LOVE REGRETS AND DISAPPOINTMENTS: EPISODE 3.
Traditionally Shakespeare’s love stories always climaxed in some complicated tragedy. Most of the love stories around us were the complaints of aching hearts. No one told a successful love story in which the parties were very happy with their episodes. Mine was a spectacular one. That is how you want all love stories to be, not of real broken hearts and heartaches leaving regrets and disappointment behind the trail of the victims.
Twenty years ago, a friend invited me to Berlin to witness the Beer Festival. I travelled light; a little travelling bag and a valise in which I kept my travel documentations and my travellers’ cheques. I was allowed to carry them in to the plane. On arrival in Berlin the weather was really bad. We had a very rough landing. In fact, we were sort of rescued. Everyone in the plane dashed out for dear life. It was when I got to safety before I realised I had left behind my luggage. The Police would not allow anyone to go back in to the plane. A Friday night was very bad for business. I could not figure out my friend’s contact phone number. At the airport, I spent the night moving from one duty-free shop to the other till morning broke. I walked back in to arrival lodge at about seven o’clock local time. In the hope my friend would appear. It was there I met my current wife in a very spectacular way. “Is someone picking you up?” She said in a very poor English tone. I said yes to get her off my back. She did not walk away. “I have noticed you for the past six hours.” She said. I was scared. Could she be some sort of police keeping surveillance on the travellers? I could not figure out a lie quickly enough so I decided to tell the truth. “I came by flight G674 which crash landed. My luggage is in there but no one is allowed in there at the moment. I could not figure out the telephone number of my contact. I shall wait until the police are done with the plane.” She looked at me with lot of respect and pity. I was not actually expecting that. I came to see a sister off. Give me a few moments I shall take you home.” She said with some sort of aristocracy. To my mind I thought that must be juvenile delinquency. How could you a little girl take a man home to your parents? The evening had come, I was getting agitated and desperate. I agreed to go with her. In the house she introduced me to an old lady. After the introduction the old woman did not say anything. In my mind I thought she must be thinking, “I would not do that.” I was fed and I washed down. I was offered a room. The night seemed more than twelve hours. When morning broke, we came together and I told them my back-up plan, excuse my computer language. It was only then I realised it was Sunday and the British Embassy would not open. I went back to imprison myself in my room till Monday morning. She offered to take me to the Police Station to report the lost and to the Embassy for assistance. All done at the Police station and at the Embassy they promised giving me a travelling document but how do I get ticket to travel? The man at the Embassy said they were not given a budget for that. Bridget told me I do not need to worry she would take care off that. I was ashamed of myself, as a computer consultant at the mercy of a juvenile girl. I even forgot to say thank you. From there we went back to the airport, I procured a ticket and off I was on board a plane back to London.
Six years had passed, I had not communicated with Bridget. One Sunday morning the phone rang. The caller at the other end said, “Guess who is calling you from Berlin,” I was not sure who. The thought of Bridget did not cross my mind anyway. “I have passed my English tests brilliantly. I can now speak English very well for your sake,” She went on. I was going to raise my voice to tell her to give her name or cut it. “We met six years ago,” she said. Still that did not ring a bell or bring the thought Bridget to me. “I took you home.” She said softly. As if she was not demanding anything for the favour. “Oh, what is your name again, Oh! I am rather very sorry. Thanks a lot for the favour. How is everyone, your sister and grandma?” I said with much joy in my heart. I still could not figure out her name. “Em, mm, What can do for you?” I said sheepishly not actually thinking of what I could do for her. “I am at Heathrow Airport, I lost grandma and my sister in a fatal car accident. I have come to live with you as I have no one to live with. I sold everything we had. Please do not turn me down. For your sake I have taken English lessons in order to communicate with you intelligently. Please do no turn me down. I have no where to go.” I dragged myself from the bed before saying, “I shall be with you ‘asap’” I was not sure if she could make out the ‘asap’ but I had said it already.
This was twenty years ago, I found love in the heart of Bridget. We are very happy and have been blessed with three little beautiful girls who are replication of my darling Bridget.