Reminisces

She walked elegantly on the Champs - Élysées towards her destination completely oblivious to her surroundings.

As usual she was smartly dressed in what she termed as "formal but comfortable clothes" dark blue pencil slim skirt, white shirt and a jacket. The complete ensemble emphasized her petite figure and she was the cynosure of all eyes as her heels clicked on the pavement and people paused and stared.

Her thoughts raced ahead of her ,up a coming meeting with a renowned Music Conglomerate who she would end up being a partner with, in the years to come, but that tale was for another day! There was not even a hint of nerves as she reached the famous glass facade of the building and strode confidently in, heading towards the reception.

She smiled and the world lit up as she remembered the road to her journey and how it all started years ago...

A small town girl from a beautiful country in central Europe.

Brought up near the seaside miles away from the city lights.

Her grandmother was the first to recognize her unique talent and made her sing in the church coir.

Shyly, a little girl had come out of the shadows and mesmerized the parishioners and astonished the priest.

The rest as they say is history.

She had promised her "Nana" that if she ever became famous, she would call herself by the pet name given by her.

Her reverie was interrupted by someone calling her softly, "Miss" and she instantly thought that nobody could possibly recognize her here in Paris and continued walking.

"Miss, excuse me", the voice persisted hesitantly and she turned around to look at a man standing with a pen and the day's issue of Le Monde, "Would you do me the honour of giving me your autograph?

Absolutely astounded, she stopped and blurted incredulously, "You recognize me?"

"Yes of course," he replied, "You are even more beautiful in person."

She blushed and instinctively reached out and scribbled her name.

"No, your stage name," he whispered hesitantly.

Taken back, she was certain that it was a case of mistaken identity and was about to return the newspaper when he whispered "and if you really love me ....." the first few words of one of her most populate hit singles.

This time there was genuine pleasure on her face and she laughed and said, "Wow, you really made my day" and he replied "No. you did" and looking into her eyes softly exclaimed "You have a very beautiful and melodious voice and an innate ability to make people smile and feel good about themselves. You epitomize the very essence and spirit of what women can accomplish. You are and always will be special and truly deserve all the success and happiness. Surreal ! Seeing you standing right in front of me. I still cannot believe it. Hope you never forget us mere mortals."

She was speechless and really blushing now as her eyes said it all, the admiration, the accolades, the love and the awards that she had received with sheer grit and determination, it was really worth it just to hear these words and she quickly turned to walk away when he asked innocently "You never did say..." and looked back "about what "she asked innocently?"

"Did it hurt when you fell from Heaven?"

She laughed more loudly now unabashedly and incessantly as everyone turned to stare and walked right up to him and gave him a warm embrace, startling him to no end but in a delightful way.

"Thank you so much."

"You are welcome. Take care and keep smilingly always."

The beginning of a new friendship!