Monday 18 September 2017

Markus

Had she not always craved to travel alone? To dare the weather and laugh at storms? To risk into the unknown and make friends with strangers from strange lands? Sitting by the window in a superfast train, cutting across the cold countryside in Czech, Heeya let out a suppressed sigh. Her spirit of adventure had lost it- to the cold.
As she blew her nose on her ever dwindling supply of tissue papers, she looked down at her freezing feet in the pair of grey canvas shoes- ugly among neatly polished boots of other passengers. Surreptitiously, she dragged her feet inwards under her seat. The train’s dismal heating system did little to aid her. Her only jacket that was good enough against the temperature, the one she was wearing, stood out in bright shades of blue against the suave backdrop of beige, brown and black jackets of sophistication. Her backpack had seen better days and so had her hair. She was supposed to be the quintessential traveller, but it rankled her ego that she was bothered by the queer looks cast at her by her fellow passengers.
She was visiting Prague, the beautiful city of a hundred spires. But the excitement that had propelled her to book the tickets two months before had departed along with the last day of summer. Yet practical girls like Heeya could not allow the money to go to waste. One day, she swore, one day she would have just enough money to waste. But not that day. She had a hundred euros in her wallet and they would cover exactly the accommodation, food, transportation and the emergency needs she might have on her stay at Prague. If she were careful she might spend a little something on a good souvenir. Her lips twitched, pleased with the thought.
She furtively scanned the passengers to see if anyone noticed her involuntary smile out of the blue and her eyes came across a pair of light brown eyes locked to hers. It was a shade that reminded her of peanut butter. She quickly disengaged. But not before she discovered that the eyes also belonged to a well sculptured face. For the first time that day, she felt a welcome warmth. She smiled inwardly thinking about the wonders a little attention from a beautiful man could do. She wanted to steal another glance but she decide to bide her time. Beauty is a joy to behold no matter from where it arose- a mountain or a man- it beckoned your eyes to go back to it again and again until familiarity manages to weaken the charm.
The train stopped at Ústí nad Labem and passengers in her compartment rose to get down. Heeya turned and looked at the man with brown eyes. He did not get up but turned away from her to allow another passenger to go. He had wide shoulders underneath the coffee brown jacket, long legs that disappeared into black leather boots crossed under his seat and strong fingers, clasped confidently in his lap. His face was covered in well-groomed beard long enough to give character to his face without marring the beauty. Heeya wondered if he was trying to hide a weak chin underneath and then discarded the thought. She realised she was trying to find a flaw. This was a man utterly comfortable in his own skin. She silently admired him, allowed her to be entranced and looked away a split second before his eyes caught her again. The train started to move with just the two of them in the compartment. Heeya wondered if he would welcome a conversation. Her cold feet forgotten, Heeya was momentarily surprised to find her disposition marginally improved. She huffed mentally for acting the young adolescent girl, the girl she had left behind years ago in places where the sun always shined bright.
The beautiful stranger slid into the seat directly in front of her and Heeya looked at him to find him smiling at her. She returned his smile with a greeting, unsuccessfully trying to finger-comb her hair into some semblance of order. She snatched her hand back down when she remembered the tiny hole in her jacket seam she had not bothered to stitch for this short trip.
“Are you travelling to Prague?” His voice was deep but smooth. The volume was not high but she heard him clearly. Was she allowing herself to favour him just because of his beauty? She nodded to him in answer but otherwise remained quiet in indecision.
“May I persuade you to talk with me” he asked with a raised eyebrow, “to pass the time?” Heeya let out a nervous chuckle at his directness but she admitted it was only a virtue.
“Yes”, she nodded again and asked, “Are you also going to Prague?”
His shoulders relaxed and he stretched his legs. Heeya had not realised he was bracing himself for her answer. She allowed herself to relax too.
“I am. I have only a short work there for a couple of hours before I take to train again. I go to Frankfurt after that.” He smiled again showing perfectly aligned teeth. Was he one of those perfect people that everyone disliked? Maybe Heeya needed to look for a flaw.
“Oh, you are on a tight schedule. You will not be travelling in Prague then.”
“Would you like me to?” he asked softly.
Heeya was taken aback, not knowing what to think. Was this harmless flirting? Was this considered forward in their culture? Did she need to be wary? It must have shown on her face because he leaned back to a nonthreatening posture and murmured,
“I see I have managed to scare you. Forgive me, I was but trying to tease you.” He paused to look out at the rain pelting the countryside through the window and turned to her again, “I have travelled Prague many times. It is Frankfurt I will be new to.” He fell silent after that.
Minutes passed before Heeya felt the last jolt in her die. It was part thrill and part caution with which she decided to tread forward, “So, you are from Czech?”
He glanced up happy that Heeya decided to forgive him, “Yes. I am sure you will like Czech. Especially Prague. It is beautiful. Even now, when it is cold and raining. Are you travelling in Czech for the first time?”
“I am sure I will like it and yes I am here for the first time. ” Heeya assured him.
“Are you coming from Germany?”
“Yes.”
“Most tourists in Prague are probably Germans.”
“That might be true but I am not a German.”
“Oh? Are you travelling our continent then?” He asked with a raised eye brow again.
“When I have time.” Heeya grinned at him, relaxed in his presence and happy to continue conversation, “But I am in Germany for my work for a few months.”
“Any chance you are staying in Frankfurt?” He asked with his eyes twinkling.
Heeya laughed this time, caught and delighted by his words.
“Are you flirting with me, Mr- ?”
“I am Markus. Call me Markus.” He leaned forward so his elbows rested on his knees, “And what may your name be?”
“Heeya” she said and asked on a note of mischief, “You think you can pronounce it?”
“Hee-a?” He said tentatively examining her name slowly, “Is that an Indian name?”
“Do I look Indian?” Heeya asked on a curious note and he suddenly became serious.
“I am sorry I presumed so! I did not mean to –“
“Oh no, it is alright. I am Indian and so is my name. You guessed right.” Heeya waved her hands dismissively. He relaxed and murmured his apology again before continuing,
“Are you travelling alone then? Or do you have friends waiting for you in Prague?”
“I am travelling solo.” He nodded gravely to that and Heeya did not have to hear anything about how travelling solo was not very fun. She was searching for a flaw in him, she reminded herself belatedly.
“I also like travelling and India is in my list.” He declared with proud boyish smile. How old must he be? Oh it was difficult to guess but was he 25 or 30?
“That’s great. India will not disappoint you once you overcome the sight of poverty.” Heeya said. Her voice had become subdued and a frown marred her forehead as she was reminded of India. India, where it would be still warm, where her feet would never grow cold, where she never travelled alone and where she was dying to go back to. Home was, indeed, where the heart was, she mused.
“Tell me about it.” He probed, sensing her mood.
Heeya looked at him, wondering how a man could be so perceptive. He had cocked his head slightly to his left, ready to listen if she so decided to share. His hair fell on his forehead and in that moment he looked like a picture of a man with his attention held by something intensely puzzling. Heeya shook her head slightly.
“About the poverty? Or about India?” She enquired.
“Whatever it is that made you sad.” He said gently. A man who listened.
“I am not sad. I guess I just miss home.” And to lighten the mood she added, “At least I have been missing home since the day I stopped seeing the sun here.”
“Then you have set upon yourself the task of missing home through the winter, Hee-a.” he smirked.
“Oh but I will leave before the snow comes.” Heeya said, seeing that they were close to their destination, “Oh the rain has stopped!”
“This is good indeed! Even for my work.” Markus whistled slowly.
Heeya gathered her phone, scarf and gloves from the nearby seat she had thrown them into. For a last time she checked her wallet. Her 100 Euros were tucked safely in. She quickly closed it, not wanting to flaunt her lack of funds. But she tensed when Markus ask her to stop.
“I am sorry but I noticed you have only a 100 Euro with you.” He sounded concerned, “No Czech currency!”
“Ah,” Heeya said relaxing, “I will exchange at the station if there is need. But I was led to believe the shops accept Euros as well!”
“Not unless they are big. Small restaurants, tourism counters and souvenir shops do not.” And then he pressed his lips disapprovingly, “You need to exchange them.”
“I did not know!” Heeya said somewhat defensively, “I will try to find an exchange counter at the station.”
Markus frowned again and took out his own wallet. He took a 500 denominated note and shoved it into her palms, “Here, keep this 500 krona, this will do until you find an exchange counter.”
Heeya was shocked and agitated to see the money in her hands. This was approximately 20 Euros according to her calculations and she could not possibly take the money from him. She was shaking her head vigorously and crying her denial but he refused to take the money back.
“This was not fair at all! I cannot possibly take your money! At least allow me to repay you in Euros!” Heeya said frustrated. Was there no end to how good people could be? It was exactly as she suspected, she supposed. He was one of those good people everyone hated. She took out her wallet again but remembered she just had a single 100 Euro note. She tried to shove the 500 Kronas back into his hands but he laughed and said, “Trust me it is no big favour I am doing you. You need the Kronas. And after getting down, you need to go straight to the exchange counter Hee-a.”
“Exactly why I do not need the Kronas urgently!” Heeya reminded him after having looked at his wallet, “And won’t you need to exchange your Kronas for Euros too?”
She saw his face light up with a smile and he said, “Oh you’re right I do need to exchange. But I will get down before the main station because my work is elsewhere. I will exchange while going back, after two hours.” And added, “But let me warn you, the exchange here will cost you high in commission.”
Heeya knew the commissions were high and she worried over it awhile when Markus looked at her and frowned again. It was almost as if he did not like to see her worried. Heeya noticed this and smiled. She smiled because Markus was not only beautiful to look at but was beautiful inside. She smiled because it was such a rare treat to meet people who were generous without knowing it. So when after a while he suggested that he give her 3000 Kronas for her 100 Euros she found herself agreeing.
“Please look up today’s exchange rate online. Usually it is 1 to 27.” Markus pointed his chin at Heeya’s phone asking her to check the values for her satisfaction. She smiled in exasperation and refused to take anything above 2100 Kronas- excluding the 500 Kronas he gave earlier- more from him for her 100 Euros.
Markus gave a painful sigh and while shaking his head said, “You are not an easy girl, Hee-a.”
Heeya laughed and said, “And you’re too easy with others, Markus.” And this evoked a smile from him. It only made her happier. To have made him smile. They both drifted into a companionable silence until the train started to decelerate and Markus suddenly stood up. Startled, Heeya looked up at him to see he was preparing to take out his luggage from the shelf above.
“Oh, are we at your station already?” She asked wishing they had a little more time.
“Yes.” He took out the luggage and placed in down and looked at her, “I hope you will have an adventurous trip!” He knew exactly what to say to encourage her!
His eyes were clear and face content. He looked so serene Heeya doubted a person could be so at peace with themselves. She looked at him curiously as he opened his bag and took out his gloves. His movements were sure and graceful. Heeya felt a pang in her chest wishing she could come across men like him more often. The train ground to a halt. Markus gave her a huge grin, again looking boyish and full of mischief, and said, “Hee-a! It was a pleasure to meet you. I wish you an adventure!”
Caught on his thrilled voice wishing her adventure Heeya threw back her head and laughed and bid him adieu saying she intended to enjoy herself.
On a whim she bellowed, “I wish you all the best as well, Markus!” when he had already left the compartment. Then she laughed to herself for her foolishness. She had met him in a gloomy mood and left him excited, how many people on earth could do that to a stranger? She hummed an old tune in her mother tongue until the main station of Prague came, thinking if anyone ever had sung it in this far distant cold land while missing home.
When she got down, she had a spring to her step despite the burden of the backpack when her eyes were fell on the food counter. As if on a cue her stomach grumbled in protest for being ignored so long. Chiding herself again for being distracted by beautiful men, she went to the shop and asked for Pretzels. When it cost her a 100 Kronas she extended the 500 denominated note to the shop owner and got a blank stare before the man blustered and said, “This doesn’t work here! Only Kronas or Euros!”
Heeya was shocked speechless. It couldn’t be! Markus gave her the money. She had exchanged it with Euros.
“Sir, please check again. If this is not Kronas then what is it?!”
“I do not know, lady, the fonts look like some Russian script. I do not accept!” He snapped.
Heeya put the pretzel back in its place and hurried away, her head blank, seeing nothing while her feet took her to the currency exchange counter. When the lady at the counter greeted her- already numb- she shakenly extended the money she had and asked for Kronas. She looked at the currency as if she did not recognise it until her face cleared and her face became pinched. On a clipped voice she said, “Ma’am, this is an invalid currency from Belarus! We cannot exchange this!”
Belarus! She did not know what Belarus currency looked like. She did not know what Kronas looked like either! But Markus had given her the money! Markus, the beautiful. Markus, the generous soul, the man with reliable brown eyes. Markus, who was displeased at her inconveniences. Markus, who had wished her an adventure! Dazedly, she looked at the swarming crowd of travellers in this foreign land, everyone wearing a harried or an impregnable expression and not a smile to spare. A self-berating laugh escaped her lips as she sat penniless among forbidding strangers. She had found Markus’ flaw after all. He was a con artist.