From Paris With Love!

Chapter Four

She flipped through the pages of the morning newspaper when she heard,'Flight to Paris is now boarding at gate 3.Please have your boarding pass and identification ready.Thank you.'

She reorganized herself and with her luggage she walked through the gate and taking one last glance she stepped into the bus and after a while was seated comfortably in the flight.

She had specially insisted on,that no one should come to the airport.She would go on her own.She eased herself after the take off.

The image of Mrs.Roe's tear filled eyes waving goodbye,the beautiful beach and hanging out there all those memories.A little boy and girl playing,building sand castles,riding bike,laughing and getting drenched in the rain.The summer hang out in the beach house,laying barbecue watching the starry night.And then there was this girl waving bye,a tiresome look on her face,vexed and weak yet seemed contended in a sudden tranquility.

"Excuse me,Ma'am" a flight attendant softly tugged on her shoulder and Raquel woke up with a startle.She had been dreaming.

"Ma'am Please fasten your seat-belts,the flight is about to land." she requested.

After the usual formalities,she was finally outside the airport and was in a cab speeding towards the place she had specified.

The city looked stunningly beautiful,full of lights and she couldn't miss the sight of the summit of the Eiffel Tower,shrouded as it is in mist.Broken clouds drifting past the tower and alternately hiding and revealing and it looked so beautiful that it seemed as if,it was floating above a glowing mist covering the city.It was a heavenly sight and then the artistic feel,which nobody goes untouched!

She stepped out and paid the driver and looked up to read the name of the hotel,Mercure Opéra Garnier.

After talking to the receptionist,she was led by a lady who was warmhearted and spoke softly,"Bienvenue à Paris, madame!" and helped her to her room.She handed her a tip,"Merci!" and saying this with a smile,she left.

The next morning she visited the studio,taking along lots of samples of her work,some sketchbooks and a portfolio full of ideas and illustrations.After a pleasant informal interview with two members of the design team of the Company,she was offered the position.

She was undoubtedly happy.Turning a new leaf has never harmed anyone and when it is about your dream,the person is bound to be happy.It was time to say,'Au revoir!' to all the past,at least if not permanently,just temporarily.

It was a new world for her,though she felt slightly out of my depth at times.Despite this,she knew if she worked hard to impress the design team she might be able to join them in for the Fashion Week.So she kept her head down,acted in a professional manner and took on board every tip and nugget of information she could.

During her off days,she took time out to look around the city and go places to discover new things.And she did do.She visited the Les Deux Magot and Cafe de Flore and walked around the Galerie Vivienne which is one of many beautiful passages.

She explored the tangled medieval streets,reveled in the bohemian atmosphere of Saint-Germain,visited Notre Dame Cathedral,and even savored cheese and charcuterie in a traditional wine houses.

She ate at some great restaurants around like Jules Verne,the tiny one at la Tour Eiffel,then Café Lacombe,La Tête dans les Olives,and one of the best LeNotre.Walked around the parks,visited world famous 'The Louvre' and even played petanque in Paris’ oldest square.

The "I love you" wall in Montmartre and she was awestruck to see the Seine with the Eiffel Tower in the backdrop. Incroyable!

And on one weekend she took a short train trip to Amiens.The city which was called the little Venice because it sits along the La Somme river.She went around site-seeing the beautiful cathedral and the many battlefield sites as well.

Life had kick-started at a full throttle and she knew she had to move along.The opportunity she had got to travel to Paris,to help with the fashion show,did come up and to see all the pieces come together and hit the runway was something she was never going to forget.

And in all this chaos of clothes,lights,runaway,models and travelling around she finally found the peace,she had been looking for.It seemed someone had just deleted the temporary files from the hard drive and there was so much room for more.

When things on work end was going on full speed,on the other living was turning out more and more difficult,her cash was running out fast and she needed to rent an apartment,soon.

She enlisted her name and id on an renting site,and soon got a call to come and see some.

"C'est parfait. Je vais le prendre." she said to the man and handed him the advance.

She packed all her stuff and moved in.She knew there were two other renter to share that apartment with but she dint mind.Even though she belonged to a rich family and had always lived in Hampton,which is generally known for its posh living lifestyle,so this was all new but she needed it and it was in fact cost effective,she thought 'In the time of need,there's no harm in little compromising'.

She had got the room last minute,which already had a bed on one side,which meant it was occupied by one of them.

She started unpacking her luggage when a blonde girl,nearly of similar age appeared in the room.

"Hii! I'm Camilla.I'm your roommate" she introduced herself.

"Hello! I'm Raquel" she replied.

"Need a hand?" Camilla asked

"Sure!"

And they both unpacked and settled everything down.Camilla had informed her about the other girl,who was from Australia,her name is Ruby and works as a radio jock.She even notified that Ruby was little indifferent and arrogant to new people but once one got to know her,she was really nice as a person.

After a little chit chat about where each of them stayed and worked and everything else,both of them seemed to get along well.

"Goodnight Raquel" Camilla wished and she replied in the same manner and turned off the lights.

Turning to the other side Raquel thought,'Though she had never been to North Carolina,but Camilla was a very sweet person,she could see that in her.She was very friendly and helpful,and maybe she is right about Ruby,because unless you get to know a person well,you would never get to know their character or behavior and who knows maybe like Camilla,they too turn out to be friends.' and thinking this she closed her eyes.

....................to be continued.........................