I met her on the Plane to Frankfurt. She was German, yet she was cute. Her name was Jennifer but she told me that I could call her Jen. I told her my name was Dushyant and she could call me anything she wanted. She insisted that she call me Dushyant.
Her glasses did not quite fit her. Her dressing style did not seem European but I would later find out that all Germans dressed funny. Her voice was squeaky, especially when she got excited. And when she wasn’t talking to me, I found her delightfully asleep. She claimed she had worked too hard in her younger years.
She was fascinated by my one dimensional car talk. I was enchanted by her multi directional un-important babble. My recently learned German failed to impress her but she liked when I recited (swore) things in my native tongue (Marathi)
A Trans Atlantic flight has a decent potential to bring two people together. As we landed at Frankfurt, she asked me of my plans. So I described my itenary in detail. My travel plans and my travel dates. To that she said “I will appear each time you set out for a city and leave each night. You must ask me no questions of my past and you must never ask me to stay back. Promise me this!” I promised. And then she left.
Four wheels and a heart, on rent.
And so my German travel episodes began. At the airport I was rewarded by a diesel Mercedes C class. I accepted her kindly. And then set out gingerly on my way to my first town, Heidelberg. Severely jet lagged yet eager to see the town, I quickly checked in and showered. As I exited the hotel, I saw her.
Heidelberg town centre looking up to the Castle.
Amongst a non matching scarf, she wore a smile. An honest smile. “Come, let’s check this town out”, she said. And with that, she grabbed my hand. I knew her for less than 10 hrs but it felt perfect. Her hair was disheveled but I loved the fact that she did not care.
City views from the Castle
As evening fell, I was more then satisfied with my time in Heidelberg. A quaint little town located on River Neckar (a branch of the Rhine) surrounded by rolling hills and an imposing castle. Not to mention the stone bridges that had survived the test of time. Jen and I wandered on the pebble stoned narrow paths finally deciding on a local tavern for dinner. She ordered for me. I did not resist. She then told me that she was bit of an artist. I could not stop smiling. And then, as promised, she simply got up and left when night dawned. I trudged my way back to the hotel. Can a fluttering heart sleep?
Oh! Those glorious legends!
Next morning, she met me wearing denims and a simple jacket. As we visited the legendary F1 Hockenheim track and museum, she simply giggled when she heard me exaggerating super cars and sighed when I personified cars. When we went inside to watch some Porsches in action on the track, she sat patiently besides me. Somewhere between the fourth and fifth lap, I found her small soft head resting on my shoulder.
Another town, Another town centre.
Later we drove into Ludwigsburg. A town where I would stay for a week in a decently fancy hotel that looked run down on the outside but an Ikea show room on the inside. There ran a pillar straight through my room. I suppose it was some kind of artistic imperfection. I dropped my bags in my room and then headed out with her to King Ludwig’s Castle.
The Ludwigsburg Castle?
King Ludwig was apparently bonkers as his castle looked more like a mansion. Oh well, I must not judge people, she advised. Clearly, I was falling head over heels for her. We then headed towards the town centre where more ancient churches and pebble stones were visited. It was beautiful. She, as she stared at the structures, was a vision. Her longish hair now fluttered aimlessly. I could sketch her but she was the artist. After dinner, she read my mind. “Don’t ask me to stay. I won’t”
Another Castle on a hill opposite my workplace
The week started and I got busy. I could not stop thinking about her. My only distraction was the unrestricted stretch of Autobahns to work where I stretched the C class’s legs up to 230 kmph. I was limited either by up coming traffic or by much faster supercars on my tail.
And then just like that, Thursday arrived. That evening I was to visit Stuttgart as per my plans. I walked from the hotel to the train station in a jiffy and that is where I saw her again! With those same ill fitting glasses and that same earthly smile, she had her hand out for mine. No words were spoken, just like other times.
Stuttgart, the Parliament offices.
Stuttgart was a stunning city. The home to car making wonders like Mercedes and Porsche, liking that city was hardly a surprise. Amongst new and old castles, the city shined with neon colors. The pebbled stones fought with paved roads for equality as Porsches buzzed by with their turbo filled roars. She and I did not speak much that day. I knew this would be the last day I see her. I then stretched dinner out which wasn’t really hard considering the waiters didn’t bother hounding the table in all restaurants I had been too.
On the train back to Ludwigsburg, I sat next to her.
“So what now?” I asked, dreading.
“I leave. Das is alles!” She squealed!
“But I have to see you again!” I pleaded.
“You will have to come back again” she explained matter-of-factly.
“Jen, I have to tell you this. I think I …” I began when she interrupted me, her soft hands on my hands.
“Don’t Dushyant. Those three words, they are said too much. We met. I liked you and you liked me. We had an excellent time together. But now I must go. I did tell you that I never would stay back. I cannot. This is not me. So, cherish the time we had. But forget me please if my memories hurt. And expect nothing in return.”
The train had now halted. Her hands were no longer in mine. She looked back one last time and nodded her head with gentle concern.
And then she left.
“Those three words, are said too much” is a line from the Snow Patrol number “Chasing cars”
those three words..the most overused words in the history of mankind..
ah well..
B E A U..tiful 🙂
awwww! fantastic…u lived Europe…this is perfect 🙂
Ash : Thanks. Although I am not sure where you were attributing your compliments too. I will however will be more then glad to take them
Upasna: Europe? Not really. South West Germany? Absolutely! Why is this perfect?
Its perfect for two reasons:
1. You like ‘chasing cars’
2. Das is alles- always
your words, your writing, your deutsch experience..saglach!! yeah..my pleasure anytime!
dude, Heidi Klum and Claudia Schiffer called. They are saddened by the first paragraph.
Fact among fiction? I hope the cars are fiction and the babe is fact.
ND, I am sorry if i have offended your imaginary friends. But those were always exceptions. When you travel to Western Europe you will see for yourself that the Germans have a very weird dressing sense.
As far as the post is concerned, there are facts among the fiction but some fiction is almost a fact.
Upasna: The first reason may be. The second? Jaude de.. i am just glad you liked it!
Ash: You are too kind. Please give that song a listen. Its amazing!
it would be a really pretty place if life was just those ‘moments’ … and then you start a new ‘story’ all over again…without the pain or remains or memories of the past one…
i almost cried man…
WHY NO JENNIFER SITS NEXT TO ME ON ANY FLIGHT!!
Dush! Today for once, you amuse me 😉
Komal: I agree. However, I entirely believe that real life is filled with even more enchanting stories.
Abhay: hehehe, I am glad it was a case of almost. Dont mean to make friends shed tears on “bad” writing!
Upasna: Pray, do tell why?
okay..i’m a bit confused here! WHICH song ru talking abt? ‘that’ song mhanje nakki kuthla? enlighten me pls! 😛
hey for the last month or so Ive been seeing this billboard that said ‘Win a Lotus Elise on Oct 27th in Atlantic City’ couldnt help thinking of you…. btw I really wanted to tell you this before the 27th but slipped my mind everytime!
🙂
babble and squeak.
(“babe” and geek?)
Ash: “Chasing cars” by Snow Patrol. It contains that line.
Anuya: That is mighty nice of you. Albeit, a tad late. Anyways, I will get her eventually. Where have you been lately?
Shreya: ehhehe. Admit it. mocking me is perhaps one of your more pleasing activities!
I wonder what David would have done…stopped her? held her? kissed her?
If only…(sigh)
~Alexandra
Dear Alexandra
There is a reason why David is not entirely Dushyant. He doesnt understand the consequences of his actions…
pheww!
Does Dushyant want to be David?
It is so ironical
you took all these photographs of views and castles
but you never took a photograph of her
while you should have only done that
does she even exist?
Asshole, first, do you like calling yourself that?
Second, even if she was real I dont see any reason why I should post her picture on the web. I dont see any irony in that .
Lastly, reading the title might help 😉
hahahaha asshole’s last name is probably idiot.
nice
I read it!! Finally.
I would just end up repeating all that has been said already, simply for the lack of anything original to come up. One thing u never detailed – all the food you ate. Nothing worth writing abt?
Lovely post. 🙂
– P
No actually, You are right. There was a lot to write about food. My last time in North Germany was filled with pointless food but this time I throughly enjoyed every morsel I ate. Tons of egg noodles with fantastic pork/steak/chicken and brilliant deserts. All in all, a sure fire way of getting fat fast. Suprisingly I could not spot ONE obese german out there.
Yeap, Im sure you will … Ive been in and out of Houston lately… almost done with that proj though… let’s see where my next location will be =D What about you, in MI?
yes Dushyant I have wondered too..after being in a class full of (80%) Germans, I am beginning to think they lack the human-ness…what gives them the perfect body+brain+100%enthu to work for 20 hrs a day for 12 months a year????
Yeah one of my collegues came back from Germany and his observation was also that he could not spot one obese person in Germany, must be something in the beer. Same observation in Canada , except at Naiagra on the Canadian side, which probably is more American than Canadian
Hey… good to know you had a great time this time round.
Freue mich dass ich jetzt noch einen Weizen Liebhaber kenne.
Prost!
Anuya: Yup. Still in my beloved Michigan. Perhaps you should try the mid west next 😉 Be prepared for distinct four seasons.
sautya: I think Obesity is very America specific anyways.. so no suprises there. Besides Canada think its Europe anyways.
Aj: Thanks Ajay. Hopefully you will have a similiar time if you ever visit this side of atlantic.
It’s time for another blog…isn’t it?
~Alexandra
u’re kinda boring
goodbye
no more comments or visits hereafter