Read Meeting Max for Free Online Page B

similar to Columbus Circle in New York City. He bought a mobile phone and signed up with Airtel, as Elena had suggested. It would give him the opportunity to stay in touch with her and would be useful for booking rooms at other homestays.
    He checked his e-mail at a cybercafé and realized he hadn’t given his e-mail address to Elena. Despite this, he wasn’t worried. He was sure they would connect.
    There were a few messages in his e-mail inbox from colleagues inquiring about his trip and one from his brother, David, who lived in the British Virgin Islands with his wife, Daniela.
    Replying to his e-mails, Rick told his friends how he’d grown to like Delhi, that it was a city in motion and he was happy to be part of it.
    Pollution still enveloped him, but it was tolerable now. There was not much greenery in Delhi, so he headed to the nearby Lodi Gardens, a place he’d read about in his Lonely Planet Guide . It was the only area in Delhi that would provide him with a quiet, peaceful setting and clean air.
    Rick stepped off the street, away from the clatter and into the serenity of Lodi Gardens. He felt the contrast. It was as if a door had closed behind him. All was calm. He instantly felt the fresh breeze flowing over him, filtered by the trees, clean and pure.
    He sat on a bench and listened to the songs of the birds as he thought about Eric. Finding him could never have been done from the United States. Rick knew he had to be in India to do it.
    He thought of Julie and his college days as he succumbed to the sweet fragrant air around him. His feelings for her told him what it was like to be in love, but their relationship was short lived, only a taste, and he never found love again.
    Rohit had explained to him that in India, parks such as the Lodi were traditional meeting places for young people in love, and they served as safe havens for couples whose relationships were not approved by their parents. Rick watched young men and women passing by, hand in hand, apparently in love, finding solace and safety walking in these gardens, soaking up its stillness.
    After leaving the gardens, he looked for an auto rickshaw to take him back home. Out of nowhere, the same driver who brought him to the Lodi drove up and came to a dead stop. They greeted each other with huge smiles as if they were old friends.
    He told Rick his name was Permanand. He was high-spirited, and his broad grin appeared to be engraved on his face, displaying his perfect teeth. He was energetic, optimistic, and about thirty-five years old. Permanand had a round face and shiny black hair, strands of which rested loosely over his forehead, giving him a boyish look. His English was good, although he spoke in Hindi English, but Rick felt the driver’s knowledge and intuition about the ins and outs of this city of extremes left little to be desired. Every word he spoke was with a smile and a gesture.
    On the way back to Rohit’s place, Permanand stopped briefly to introduce Rick to his wife, Shyama, who was selling flowers on the street. She sat on the ground, her slim body surrounded by colorful blooms. She blended in with them, as if she were a blossom in the midst of a garden.
    Shyama was lovely, with olive skin and jet-black hair that swirled around her shoulders each time she moved her head. The entire picture of her with the flowers was a work of art.
    Afterward, they stopped at Humyun’s Tomb, where Permanand told Rick the story of the Mughal Emperor. He seemed thrilled to pass his knowledge of Indian history to the American. Rick asked Permanand to teach him some Hindi and Permanand’s face lit up with excitement.
    With a slight bow and his hands extended, Permanand said, “ Ap kaise haiṅ . It is meaning, ‘how are you?’ Shukriya. It is to say ‘thank you.’” He then introduced Rick to other useful phrases, such as, I would like some, and names for taxi and tea , which Rick picked up quickly. He was good with languages and was fairly fluent