The impromptu get-together paid off and it was an eye-opener for him. He even came to know their birthdays and hobbies. Before they dispersed for the evening, Rana asked them if they would like to gather in an informal setting like that on a Friday evening every month. They said, ‘yes’ in a chorus. Accordingly, it was unanimously decided that they would meet on the third Friday of each month at different pubs voted by the majority of his staff.
On Monday morning, Sarah gave him the birthday list of his staff that he had requested at the Friday night dinner. From that list Rana found that in the next few weeks a string of birthdays were due, beginning with Sarah’s. He also noticed that a female employee was in an advanced stage of pregnancy. Sarah said that employee would be in labor in a couple of weeks. Considering that he had only twelve employees, equally split into male and female, he decided to give a bouquet of roses and a birthday cake as birthday present to each employee irrespective of gender in order to maintain exact parity. Accordingly, on that Saturday he walked into the florist’s shop in his hotel. All the employees of the florist were terribly busy. Apparently, there were many weddings in the town and they had plenty of orders at hand. Consequently, no one had time to look up and see who entered the shop even though the bell jingled.
So the Manager/Partner came to help him. She was a beautiful brunette in her early thirties. He picked up a business card from the cardholder on the counter. The name on the card read Heather Parker. Rana guessed he was being attended by Heather herself. She asked, “Sir, how can I help you?”
Rana said, “I would like to place orders for some bouquets to be delivered in the next couple of weeks.”
Heather asked, “Sir, are you a resident of the hotel?”
Rana answered, “Yes Mme.” However, he followed up asking, “But what that’s got to do with my order? I do not want to include this in my hotel bill. I will pay for the flowers right now in cash.”
Heather said, “We give some discounts to the guests of the hotel.”
Rana said, “Oh, that’s very gracious of you, Mme! I like that.”
Heather said smilingly, “I knew you would like it.”
Rana asked, “How did you know?”
Still smiling Heather responded, “Because everyone loves discount.”
Rana said, “You are a genius.” Heather laughed but did not say anything.
Then she asked, “What’s your first order and the delivery date, sir?”
Rana answered, “My first order is for delivery on the coming Tuesday. It would be for twenty-seven roses, nine each of yellow, red and pink varieties interspersed with some bright colored flowers like tulips and daffodils.”
Somewhat bemused, Heather asked, “Just for curiosity’s sake Sir, may I ask why twenty-seven, why not two dozens or two and a half?”
Rana smiled and answered, “Oh, that’s for my secretary. She would be twenty-seven that day.”
Heather said, “Look at the lucky secretary!” Then for the consumption of her employees she said, “We now have a customer who designs the bouquets for us.”
They looked up at Rana almost in unison. Someone said in the air somewhat humorously, “Oh God, we are going to lose our jobs!” Everyone laughed.
Rana promptly responded, “I have not applied for the job yet.” They laughed again. He then told Heather, “The second order would be for the next week. Can I place the order and pay for it now?”
Heather replied, “Will you check out of the hotel soon?”
Rana said, “No, I will stay here few more weeks till I move into my house.”
Heather said, “Then why are you in such a hurry to pay? I suggest you better put it off for the next week.”
He paid for the flowers. Heather asked the address of delivery. Rana gave her his business card and said, “My secretary’s name is Sarah Parkinson.” He added, “So I will see you next week again.”
Heather said very courteously, “You are most welcome, Mr. Roy.”
Next Friday evening, on his return from the work, Rana went straight to the Florist’s shop, apprehending the shop might be closed early. It was about six in the evening. Only Heather was in the shop. All the employees had gone for the day.
Heather said exuberantly, “Pleased to see you again, Mr.Roy.”
Rana responded, “Pleased to meet you too, Ms. Parker. Are you closed for the day?”
She said with a smile, “I am still here. You may call me Heather.”
He said, “Heather, you may also call me Rana.”
Heather continued to smile but did not make any comment on that. Little later she said, “I guess this time you want to place order for a birthday bouquet for the other lady.”
Rana replied, “Very much so. This time the lady would be twenty-five. Her name is Emma Dawson. Of course, the address is the same. So you know what to do.”
Heather said, “Pretty much.”
Rana said, “I also mentioned about another employee who was expecting. I believe she might be in the hospital over the weekend. This bouquet should be somewhat different. Since it has got nothing to do with age, reduce the number of roses to two dozens. In view of the fact that this is also to welcome a baby into this world you may make it more colorful. Throw in some carnations and violets of the Alps and other bright colored flowers. My secretary Sarah will call you on Monday morning and give you the address of the hospital. But I will pay for it now.”
Heather said, “Wow, I wish I had a boss like this before my children were born.”
Rana said, “Heather, be careful what you ask for; you might end up getting it.”
Heather laughed at that, but asked a different question, “Mr. Roy, how do you know so much about flowers?”
Rana answered, “Heather, I know nothing about flowers. I love flowers and I love bright colors. So I try to spread colors when I order bouquets.”
Heather said, “That leads me to the next question. I am curious to know where you are from. You are so polished.”
Rana asked, “Can you guess?”
Heather replied, “Not really. You have a feature that is not common.”
Rana said, “Then I am from the Planet Mars. For more than a century scientists are looking for life in Mars. You can now claim to have seen an animal from Mars, who does not look very much different from human beings on earth.”
She burst out into laughter and said, “No, you can’t be from Mars. You are just increasing my curiosity. Please tell me where you are actually from.”
He said, “Okay Heather, I come from India.”
Heather said, “It is hard to believe. Your family name is Roy; your complexion is so light; you are so smart and polished and your accent is so different.”
Rana laughed and said, “Many thanks for the attributes you have enumerated about me. I hear them all the time from my clients, at my work, at my club, and everywhere else. However, if you ask me to tell you the truth and nothing but the truth, then I come from India. I do not want to concoct anything else.”
With the purpose of clarifying her thoughts Heather said, “Mr. Roy, please don’t get me wrong. I am not saying Indians are not smart. My family physician is also an Indian. He is also smart and polished. But his complexion is brown like most of the Indians.”
Rana said, “Heather, don’t worry about it. I understood perfectly what you wanted to know. As I mentioned earlier, I keep on hearing the same questions repeatedly from my colleagues and clients.”
Changing the subject somewhat, Heather asked, “I know you have bought all these flowers for your secretary and other staff, but may I ask if you are visiting us temporarily?”
Rana replied, “No Heather, I am actually an International Officer with American Inter-Continental Bank. I have just been transferred to London with the responsibility for their African Operations.”
Heather asked, “Then you will be living here for a few years.”
Rana responded, “Usually, that is correct, unless you do not like the way I walk.�
� Heather laughed rather embarrassingly and said, “No, no, we want people like you to live here forever.”
She almost finished preparing the orders and the bill. With a little pause she asked again, “Have you gone around London yet?”
Rana answered, “Not much, except what I see on my way to and from my bank. I do not feel like going around alone; nor do I like to go with the tour companies. They are like the shepherds herding the sheep. I don’t have any suitable companion yet to take me around on weekends unless you want to take that task on yourself.”
Heather said, “I would love to, but you are still a guest of the hotel. Though we are all independent businesses, in terms of our contract with the hotel we are not allowed to go out or be too friendly with the guests of the hotel.”
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 f
amily 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.”
A Bend in the River of Life Page 28