Chapter 1
It was a rainy day, the roads were completely jam and the traffic was moving ahead too slowly. So I decided to stop by at the nearest cafe that could serve me something to warm up until the traffic clears up. I drove till the next junction and saw a small cafe board just outside a simple outlet. I parked my car near the parking lot and quickly took little fast steps to save myself from the pouring rain. Though the cafe did not have an inviting look from outside, it was warm and bright with the dim lights inside. It had a 'self service' board hanged at the service counter, I think so because of the customer rush at this hour plus the rain. I moved forward towards the service counter to place my order just to dash upon a package lying on the floor. I picked it up to check the name on it
The meeting
The package had a name tag attached to it somewhat like a visiting card which read as 'Mr. Lobo, house no 339, Town street'. I reached the front desk to submit the parcel to the receptionist. She checked the package and called out the name thrice on a mini speaker lying under her desk. We waited for the next fifteen minutes for someone to turn up but no one came forward. I waited for next ten minutes but still no one turned up to own it. Then it struck me, why don't I transit the package to the owner as I would be travelling through the same route. I took the parcel from the receptionist, reassuring of delivering it and giving her a call back. She thanked me for the service. I left the place after having my coffee continuing my drive to my destination. I drove for next half an hour until I reached the suburbs. Then tried to find the Town street and searched for house no.339. After a few turns and queries to the passerby, I stopped in front of its gate.
Open
I pulled my car aside and parked it safely. The gates were open so did not had to be careful about any watch dogs. Standing in front of the doors I wondered if I should press the door bell or dial the contact number on the package. Somehow I thought it's better to press the door bell and so did I. Within a few minutes a man opened the door. It seems he was the house keeper, a man in his forties. He asked me who was I, so I just asked if I could meet Mr. Lobo as I wanted to handover a package. The man requested me to wait and went in. He returned soon and told me to follow him. As I went with him I noticed the house was quite an old fashioned one but beautifully interiored. The wall was mostly covered with artistic frescoes. Passing through a long corridor we reached a large spacious room, with sunlight falling in and brightly lighting the room. I noticed the wall paintings in this room were adorable in the bright sunrays. After observing the room's beauty for a while my eyes met an elderly man, it seems in his seventies was waiting for me on a large couch
The fresco
Little realising that I would be spending my remaining day here I accepted the invitation by the elderly man. "Please, be seated gentleman" he said. "Can I know, who you are and what brought you here." I took out the package and laid it on the table," I think this belongs to you" I said. The old man was surprised to see the package "oh! my god, where in the heavens, did you find the package. I thought I lost it." I gave him a brief account of how I found the package. I felt as if he was relieved finding it. The old man seemed too happy cause he wouldn't stop thanking me. " I am so very grateful to you for bringing it back to me" and then suddenly he remembered," by the way I did not ask your name." I smiling introduced myself,"Sir, my name is Eddie Brite, and I come from willington town." "So Mr. Eddie what what would like to have for the drink." I preferred coffee and he called up for the cook and requested him to bring the coffee." By the time we waited for he called up the cafe to inform them that he had received the package while I observed that the room was very comfortable a big cosy bed and the interiors intelligently selected.
The couch
The coffee
"Thank you,Mrs. More for bringing in the coffee, could you please arrange it on the table. The lady placed the coffee neatly on the table and left. Later on I came to know that she was the house keeper and the caretaker. "Please, Mr. Eddie join me for the coffee." "Sir, please call me only Eddie" I said and we took our place near the window. I observed that it was the backyard of the house facing a beautiful blue lake and exotic nature surrounding it. "Have your coffee, Eddie." "Do you stay all alone in this house" I asked. "No, I live with my wife, granddaughter, housekeeper and the caretaker. Actually my wife was not well last night and had to be immediately admited in a hospital. She would be discharged in the evening. The hospital staff said that she needs to be kept under observation and if everything is fine, they would discharge her by evening. This package is a gift for her as it's our wedding anniversary tomorrow." " Oh great! that's so nice to hear" I said. "I am very grateful to you for bringing this package to me. I returned from the hospital just this morning and I had stopped by for breakfast at the cafe where I lost my package. Thank you for bringing back to me." He said, while continuously gazing at the package and then out of the window......
"Sir" I called just to bring him back from his thoughts. "It's been forty five years, since I married my best friend. It seems like only a day has passed. And now her absence, I feel as if an age has gone by" he said, still continuing his gaze towards the lake. "This is where I first proposed her" he said. I didn't stop him and he continued as if I had brought back life to his memories or maybe the lake or maybe his wife's absence. Somehow I felt he needed someone with him for the time being. Like a flashback he went back to his memories......
The lake
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