Singapore Dollars, Souvenir of a failed Love
Joseph, my friend is an architect by profession. He was a singer during our college days and also a good painter. These talents might have helped him in his profession too. Anyway, now, he is one of the most renowned architects in our city. Whenever we meet in the weekends, we used to discuss a lot of subjects other than our profession over a peg or two. During one of our weekend meetings, I have noticed some Singapore dollars, kept inside his valet. My query about it brought Singapore into our discussions.
He reminded me about his Singapore trip, when he got a chance through one of the lucky draws offered by a company to promote their sales. The prize he won was a free trip to Singapore. I remembered him inviting me too at that time. He will get his plane tickets free as it is a part of the prize he won, but I will have to spend for my international tickets . That is why I did not accept his invitation. He pursued me to approach the same airlines and ask for more airline discount. I did not do that. He left alone.
Now, let us hear the story in his words. “As I was coming out of the airport, I have seen a young lady with a placard in her hand. My name was written on that. I approached her. When I proved my identity, she introduced me as my host appointed by the tour operator who had arranged that tour. We went to the hotel.”
“On the way to hotel, she gave me a brief about Singapore and its culture. It is really a mixture of English, Indian and Chinese culture.” My friend continued. “The city is thickly populated and as she told me that after many airlines have introduced cheap flights to Singapore, the number of visitors has increased enormously.
In the next four days, they have visited many places in Singapore. The alluring smile and the way she talks really induced him. He confesses that he felled for her. Though he has an artistic heart, he is not a daring one. He feared to express the feelings towards her. And on the last day, she came to see off him. On the way to airport he stopped the car for some purchasing. He paid for it. The vendor returned the balance amount to her and she in turn handed it to him.
These dollars are the same one which she handed over to him. Though he promised her on that day he will purchase cheap airfares to Singapore and visit again to see her, he could not make it out due to his busy schedule. He is still keeping those Singapore dollars as a souvenir of a love which he could not express.
