XXXX London Calling

Daniel, took Annie’s call on his mobile, which was located above his sleek , compact 'Bechstein' Piano he had recently bought from a friend, that was now positioned as a masterpiece in the hall that was his living space, which had the sea on one side and the New York City traffic on the other side.

As he shouted his 

'Hello' 'Annie' ? with a decibel level that was required to be heard above the New York din. 

Annie, who was in London shouted back ' Hey , Stop Shouting into the phone, my ears are splitting'  

They were soon having a normal conversation as Danny walked back to his Sit out area, hearing out Annie talking and giving him a ‘heads up’ about her London landing. 

He observed that the Woman on the other far side of his apartment ‘Ocean Promenade’ who was until a while ago looking at him playing his guitar and singing, was not around anymore.

As he stepped onto the wide Greek architecture balcony of his New York home, his clothes once again started flapping, it was late afternoon in New York, and he knew it was quite early in  London.

Going by the sound of Annie - the time of her call, her energy etc., - Daniel guessed Annie was probably just out of a party and she wanted to catch up.

Annie was excited. And She was talking . The need to ask whether She was alright was just not required. She just was.

Feeling good. Feeling great.

Apparently the presentation at the T.S. Elliot Memorial Hall, at Merton College, Oxford University, went off famously. In fact gave her a surprise by inviting her over on the dais and allowing her to co-present.

She even took the Q & A.

And She was taking and answering questions from the Rushdie’s, the Chomsky’s, the students, the press and soon became a small celebrity.

She loved it. Then.  

Later at the post Conference Dinner ball, She had all of them extending courtesies.  She met Pamuk, met Harry Frankfurt and several more. 

She had stepped out sometime back, many of the ‘great contemporary thinkers were still drinking and toasting and debating’.

She was back at her Hilton room.

Daniel hard all of that and then suddenly became alert .

Annie was saying

Dan, just found out through Annie that there’s this Andrew Lloyd Webber’s apprentice, staging a musical on Shelley’s Prometheus Unbound at London’s Royal Albert Hall and She wanted him to join in.

Dan had no words to speak at first – a mixture of envy, jealousy and then later superiority of his own idea, criss-crossed his mind in a flash.

Danny was saying : But Annie, I’m supposed to be off to Bolivia, in the next few days.

Annie was not the one to let go ‘coz she knew the subject was pretty close to Danny, She said

Listen Dan , C’mon! ? You don’t get to see ‘Prometheus Unbound’ everyday ? will ya? C’mon!? We’re talkin about ‘Prometheus Unbound’ ok? Do you get that? a musical ! and in London?

Annie was on alcohol for sure, but Danny was already a sucker to the topic that she was alluding to, and so it did not take too much Annie talk for Danny to come to a decision.

Dan’s defence was getting weak.

He replied ‘Ok, Annie, maybe I’ll book my tickets such that I meet you at London, we’ll see this musical and then I’ll move on to Bolivia , so that I don’t displease my bosses at Reuters.          

Annie gave an excited ‘hiss’ and said ok ‘ Mr. Mettuguda’ come on over. I’ll pick you up from the airport.

Page me your itinerary.

In the background, the seagulls were still shrieking. In New York.

In London.

It was quiet.

Except for the Ghost like lights that hung around, the London skyline,  just so that the city remained – global.

Annie finally wished G'nite and hung up.

Dan washed up , changed over, took the elevator, started his Chevy and drove down to his office.

Reuters.

New York.