MY DREAM CAR

I went to Rome directly and spent the day attending to routine formalities at the FAO headquarters.

In the evening, I flew to Stuttgart, arriving there about 10 p.m., almost two hours later than my wife's arrival at the local Holiday Inn.

Being late, I was in a rush to join her.

I made it quickly to the taxi stand outside the airport and waited anxiously for what would be available while lining up.

Suddenly, I saw two cabs travelling in the direction of the taxi stand from a distance.

I could not believe my eyes. They were exact replicas of the dream car we had selected after many days of exhaustive research and consultation in Canada.

I got into the taxi, almost in a state of shock.

After a short ride, I arrived at the Holiday Inn which had been reserved for us from London by our brother-in-law.

Lavinia was relieved to see me joining her as promised.

After enquiring about her flight to Germany, my first question to her was:

"How did you arrive here from the airport?"

She was ready for a brisk reply.

"By taking a taxi."

I could not wait any longer for my next question.

"What sort of taxi?"

As she lifted her face to answer, I could discern a gentle smile, as if she knew what I must be knowing as well.

"A taxi exactly like the dream car we had ordered from Canada!"

It was too much to control our emotions any longer.

We simultaneously burst into a loud laughter as if saying to each other, "A dream car? What dream car!"

We had both worked so hard on coming to a consensus on the selection and design of our car.

And, obviously, the one chosen by us was also the favourite car of the cab drivers in Stuttgart!