F I F T E EN T H – A U G U S T – 2 0 0 7

Author: Myself

6.55am…

15 Aug 2007 …

Fountain court apartments (Morrison St, Edinburgh) …

High heal black boots….

Blue jeans…

Black jacket…

Long wavy hair…

Slim..and..stylish… Mahalakshmi walked out of her apartment building. One hand ….fingers fasten on her blackberry and the other on her big fancy suitcase. She was on the main street and waited for her taxi, every one who passed by gave her a second glance. But Mahalakshmi was busy with her own thoughts and blackberry. She was going home (India) ..it was 4 years since she was away from home.

Time was close to 7.20am, there was no sign of her taxi…she was getting late to the airport. Getting impatient..she called the taxi office…a lady answered in a Scottish accent and asked for details (even though it was English Mahalakshmi always thought they should recognize Scottish accent as a different language as it was really hard for any new person to understand or imitate). Mahalakshmi replied back imitating the same accent, ‘this is Mel callin from Fountain Court, are you sending me a taxi or…?’…(‘Mel’ that’s how Mahalakshmi renamed herself as she never liked her original name). While the lady got back to her on the taxi, Mahalakhmi (Mel) impatiently said ‘forget it’ and hang up…..waved for another taxi which was passing by.

The taxi driver was middle aged Scottish guy who helped her board the big fancy suitcase. On their way, the driver watching her through the rear view mirror and asked her.., ‘Hi, if you don’t mind may I know where you from?’. Mel hesitated for a moment and said ‘India’ in a very low voice. He could hardly hear her so he repeated his question. This time Mel’s voice was loud and clear. Driver, ‘Wow!..you don’t look like an Indian and you speak very good English’. Mel just smiled and said ‘Thank you’.

Driver, ‘It’s a big celebration for you today, isn’t it?’. Mel for a moment didn’t understand and said, ‘Sorry, what was that?’...

Driver, ‘Oh! I was saying that…today is India’s Independence Day.. isn’t it?’. Mel, ‘Oh! Ya...’

Driver, ‘So is this day a big thing back in India?’ Mel, ‘Yaaa..kinof..but its more commercial than patriotic. You know what I mean…?’. …

Driver, ‘Ya, I know’. Mel, ‘So, what do you think?…do you still look forward for Scottland getting freed from Britain?’. Driver, ‘Honestly, I am for it …we Scottish will always be for it’. Driver continued, ‘one will not know the value until they have longed for it’. Mel just smiled and nodded.

They reached Edinburgh airport, Mel thanked the taxi driver, paid, tipped him and hurried into the airport (She was going Edinburgh – London and London – Bangalore). Checked-in and sat at the lounge waiting to board the flight. Her thoughts drove her back to the taxi driver’s conversation. For a moment she felt guilt that she had forgotten it was 15Aug and then thought over the statement the driver made, ‘One will not know the value until they have longed for it’.

“Mahalakshmi, a highly ambitious girl, was from a Bangalore’s orthodox family. She and her grandmother shared the same name..which she always hated and hence named herself ‘Mel’. She was known to everyone as Mel (except for her family); even her official emailed was just MelM at company email. She wanted everything to be perfect, she wanted to be perfect, want everyone around her to be perfect…She wanted to be ‘Posh’. She very much admired ‘Victoria Becham’ (VB also called as ‘Posh’) because VB is known for being perfect and was really ‘Posh’. Our Mel wanted to be one like her. She always thought India was not the place for her to be and wanted to fly high five. She always avoided her identity of being an Indian and tried to keep a low profile when it came to talk about her family. She was going to India, she hated to make this trip…but this was unavoidable, as her dear grandmother was ill. Her parents had strictly advised her to visit them. So, here she is on her way to Bangalore, India”.

Mel woke up from her thoughts when she heard the British Airways call for boarding Edinburgh - London. She was on the flight and still thinking of the taxi driver’s conversation. Landed in London-City Airport, Mel’s next flight (to B’lore) was from Heathrow Airport.

She called for a Black Cab to Heathrow, the cab drove by London bridge, the tower bridge… etc…Mel still lost in her thoughts, blankly stared out. Cab stopped by the Tavistock Sq signal and Mel still starring blank…saw something very familiar in the square ….it was a Gandhi’s statue. She couldn’t believe this (Mel had been to London many times, but never knew about this. Statue of Gandhi in Tavistock Sq was part of the Memorials for Peace).

Signal turned green and as the taxi moved…realizing this was real….she almost screamed to the driver to pull over. She asked him to wait for few minutes as she popped out….rushing towards the statue. Mel stood there gazing at Mahatma Gandhi’s statue for few minutes…then she softly said …“I am sorry and….thank you”. She turned and started walking back …the driver had got out of his cab and was watching her. He smiled at her and held the door open as she boarded back into the cab.

At Heathrow, Mel was on her British Airways flight to B’lore and as she fastened her seat belt…she heard a voice next to her saying, ‘Hi, I am Keith…Keith Beaumont from London’. She smiled back extending her hand…saying, ‘Hi, I am Mahalakshmi….Mahalakshmi Mohanraj from India, Bangalore’.