A Bend in the River of Life (40 page)

Struck by the beauty of Zurich, Heather said, “What a wonderful place! I have read and heard so much about Switzerland. But unless one comes to the place personally, looks around and breathes the air, it is hard to believe all the superlatives that are said about it.”

Rana added to her appreciation, “The aura of a place also deeply influences the attributes of its people. See how beautiful is the mind of the Swiss people. It is simple, sincere and free of spite.”

Heather said, “Yes, your observation could not be more appropriate. You watch things with an inner eye.”

Heather had never seen a big lake because there is none around London, what to talk about taking a cruise? She was virtually
mesmerized cruising on the Lake Zurich surrounded by hundreds of awesome, snow-covered, Alpine peaks skirted by a thick forest of pine, fir, birch, rhododendron and other coniferous trees. She said as if in a trance, “Rana, thank you once again for bringing me out of my shell. Surprisingly, born and raised in London, I never looked beyond the English Channel! You had to come all the way from India to show me Europe!”

Rana said jokingly, “Heather, that's no wonder; it's always dark beneath the lamp!”

While attending the conference at the Hoffesberg Palace, Heather said, “As we drive past our palaces in London, we crane our necks to look at them from outside and wonder what pomp and glitter might be lurking behind their thick walls! Here, sitting inside one of the most well-known palaces in the world we are attending the conference!”

Rana said, “That's because the British people have allowed themselves to stay overawed by history. Elsewhere, people have decided to put the history behind and move forward.”

Heather said, “May be, you are right.'

During their tour of Paris, Heather held back her comments to start with. However, upon visiting the Notre Dame Cathedral she said, “This is the most beautiful Cathedral I have ever seen. It is breathtaking!”

Rana said, “Finally, I have heard a comment from you on the French soil.”

Heather smiled and said, “We, the British and the French, cannot stand each other because we cannot accept the notion of superiority of the other in any matter. That's why I reserved my comments so far. However, you have to give the devil its due. I must admit that aesthetically Paris is more beautiful than London and the Cathedral of Notre Dame is the most elegant and reverential among the Cathedrals in two historic cities.”

Rana did not expect such a candid comment from Heather. So in
order to give her a little comfort, he said, “Nevertheless, London is more dwelling and travel friendly between the two.”

There was no comment from Heather but a smile of appreciation. Then Rana added with a smile, “There is another huge and historic difference.”

Heather asked, “What is it?”

Rana answered, “Paris does not have the privilege of counting Heather as its honored citizen, but London does.”

Heather said, “Now you are trying to boost my ego.”

Having been photographed under the Eiffel Tower and then at the Champs-Elysees, Heather quipped, “Now I am a part of the French history.”

Rana said, “For this wonderful accomplishment, they will honor you with a Key to the city of Paris.”

Heather smiled and said, “Who cares?”

At the Rembrandt Art Gallery Heather said, “We hardly have any time to go to the National Gallery and here we have hours to spend at the Rembrandt Gallery.”

Rana quipped, “It is aptly said, ‘Only in his hometown and in his own house is a prophet without honor.”'(Mathew 13:57).

Heather burst out into laughter and said, “Rana, you have answers to everything!”

Rana said, “I am just trying to make your travel livelier. I apologize if I have disturbed your peace in any way.”

Heather said, “No Rana, You have not disturbed my peace at all. On the contrary, there is absolutely no doubt that I am really enjoying every bit of this trip because of your lively company. So there is no need for apology.”

In Luxembourg, Heather was surprised to learn that though it enjoyed the status of an independent country, with a total area of as little as 1000 sq. miles and a population of less than 400,000, it was actually called a Grand Duchy not a country, because it was ruled by a sovereign Grand Duke. Notwithstanding that surprise revelation,
she liked the peace and tranquility of Luxembourg. There the conference was held at the Parliament House. Heather felt so important and honored that she burbled out, “In London, we see the proceedings of the House of Commons on television; here we are part of the proceedings.”

Rana said, “Heather, that is absolutely correct except that the House of Commons looks like a dungeon, a big rat hole, where the lawmakers keep on screaming and booing at each other like school boys. But this conference hall is spacious, bright and cheerful and the proceedings are dignified. Most of all, we are part of the proceedings.”

There was no disagreement on that remark and both smiled in acceptance of each other's point of view. Before departing Luxembourg on their way home, Heather commented, “It is unbelievable how much one can learn just by stepping out of the door.”

Yes, Heather was right. These trips were eye-openers to her and more importantly, they inculcated in her an unquenchable thirst for more travels. Besides, traveling together in relaxed atmosphere helped their endearing relationship to be even chummier.

These short forays abroad by Heather also helped bring out the business instincts and leadership of Paula to limelight. She not only managed the business well in her mother's absence, but also brought some embassy and corporate accounts by talking to the guests of the hotel when they placed orders for flowers and bouquets. Undoubtedly, this is a skillful and aggressive marketing practice that often leads to enormous success in any business. Even Heather agreed that she did not have that business acumen and agility at Paula's age. Moreover, Paula effectively supervised her brother Joshua, who was filling in for her in her own business by giving him instructions on telephone.

Another year was coming to an end. One could feel the nip in the air. Autumn entered the seasonal quadrant unheralded and unnoticed. Winter was approaching on its heels. Rana just completed
another swing through his business territory one last time before the end of the year. Christmas came with all its splendor and sparkle. Rana enjoyed the Christmas in peace and serenity with Heather and her children yet one more time.

The New Year brought endless possibilities to Heather and her family. Paula became eighteen and began looking like her mother at her younger age. She did not have a boyfriend. Having witnessed the tragic divorce between her parents, she did not want to make any boyfriend. Her boyfriend was her business. She wanted to expand her business with a gift shop, catering to high-end clientele; she wanted more activities. At Rana's suggestion Heather moved Paula's shop to a much larger space near the rotunda at the center of the mall. On one side of the shop her flower business continued and on the other, she began the new gift shop. With one mighty stroke she brought her captive flower customers into her stylish gift shop. She was a wunderkind of that mall. All the store owners knew her. She convinced all of them to embellish the vicinity of their cash register with some sort of flower arrangements; a clever and customer sensitive idea considering the fact that about 80% of the customers of that mall were housewives. There was not a single store in that mall that did not have Paula's flowers. Now they began sending their customers looking for a specialty gift to Paula's shop. So her high class gift business took off nicely on the strength of her flower business. Joshua too kept himself busy at his sister's business without giving up his studies. Previously, he was kind of a sidekick. Now he became the Manager. The neatly designed ivory business card on the counter proudly declared the welcome change in his status.

The net result of these positive developments was that in the middle of the summer Heather said that she would be able to pay off the mortgage of her house fully before the end of the year. She was also confident that she would repay the business loan much before its term. That said volumes of how good her business was doing and how well she and her daughter were managing their finances. That
gave impetus to Heather in exercising her option in her new found pleasure in travel. She had developed so much trust in Paula and Joshua that even with a larger stake in the business by doubling the size of Paula's store, she decided to whet her appetite in travel. Hearing exciting things about the countries in Rana's banking territory, she expressed her desire to visit Egypt, Kenya and South Africa. Naturally, that made Rana very happy. At least, for once he found a pleasant company during one of his usually long and arduous business trips. So he made special arrangements and diversions for Heather to make her first trip outside Europe as pleasant as possible.

The first stop of the journey was Alexandria, the second largest city of Egypt by the Mediterranean Sea at the estuary of the Nile River. The lesser known of the two ancient cities of Egypt, the summer resort of King Farouk and one of the most beautiful sea resorts on either side of the Mediterranean, Alexandria had a delicate charm of its own. Without some geographical knowledge and some historical perspective, people would find Alexandria to be a pleasant surprise on arrival. Apart from its unique natural beauty derived from its Mediterranean presence, the aura and intrigue associated with Egyptian royalty were disguised in Alexandria. The old summer palace of King Farouk became the summer abode of the modern day presidents. However, when the tourist guide would utter the words, “The old summer palace of King Farouk,” he would draw an instant attention of the foreign tourists. They would crane their necks and adjust their distant vision. That was exactly what happened to Heather. When she was told that in Egypt they would visit Alexandria first, she did not show any enthusiasm.

On the first day of their tour of Alexandria it appeared that Heather was very impressed at what she saw. But at first she did not say anything. In the evening, about an hour before sunset, while they were taking a stroll on the beach in front of the hotel with gentle waves of the Mediterranean lapping her bare feet, Heather opened her mouth on the subject. She said, “Rana, you know how much I
admire your taste and choice. I have told you many times before, but cannot help saying it one more time.”

Rana kind of half-guessed what she was going to say, but asked like a stupid, “Heather, I do not know what you are talking about?”

She smiled back and said, “Let me finish, then you will know what I am talking about.” She continued, “When you said we are going to Alexandria first, I was little disappointed though I did not show it to you then. I thought I wanted to see the pyramids, the sphinx, the palaces and he wants to take me to Alexandria! I remembered the name, but I had no idea where it was on the map. Now I see it is a fabulous place! Today I was surprised to see the vestiges of the Egyptian royalty also. So I am glad that you have chosen to bring me to Alexandria first. You are always my trusted friend.”

He said, “I am happy that you see the point in including Alexandria in our travel plan. Heather, I want you to know that this trip was designed primarily for you. I do not always visit Alexandria when I come to Egypt, though it is an important profit center for us. Besides, this is one of the most sought after tourist spots in the entire Middle-East. And when this travel adventure is all over you will thank yourself having taken a bold decision to come with me to Africa.”

Before leaving Alexandria Heather asked, “Rana, all the women who work in this hotel from the front office to the house-keeping are so beautiful. Are they Egyptians or do they come from other countries?”

Rana replied, “As far as I can see, the overwhelming majority are Egyptians. Only a few might be a mix of Palestinians, Jordanians, Lebanese and Turkish.”

Heather said, “I had no idea that Egyptian women were so beautiful.”

Rana said, “Heather, since the ancient Egyptian Civilizations the ‘Egyptian Beauty' has been sung and admired in the historical narratives and the literary works of many. So this is a well-accepted truth, not a well-kept secret.”

They came down to Cairo. From the chaotic traffic and the ubiquitous smog it did not take long for Heather to realize the difference between Alexandria and Cairo. On the way to their hotel Heather was happy to see the Sphinx. By the time they reached the hotel it was dark. Rana did not tell her the background of their hotel Meena House Oberoi and its exact location, for he wanted to give her a surprise at the opportune moment. He chose a suit facing north. She did not have an inkling as to why north. However, without an iota of doubt she seemed to be impressed with the hotel immediately on arrival.

She was looking around with lots of pleasure mixed with curiosity. For dinner Heather chose to go to the Indian restaurant in the hotel. She was fond of Indian food, having tasted Indian cuisine in London since her childhood. During the dinner Rana kept the waiters at bay as much as possible, dealing with them personally so that they would not divulge the historical perspective of the hotel to her. It was a long day for them and Heather was tired. So on that pretext Rana tricked her to go back to the room immediately upon finishing the dinner. He said that the next day also would be very hectic and at the same time interesting; so they should enjoy a good night's sleep and wake up early next morning.

Rana was trying to find an opportunity to spring the first surprise before the evening was over, leaving the second surprise for the next morning. Heather gave him the opportunity he was looking for. She was very happy about everything in that hotel and decided to give vent to her feeling while doing her hair in front of the mirror.

She said, “Rana, you have chosen a beautiful hotel. The architecture exudes an aura of aristocracy. The rooms are spacious and comfortable like the ancient times. The bathroom is gorgeous and the cosmetics kept for guests show a sign of taste. The furniture, carpets and drapery are somewhat regal.”