Atithi Devo Bhava

She sat silently on a table in the bar.

"One red wine please" She asked to the waiter.

The waiter asked-"Ma'am, with Ice? Or without?"

"Two cubes please, thanks." She replied.

Liza, a heartthrob lawyer, was sitting in a corner of a bar, Bras de Feras. She was lost in her own tune. She was enjoying the Jazz played by a local Greek singer.

She was disturbed, by a voice which came from her back.

"Nice song by the singer." A manly voice said from behind. She turned back, it was Lewis.

Though he was unknown to her, but, his voice distracted her mind from the music & focused on this young gentleman.

His voice was similar to someone from her past.

"Sorry, do I know you?" She asked.

"Absolutely not, ma'am. I am sorry, if I am disturbing you. Your simplicity & beauty brought me here. " He replied.

" Oh, Thank You for the compliment. I am not disturbed, but, I am afraid of strangers." She replied.

"You are welcome. I am Lewis, Lewis Grahams. I am a visitor to this romantic place, Greece, from England." A polite reply from him.

"Hi, I am Liza, Liza Francis, I am an India, World's greatest country." She replied.

"Really, you are from India? I would love to be friend with an Indian. Will you please accept my friendship?" He asked.

"Well, I don't trust strangers, but, I feel, there is nothing wrong in be friending with someone, who is a stranger to the same place I am in." She smiled with a wink.

" Thank you. Well, I am getting late, here is my card, just mail me whenever you are out."

"Sure." She smiled & felt relieved when he left.

Liza was a criminal lawyer, who recently had her divorce from her criminal husband, Avon Smith, who was a drug exporter. She knew him from her college, but, unaware of his criminal background, married him five years ago. Recently, a year back, while, dealing with a client, when Liza got involved with the investigations, she found out that, her husband was highly involved in human trafficking, drug exports & some other illegal businesses.

After getting arrested , she filed for divorce & got rid of him. But, Avon had promised her, that he will be back soon & fore her to come back to his knees.

After a year of her divorce, she just planned to go on a solo trip to Greece, for a change or to find the peace of mind.

She played with Lewis's card. Lewis Grahams, writer by profession & solo traveler. "Sounds interesting." She thought in her mind.

It was midnight, so she too left for her hotel room.

Next day....

She invited Lewis to her place, ten, they planned to move together around the whole of Greece. They both liked each other's company.

They used to hang out together, shoppe, eat, enjoy each other's smile together. Liza felt him, as a dream partner for life, but, still she wasn't confirm completely, as a hearty Indian pushed her to wait & not to decide so fast.

Finally, on the last day of their vacation, they were in Crete. It is the largest Island in Greece & famous for its stunning terrain. Crete is one of the most romantic places in Greece.

It was the romantic evening, when they were having their most loved coffee, when, their eyes met each other, and, their lips touched, lips got locked very delicate, very smoothly. They forgot that they were in a public place but, the world around after seeing their passionate love, praised them, which brought them to their senses back.

Liza smiled, but, she was even feeling shy. She was wearing a peach color gown. She looked like a beautiful princess & while shy, she ran into the cottage. It was all like a dream for her.

Lewis came inside the cottage. And asked her, "Would you like to be my partner for the rest of the life?"

Liza looked at him surprisingly, she first asked herself, 'Am I ready for any relationship, now?'

"I have started falling for you, but, I am not ready for a committed relationship, yet. A year back, I had my divorce & I am not completely over from him. I need time. I hope you can understand." She replied.

Lewis said," Liza I trust you, and I can understand, as far as I am known, I would like to meet your family before finalizing any decisions. I have an appointment of going to India on August. I would love to visit you, is it okay with you?"

"But" Lewis interrupted, "But, I would love to be your guest & enjoy Indian hospitality of 'Atithi devo Bhbabo', I have heard a lot about it."

Liza smiled in a childish way, and replied, "No issue with that, mail me when you come. You wont be disappointed at all. I promise. And remember one thing, we Indians, keep our promises eve after our death." She winked.

3 months passed..........

Lewis landed in Goa, Liza welcomed him at the airport and took her to the hotel he had booked. She made him comfortable with the Indian stuff & on the last day of his visit she took him home to meet him with her family.

At the entrance, she said, "You just go inside, I will join after somme time." Lewis was confused, why me alone? But he didn't say a word & went inside.

He met all her family members when suddenly his eyes stopped on a portrait with a garland. It was Liza's photo. He was shocked.

He asked her parent's about it, then, her father replied, "After coming from Greece, Liza met with an car accident while on her way home. She has talked about you a lot during her trip, and about your visit also. She passed away on the medical the next day of accident."

Lewis was stunned. He was spending with Liza some hours back, but, what is he seeing actually? He couldn't believe his eyes. For a moment everything felt like a joke.

He couldn't believe it. He asked them for confirmation.

"I couldn't believe it. She was there with me a few minutes before."

Her father showed her the newspaper update, where it was clearly mentioned about her death, & her ex-husband's involvement in this entire incident.

Everything was blur in front of him, when suddenly he rememebered her words- We Indians, keep our promises even after our death, & we believe in 'Atithi devo Bhaba'.

He left with a single word from his mouth & folded hands against her & left.