Blake Schwendiman's Blog and Blook

Chapter 45

Saturday, 12 March 2022 – 10:45 p.m. SAST

Ramesh drew a long breath of the damp salt air as he stepped from the plane. He glanced around, hoping to see something familiar, something reminiscent of his youth. It was dark and he had never been at the airport in Durban before. He recognized little. The drive to his hotel was equally as uninspiring. He had become disconnected from his home town, but he hoped that morning would bring a renewed perspective.

He stood on the outside patio of a fantastic suite at the Hilton Durban. Jet lag and anxiety made him restless. He wanted to sleep, but his body refused. He sent a message to Quinn.

I have arrived in Durban. I plan to visit the market tomorrow morning. Brad spoke of the market often in our correspondence. Perhaps I will find someone who knows him.

Ramesh stared out at the Indian Ocean from his patio. The lights of distant ships blinked on the curved horizon. He breathed deeply. He missed the ocean. He closed his eyes and listened. Waves crashed on a nearby beach. Gulls called.

A light breeze carried on it the scent of Durban that he remembered from his childhood. The damp saltiness of the breeze, the ocean, and somewhere deep and ultimately subtle was the scent of Durban’s historical and cultural magic. One could almost sense the spices of Victoria Street calling to the memory of Ghandi’s years of political service in Durban. There was the dusty scent of the Zulu ranches reminding of the great Shaka Zulu whose twelve-year rule remained one of the most notable in South African history. And there was the undeniable scent of western civilization that the Dutch, English, and Portuguese had left in their years of colonization.

He set his teacup aside and activated his implants. He sent a message to his mother, leaving out most of the details, but telling her about the new contract work. She would be excited. She had been urging him to get out more. His mourning had continued for much too long. He was still young and a very handsome man, she constantly reminded.

Ramesh drew in one last deep breath of the ocean air and retired. The bed felt wonderful. He lay awake for a moment, wondering how his life would have turned out if his family had stayed in Durban. He was sure that he would never have spent any time in the suite at the Hilton. He wished that Padumi could have been there with him. She would have enjoyed the luxury.