They felt comfortable about their front row seats, for nothing would come between them and the drama on the stage. Thus an uninterrupted beautiful evening appeared to be awaiting them. Slowly but surely, dialogue began between them when Heather asked, “Mr. Roy…”

Rana interrupted, saying, “Heather, I thought we decided to address each other by the first name.”

Heather smiled and said, “Yes, you are right, but for us it does not come that easily. You are still a resident of the hotel. We will get used to it gradually. Let me start again.” Then she re-arranged her thoughts and wordings and asked, “Rana, did you have any problem finding the theater?”

Rana answered, “Not really. Here the taxi drivers are very good and reliable. Popular spots like this are on their finger tips. He was a friendly Italian. He gave me all the tips of the town and dropped me right at the door step of the theater.”

Heather said, “That's good to know. On our way back at the end of the evening, I will drop you just near the back entrance of the hotel.”

Rana said, “Heather, you don't have to put your job at risk for me. As I said earlier, taxis are pretty reliable here. Don't loose your sleep over this small thing. I'll take a taxi.”

Heather said, “Okay, we'll see.” Then switching the subject she asked, “Rana, since you will be living here for a few years, are you looking for a house?”

Rana responded, “Yes, Heather. I have also kept my eyes open for a nice three bed-roomed apartment in a likable neighborhood.”

Heather mentioned with a genuine desire to help a new friend in town, “Rana, I have a friend who is a real estate broker. If you need her services, I can talk to her.”

He said, “Heather, many thanks for your concern. Nevertheless,
one good thing about working with a large multinational like my bank is that they are pretty well organized in matters of providing excellent benefits to their International Staff. My company has a list of approved brokers for a handful selected neighborhoods. I am working with one of the largest brokers who have shown me some beautiful houses as well as apartments in places like Belgravia, Regent Park, Queen's Park, Swiss Cottage and few other locations not far from the downtown. Good luck prevailing may be in a week or so, I will decide on the house I like most.”

She said, “Sounds exciting.” Then very discreetly she brought in the subject that she was itching to know. She asked, “Rana, when are you going to bring your family?”

He replied, “Heather, it has to wait for some time. My wife passed away six years earlier. I have two small children. My son Saurav is eight and my daughter Smita, six. I have not married again. Without someone to look after them, it would not be appropriate for me to bring them here before they are sufficiently grown up, because my job requires extensive travel.”

Heather said, “I am really sorry to learn of the demise of your wife at such a young age. If it does not bother you, may I ask what happened to her?”

Rana replied, “Complications at our daughter's birth.”

Heather said, “Poor girl! Does she understand the reason of her mother's death?”

Rana answered, “Heather, we have been very careful to avoid connecting her birth with her mother's passing so that she never has any occasion to feel guilty about it. Her birthday and her mother's memorial are observed concurrently so that she does not feel the difference. To her, it is just one joyous occasion, nothing to do with sorrow.”

Heather said, “That sounds very sensible.” She asked further, “In your absence now, who takes care of them?”

He responded, “They now live with my parents. My in-laws also live close by and they also get to see them on a daily basis.”

She said, “At least, they are in good hands.”

Rana said, “Yes, that is the only saving grace.”

She asked, “Rana, do you have their pictures on you?”

He responded, “Yes, please give me a second.”

All the photos including that of Keka were kept together in his wallet. He took them out of the wallet and handed over to Heather to quench her inquisitiveness.

She said, “Your children are so adorable. You must be missing them.”

He said, “Yes, I miss them all the time. I am also very worried for them because my parents are getting old.”

Heather then switched her attention to Keka's photo and said, “I might add that your wife was also very pretty. It is too sad that she passed away at such a young age.”

Rana said, “Heather, many thanks for those kind words.”

Switching back to the children, she asked, “How often do you see your children?”

Rana answered, “Last year, when I was in Bombay, I used to see them every month. Now that I am so far away, I will be able to see them only twice a year.”

Heather said, “I am sorry, I am pestering you with questions about your family only.”

Rana said, “Heather, there is nothing wrong with that. The purpose of this get-together was to know each other well and that's how it should be.”

Heather said, “Let me now tell you about myself. Rana, I am also a single like you, but in a different way. After fifteen years of marriage, I am just recently divorced. I married my high school boyfriend at the age of eighteen. I now feel that at that age I was too young to understand the complexities of marriage. I have a daughter Paula and son Joshua. Paula is fifteen and Joshua, thirteen. I have the
custody of the children. So they live with me and visit with their father every weekend.”

Rana said, “I see there are lots of commonalities between the two of us, though derived in different ways.”

Heather said, “I also thought so. Isn't it surprising?”

Heather was wrong. She failed to realize that the human existence itself is full of surprises. For the surprise elements are the foundations of the River of Life. Even her meeting with Rana was a surprise. She did not know him even a second before he entered her business. Every relationship has a content of surprise inherent in it.

They finished their dinner. Almost simultaneously, the curtain rose. So they had to stop their conversation in order not to annoy the audience immediately next to them.

At the interval, Heather asked, “Are you enjoying the play?”

Rana replied, “Yes, very much.”

Heather asked, “Rana, what other interests you have in life?”

Rana responded, “Heather, I am interested in many things, such as, music, ballet, all kinds of ball games and athletics, books, arts and crafts. In fact, Heather, there is no end to my interests.”

She said, “It's good to know. I am also interested in many things. There are always so much going on in London, it is unbelievable. A long weekend is coming for traditional Bank Holidays in September. We can do something.”

He asked, “Heather, don't you take your children out?”

She replied, “Not to the extent we want to. As I told you, on weekends they have to go to their father. That limits our activities. Normally, I take them out for dinner on Friday nights.”

He said apologetically, “That means I have deprived your children of their mother's company tonight. I am awfully sorry for this. Perhaps we have to shift our meeting to Saturday nights when the children would visit with their father.”

She said, “Rana, please don't feel sorry. I can always switch the dinner of the week to some other night. That's what they prefer. They
would rather spend the Friday evenings with their friends. They are happy to do that tonight and I have kept myself free this evening for our get-together.”

Rana asked, “In that case, Heather, can we spend some time in a coffee shop after the drama?”

Heather laughed and said, “I just thought of asking you the same. It appears we are thinking along the same line. I already thought of where to go for the coffee.”

Rana too laughed and said, “Heather, you can describe this coincidence in two ways; either, ‘Great people think alike' or, ‘Fools seldom differ.' You may choose whichever suits your interest.”

Heather burst out into laughter once again. Some in the audience craned their necks to see who was disturbing their peace.

At the end of the drama, Heather drove Rana about a mile before parking her car over the shoulder of the curb in a narrow back alley. They walked back to the main road to what seemed to Rana to be a very popular pub. It was jam packed. They had to wait outside for about ten minutes before being called in.

Heather told him, “The reason I have brought you here is that they are famous for their Irish coffee.”

They placed order for two Irish coffee. It appeared, Heather was pretty well-known there. She exchanged greetings with the manager and almost all the waiters and waitresses. Heather asked the waitress waiting on them to bring the check to her. Then looking at Rana she said, “Whenever and whatever we eat or drink here is on me.”

As a banker Rana was always particular in picking up the tabs. He felt embarrassed, but avoided picking up a fight with Heather on a flimsy matter. However, he said to her, “Heather, do whatever pleases you. I see that you have a lot of clout here. I will rather play your second fiddle here.”

Heather said, “Please don't say that you will play my second fiddle. I was your guest at the theater. This is just a small thing.”

Irish coffee was served shortly. It was really delicious. Perhaps the
Irish crème made the difference. While relishing the coffee, they began planning for the next week. Heather asked, “Rana, what is your most favorite food?”

He replied, “In terms of entrée, I am very fond of fish and chicken. As for desserts, I like cakes, pastries and stuffed thin pancakes.”

She said, “Then next Friday I will take you to a movie. After that we will go to a seafood restaurant. Is that okay with you?”

He said, “That's more than okay with me. Heather, I am pleased with very little. So don't worry about anything. Do whatever you deem best. You are my boss here.”

Heather asked, “What are you doing this weekend?”

Rana answered, “Househunting is my first priority. It is almost three weeks I am in the hotel. I have to take a decision by the next week.”

Heather said, “Then in the coming weekend you will be really busy furnishing the house.”

Rana said, “I do not know yet. I will let you know next Friday.”

Heather asked, “Do you like any of the houses you have seen so far?”

Rana answered, “I like two gorgeous mirror image town houses, one facing the north and the other facing south. In the next two days, the broker will show me a few more houses and apartments. If nothing better is found, I will settle for one of these town houses.”

Heather asked, “Rana, do you know where exactly these two houses are located?”

Rana replied, “It's a pretty large estate of stately houses in Regent Park.”

Heather said, “Oh, I know that place. It's a prestigious address. We have a few captive clients there.” She continued, “What about your furniture?”

Rana answered, “I am one step ahead in terms of my furniture. I have all but bought the furniture, keeping in view these two identical town houses. They are exquisite English furniture. You can't help but like them.”

When the evening was done and they decided to leave, Rana said, “Let me ask for a taxi.”

Heather stopped him, saying, “Rana, we are just a few blocks away from your hotel. I will drop you near the back entrance. Don't worry, no one will see us.”

Obviously, she knew that place like the back of her palm. After making a few turns, she stopped and said, “Now I will turn right. You will walk left to the back entrance. You can already see the hotel from here. At the bottom of this structure is the parking lot of the hotel”