Heavens always play their part when you do your best.
In dark shades, gowned in exotic purple coloured silks, designed with a diamond glittering necklace around her neck, putting on a hairly pure white scarf falling off from infront on both her shoulders and white high heels with golden highlights in them, a freshly looking beautiful young lady walks into the hotel lounge.
A young man in a blue suit holding her purple coloured handbag walks past her to check on the empty chair set for her to sit on, on the table where five delegates who have been waiting for some good time are sitting. They all stand in recognition of her arrival one after the other respectively as they introduces their names, each with the country and companies they represent.
"Be free to address me as Lady Lala instead of Madam," she instructs them after sitting back in their respective positions.
All this is happening when Dodo is clearly observing with her two naked eyes widely open. It happens to be such a jaw dropping scene for her. "Am I dreaming..!" she talks wondering, standing up from her location to occupy a nearby table so that she can have a more clear view. "Heavens... please wake me up from this dream if am sleeping" she speaks inside her, "if not.... I will never take this type of wine anymore." It is a mind disturbing moment when Dodo sees a lady she very well knows from scratch, this respected, recieving a V I P treatment in a place and a country she least expects.
Shortly, when the lady takes the dark shades off, Dodo realises it is not an illusion. The lady her eyes are looking at, having a fresh handsome young man in a blue suit standing besides her is Lala. Her long lost friend whom she picked off the cold streets and fed. A legally married woman to her former fiancée Don three years back in their home country. "It is unbelievably true" wondering beyond, Dodo talks to herself, "Lala is alive in USA." She puts on a very tough face.
Immediately the devil inside her makes a move. It commands her to go straight on Lala's table with a ruthless attack. She stands up. Angrily with a lot of confidence, but as she moves her first foot; "Excuse me Madam" a hotel attendant distracts her attention saying, "a gentleman sitting alone over there has sent me to deliver this note to you."
Getting back into her normal senses, Dodo's panics into disguising so that she doesn't get noticed.
"Are you alright Madam?" Asks the attendant noticing her unstable gestures. Specific gestures indicate a particular mood. The hotel attendant has no idea she is the boss of this hotel.
"Oh, no... nothing!" Dodo responds unsteadily, "Can I please have it!" she asks, sending her hand to collect the small folded paper. "Thank you," she says to the hotel attendant smiling and then sits back down.
"Excuse me" Dodo calls back the attendant, "before you go." He turns around on hearing since not many steps he had walked. "Do you by any chance know that lady in purple?" asks Dodo.
"No Madam" answers the attendant, "but during our briefing we were informed she is a very special client." "How about the people she's conducting a meeting with?"
More, Dodo inquires. "They are delegates from different countries" he replies, "they have stayed here at the hotel for a week now."
"Can you please call the manager for me! thank you," Dodo requests.
Quickly, the hotel attendant walks to fulfill who he thinks is a client's wish. So fast with in a few minutes, the manager moves on the floor upto infront of Dodo.
"Thank you for the good work manager," she begins with appreciating. "Thank you boss," replies the hotel manager. He knows very well that this is his top boss, Madam Dodo. "I can see today the setting looks different everywhere from the dining to the lounge and then the terrace, from the usual setting" Dodo speaks trying to get to something, "it's uniquely beautiful though."
"Thank you so much Madam" the manager replies feeling so good about the compliment from his boss, "Uh... we specifically changed due to requirements of the special guests we're hosting for one month."
"Can I know which special guests they're?" Dodo asks.
"Her name is lady Lala, the woman in purple over there. She reserved with us two months back and made initial payments of expenses for five delegates from different countries, the ones she is holding a meeting with right there," the hotel manager explains. He goes on to explain further; "She specifically made a full settlement of the hotel stay for the one month they have to spend here."
"When are they leaving?" She asks more. "They have three week to go, " replies the manager. "Is there anything else I need to know about her?" Curiously Dodo inquires more from the manager. "Lady Lala is our biggest client and usually conducts these meetings, sometimes with heads of states, three time a year," he gives in more information to his boss. "We as the hotel know what her preferences are and everytime she calls us to reserve, the hotel makes the highest amount of profits. Each of her guests stays in a personal executive suite, eats first class menu and make a first class shopping in all the hotel shops around on her bill. Since each guest has a different taste of items, she asks us to keep each one's bills separate, and on the last day of their stay, Lady Lala clears all the expenses to zero balance.
Dodo pays too much attention such that no word misses her ears, since is Lala we are talking about here. A person that went missing for three years and now here she is in a foreign country as an executive. Apart from the wrath, Dodo has a lot of questions pending. They require answers from none other than Lala. Since this is her dad's hotel, she is well respected and in case of any questions, Dodo gets the answers straight away.
"Thank for your time manager" she appreciates with a smile, "Uh... before you leave, what time do you think is the meeting going to end?"
"Am actually not sure" says the hotel manager, "all I know is, she is staying for the night until tomorrow morning according to the reservations she made today."
"Is she a government official?!" Dodo wonders, asking a question to herself in a small voice. But then the manger hears and says, "I heard she has the biggest shares in oil plants located in Libya and Nigeria and also Gas in England and Russia, then electricity."
"Okay! thanks for the information, I will let you know if I need anything" she says, "now you can take your leave."
Clock ticking from seconds to minutes, minutes to hours, Dodo is waiting. She shifts to different locations as time flies but makes sure Lala doesn't disappear from her sight.
In Beverly Hills, Dodo's dad's hotel leads and others follow. It is the most executive with the best services. This is why it is the most expensive hotel. As seen from inside and outside, commercials on wide screens tell it is all about luxury and comfort on this hotel. Everyone in Beverly Hills and across the continent who knows about this hotel dreams to take a vaccation from home, conduct business, an event or holds a party at this hotel for it is so lively.
Finally, at midnight the meeting is concluded. Dodo's eyes were about to disappoint her, they wanted to shut down since they're not used to being open for all this long. In a reflex action, she stabilises and sits up right.
Lala has already stood up and she's walking out the exit. In panic, Dodo stands up and goes after her. She can now see her from a distance standing on an elevator entrance. The elevator opens and immediately Lala gets inside together with the young man in a blue tuxedo. Lala has no idea someone is tailing her. Dodo gets a convenient thought and this is what she does. instead of running to catch up with Lala in the elevator, she goes back to meet the manager.
"I want you to check for me the suit Lady Lala is staying," she orders. With no hesitation, the hotel manager goes to the Laptop and collects details required by his boss. He notes it down in the note book, plucks out the paper and forwards it to her. "Thanks," she appreciates him and continues on her mission.
On the 45th floor is an executive suite where Dodo reports from the elevator. It's confirmed that Lala is going to sleep here for the night. There is already a security officer guarding. "Excuse me can I help you?" Asks the guard. "Yes please" answers Dodo, "I need to meet lady Lala." "Oh, okay, is she expecting you?" the security guard asks. "It's an emergency," replies Dodo desperately.
Guard: "you can please wait here. He walks away to take the message. In one minute he returns and says; "She is not ready to meet any one. Its late she's resting already." Dodo looks so confused with nothing to say in return to the security guard. She decides to turn back and go but in pain of disappointment.
Lucky enough, the young man in a blue tuxedo comes out walking in the direction of the elevator. When he passes past Dodo who has been walking slowly, she sees him and actively back to the moods, decides to run after him.
"Excuse me Sir" politely speaks Dodo when she closes the gap in between, "your tuxedo is very beautiful." "Thank you, responds the young man with a smile.
"Are you going down," inquires Dodo trying to befriend him. He has very few words so he replies, "yes."
"It's my destination too," smiling Dodo says. The gentleman smiles too without saying a word. Inside the elevator Dodo gives guilty smiles, trying to pick a conversation but she lacks a topic to begin with. The elevator slides down floor by floor as numbers count descending.
"Am going to grab something to eat, you can join me if you don't mind," speaks the gentleman when he notices her uncomfortable reflection from the elevator glass. The gesture reports her to the clever gentleman that she wants to say something to him. "Really...! uh true, am very hungry too," Dodo panics into words. This is really a big rescue. She had no idea how to befriend this young gentleman but heavens always play their part.
The elevator reports on the second floor and the door opens. Both of them walk out. Boss Dodo has no choice but to follow this young gentleman if she wants to achieve her goal.
"The is a very beautiful spot," Dodo shows her comfortability upon getting to the spot chose by this hamdsome young gentleman. He pulls the chair for her to sit and she sits, shyly smiling. He sits too. He watches this young lady giving a weird smile which doesn't depart her cheeks. "Why are you smiling like this?" He becomes curious. "No man in my entire life has ever pulled a chair for me to sit the way you have done it" she answers, "okay, waiters have done it for me several times since am a customer and it is part of their job."
"It's gentle and very normal for man to do it especially for a beautiful lady like you," the young man says.
Dodo smiles, feeling so special deep inside.
"I love sitting at the terrace like this, feel the breeze, watch the lake and the city across. It is very beautiful and memorable" says the young gentleman. "Every time I come to this hotel I spare time to come at this scene and relax before I go to bed," he tells her more about his interest. A bottle of sweet red wine is served on the table with one glass. "Did you make your order before" asks the young gentleman, "because no one came in to pick order before." "Oh, yes...." she replies a lie, "I made this order before I came up there."
"Alright," the young gentleman says, "this is my favorite wine too I was going to order the same."
Dodo tells the service person to fetch a second glass. "Come-on, let me get my own bottle" the young gentleman says, "I believe you order what was enough for only you."
Dodo insists on bringing a second glass because she has already drunk more than enough as she was monitoring Lala a while ago.
The young gentleman maintains silence for some good seconds while looking straight into Dodo's eyes. Dodo becomes uncomfortable. "What is the matter," she asks.
The guy continues to stare at her without saying a word. "What?!" She wonders more uncomfortably.
"My name is Owen," he speaks. Very shy Dodo breaks off the shyness with worries and relaxes. She takes a deep breath and say, "you can call me Dodo." "Aright Dodo.....," speaks Owen.
They keep staring at each other when their orders for bites come in on the table.
"Don has never stopped drinking alcohol. In this dirty house where different kinds of alcohol bottles lay on the ground, he sits in an old chair and lights up a cigarette. After two puff in a row, he picks a bottle of beer which has been sitting on the floor in between his feet straight to the mouth and quenches his thirst. In front of his sitting position on the wall is a pencil painted picture of his first and last ever loved beloved wife Lala. Her memories, just like a cut of a knife, are still so deep inside him. Lala's picture is the television Don watches during his free time. Since he has no bed in this countryside cottage, he sleeps in the same old chair and the same picture takes him to sleep as he drinks his alcohol and smokes on a cigarette for hours.
Don has lived like this for quite a long period of time.
Early the next day, he stretches his bones and yawns at the same time when he steps outside under a very bright sunrise. His beard has grown much thicker and the hair much longer. He is not mad though like many think. He is an alcoholic and cigarette addict due to psychological depression which resulted from missing of a woman he loves with all his life. Not as usual, today he smiles after successfully organising his frame work of bones. He then continues walking down the road. It seems to be a different day to him according to his gesture and the endless smile on his cheeks.
In a ramshackled overall coat, Don branches off to a certain shop when he reaches into the trading centre. After a few minutes, he then comes out holding two packages in his hands. As he walks on the streets with his two clean packages, His unique looks are noticed by a police officer who is standing inside the càfe near a cashier's till waiting for his change from the sum he has paid for breakfast. The officer, through the glass wall of the takeaway shop, looks with a kin eye at the strange man walking across the streets holding packages.
"Hurry up with my change I need to check up on something," he says, quickly grabbing it from the cashier's hand and starts running after Don.
"Hey, excuse me!" shouts the officer crossing the road. Don's attention is too far away to listen to any voice coming from any angle. The officer continues to call running towards him but he is not responding, rather he continues walking. Officer's mind gives an implication this man might have done something wrong a clear reason why he is ignoring him. Officer jumps in front of Don quickly pulling the gun out; "Freeze!" he yells pointing a gun in Don's face.
Immediately Don responds. He stands with his two packages in the hands. On a closer look, the officer seems to recognize the face behind the thick beard and the unusual long hair especially for the current generation. This makes the officer to freeze Instead. He can't believe his eyes.
In the process, he remembers a hug prize estimate of $50,000 given to anyone who finds the son of late Sir Gordon The Don, who went missing. He mostly recalls this face two years back, the same strange man who entered the police station smoking a cigarette and holding a bottle of whisky. He recalls more on that same day, being briefed about the profile of this man known as Don.
"It's alright you can go, Sir," the officer puts away his gun and tells him in a very calm and respectful voice. Don doesn't care, not even mentioning a single word, he continues walking foward on the same pace he was walking earlier on before he was interrupted. The officer has to step out of his way. Don doesn't mind knocking him. "Gosh," speaks the woman who was standing in the scattering crowd which has been gathering on the scene. "What's wrong with cops? Can't he see he's just a mad man," she walks away with the disappearing crowd complaining. "The scene is over," shouts the officer at those who are still looking at him.
Far from a distance, the officer follows up in disguise, to see where exactly Don is going. He walks quite a long distance. The tailing officer can't break off no matter how exhausted he looks, the prize keep him going.
Finally Don approaches his destination. The officer can see the stand alone ramshackled cottage a few meters ahead of the man he has been tailing for a while. He hides to confirm whether it is the dwelling. Don pushes the door upto inside. He removes the empty bottles of booze off the table where he now places the two packages. The police officer walks away after confirming the location.
Through the window light is supplied within the cottage.
Don sits on a chair, inhales deeply and exhales slowly, tiresomely trying to relax. A few minutes later, he raises and begins to up packs the packages. He picks two wine glass and a fresh bottle of red wine. He then opens another package and inside it is a well decorated cake with designed words, 'thank you my love', written in capital letters. He picks it out and starts planting three small candles on top of it. he sighs on a deep breathe after.
"I feel your presence right here even though you gone," Don speaks, paying attention on the arrangement he has made on the table. "When will I ever miss to celebrate the day you said yes when I proposed to you. It was such a memorable moment," sighs. "Here I am again....., with a bottle of your favorite sweet red wine and a beautiful cake marked with three candle indicating the years, to remind me of how beautiful and sweet you're," he states smiling. He stops talking for a while.
"It is hell of life ever since you left me alone" sniffing with tear drops he says, "until today...." more sniffs, "I am stranded on the Island in the middle of the sea. This is how I feel deep inside." "Lala, I am doing this again to thank you for accepting me as your dear husband three years ago" he puts his eyes on her picture sticked on the wall as he says these soul touching words, "and still holding on if there is any kind of hope." "However little it maybe.... I will hold so tight on it," he whispers.
Don holds the bottle in one hand and opens with the other. He pours half a glass for his imaginary Lala, and half in another glass for himself.
He picks up a glass, "cheers my beautiful wife," he says and takes a sip. He then picks up a knife from the side plate, cuts a piece from the cake just enough for him to bite.
(AM PLEASED TO KNOW GOOD PEOPLE LIKE YOU ARE READING, THANK YOU SO MUCH)
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