Raj glanced up when he heard her voice, dropping the fruit back onto the cart. His eyes closed briefly as he focused, trying to decide from which direction it came. East. Standing quickly, he leapt gracefully over the jugs of wine and ran toward the sound of her calling his name.
Rose was lost. She knew she would be, in a strange country, stranded in the marketplace right where the taxi had dropped her. He had said he would meet her, but how would he know her? They had only exchanged letters. She breathed deeply, the air heavily scented with spices and oils. What was I thinking, she mused. I must be crazy.
He dodged the tourists who were plodding along, always looking up. He ignored friends, shouting greetings at him as he sped by. He would have to explain later. What was that crowd up there? Maybe he could detour through the bazaar.
She sat down on the edge of a fountain and began to cry. Why had she come here? He would never find her. She was stuck here alone and confused. Tears slipped down her cheeks as she closed her eyes in desperation.
Strong hands touched her cheeks, wiping her tears away. Warm lips brushed against hers, and she felt an arm go around her waist. Her eyes flew open and she found herself looking into the smiling face of a stranger.
"Raj?" she ventured.
His enthusiastic embrace warmed her being and answered her question.
"How did you know it was me?" She grasped both his hands and kissed his fingers softly in amazement.
"My heart knew. I heard you call my name, and I followed my heart. Please, come with me. I know you are weary from your journey. Let us have some dinner."
As he guided her skillfully through the crowds, Raj glanced at this American, this lady with whom he had fallen in love. Her letters had been an oasis in his desperation. He had not set about with an affair in mind, but desperation and loneliness were strange bedfellows. Her clothes were wrinkled, her hair was carelessly clipped at the back of her neck, and her cheeks were red from the heat. But as her eyes caught his a smile played at her mouth and her hand gripped his tightly, making his heart dance.
Rose was overwhelmed by unfamiliar sights and sounds. It was all she could do to keep up! She glanced at the handsome man at her side, the man whose heart she knew better than his face, and she felt something stir in her soul. All these months, all these letters. She tightened her grip on his hand and smiled shyly.
"You hardly touched your food, my fair Rose. Was it not to your liking?" They had stopped again at the fountain.
"I'm just overwhelmed by all this. I can't believe I flew out here! I don't usually do things like this." Rose looked into the fountain at the glitter of coins at the bottom.
