Zekeriya Guser – Captivated conductor of my very own extraordinary journey.

He was sitting at the 29C of the plane which was very close to the rear door. Behind him was what seemed like a very loud group which was almost as annoying as the couple with a baby on the next two seats that started crying even before the plane taking off.

So it already showed all the signs of a very long flight. Headphones on and here goes a peaceful trip for the next 2 and a half hours.

While it all seemed like sorted, the plane took off but something felt wrong. Something on which it was very hard to put a finger on. An hour and a half into babies crying and people talking like no one’s around, the plane went into a light turbulence which was initially expected and advised before the flight so all was fine.

He was watching and old episodes of a British show called Coupling for probably the 5^th time just to get his mind off of his surroundings. Suddenly a guy with a long black coat stood up, as they do, to go to the toilet for obvious reasons. His coat seemed pretty new, expensive and stylish, that probably was the reason why it catches his attention so he eventually went back to watching his show.

The guy came back from the toilet but passed where his seat was, he only knew this because he looked at him right after he stood up from his seat, and carried on toward where his seat was. When he reached close, he leaned towards to the lady sitting at the seat on his left with which the aisle was separating and quietly asked to switch seat that he wanted to chat with his friend, she politely said yes and moved to the seat in the front where he previously was seating.

He started to feel more peculiar. As the thrill brought a small rush of adrenaline in his body, he was well awake now. He looked to the person on the mysterious guys right and told himself “he cannot be the guy this man switched seats for” and for a moment he felt he was in a movie where he was about to be the hero after peculiar guy giving him an assignment at which he probably would save hundreds of people.

Of course this was nothing more than a simple daydream. But deep down inside he was expecting something to happen anyway, his “moment” as some might call it!

After another hour and few more episodes, peculiar guy touched his arm gently. As he did even forgot everything he thought about him earlier, slowly took his headphones of and turn to him. He politely said “sorry” and asked him If he had any extra headphones in his seat and started to explain that he forgot his at his actual seat and the woman who he switched seats took the ones with her.

He checked around but couldn’t find any so felt bad about it which could be seen clearly from his face. He felt like he should have started a conversation for the sake of the inconvenience that he felt like causing as he couldn’t provide headphones for him. He complemented and asked him where he got his coat from even though he did already took it off and put on his lap. The guy was clearly embarrassed before replying “it’s bespoke and the design is my own!” He was very impressed at this point and carried on the conversation with asking if he was in the fashion industry of some sort. And they took off from this point on and chat about anything and everything for the next hour or so.

As the conversation evolve through the point where they were discussing about the extinction of Emperor Penguins they heard the announcement from the pilot that the plane was about to land. So they buckled up and got ready to land. As they were leaving the plane, both had no cabin luggage so he took his blazer, the mysterious man took his coat and they started to walk to passport control.

Their conversation was evolving into the “it is time to leave” stage as they got to the passport control and they got to different queues. The mysterious guy passed and just waited for him over in the lobby, only at this point he just realized that they didn’t even exchanged names so he was glad that he had enough time to do so. So walked towards him and asked his name with a slightly embarrassed smile. He replied “Tom” only than he also told him his. Tom than just before he took off, told him that he would like to give his coat to him as a present since he really liked it. He said “he couldn’t accept such a gift”, but Tom insisted a few times and said with a smile that “his compliments to his design would be enough of a payment”.

He felt it would be silly to refuse such an offer since what would he have to loose but to gain and accepted the offer. They parted ways to take taxis without even asking where each of them were staying.

He sort of questioned his actions towards this awkward but enjoyable and “profitable” short encounter of his. Only to blame himself for not trying to get more details of him even though he gave him a very valuable present. Of course the reason for him blaming himself is the fact that he didn’t really wanted to be owing him after his present as it was nothing like him.

Following his short trip by taxi, he got to his hotel room, just threw his new coat and blazer on the couch and lay on the bed, which was just what he needed after such a long flight. He woke up a few hours later with a text message he received from a colleague of his asking if he got safely to his hotel. He got out of the bed, replied the text, took a shower, made himself a coffee and sat in front of his laptop to get ready for the next day’s presentation and to read few e-mails he might have received.

After a solid 2-3 hour work, he decided to get out of the hotel and explore the city a little since he was only staying for a night. He asked the reception for what part of town to walk around and maybe have a few drinks. He would normally make extensive researches when he visits foreign countries but it didn’t seemed to worth as it was just a single night.

We walked towards the main street and saw a nice pub kind of place in a street next to the main road and just went in to have a drink or two. As he walked in, he saw not more than 10-12 people sitting and chatting, there were a game on the tv’s around the bar. He then sat on a bar stool and asked for a Gin&Tonic. The guy behind the bar looked at him and with his broken English, said; “are you sure, you looked quiet tired, what you need is a scotch with the rocks”. He loved the barmen’s attitude only to realize he was right so he nodded his head to say yes. So a double scotch was in front of him in a glass that was big enough to even make it difficult to hold. He then drank all of it in less than a few minutes and asked for another one. As the second one taking a little longer to down, while then he saw this old and wonderful saying from Compton Mackenzie “Love makes the world go round? Not at all. Whiskey makes it go round twice as fast.” on the wall right in from of him.

It was the time to go back, he left a fifty dollar bill on the bar to show his appreciation to the barmen. He then came next to him and said; “wait, one for the road?”. This was another offer he couldn’t refuse so he reached to the shot glass just appeared in front of him and down it in an instant just before he walks out. The world was going a little faster as Compton Mackenzie suggested on the bar wall earlier but he felt good so took the longer route back to the hotel.

He was going from a street that seemed like the part of town where certain negotiations might have took place late at night. But somehow, probably because of the alcohol in his blood, he didn’t felt threatened and carried on. As the weather was a little chillly, he put his hands to the side pocket of his coats only to realize there was a small book. He took it out next to a street lamp only to realize it was a passport. It should have been Tom’s. He immediately thought of ways to get it back, maybe he could find Tom through the internet so he opened up the passport to check his surname.

But it wasn’t Tom, it was definitely Tom on the picture but the name was entirely different. At this very point the adrenaline rush he felt back at the plane was there again, something fishy was going on and he might end up right in the middle of it so now he felt a little scared. Went straight back to the hotel. Opened up his computer and checked the name on the passport but there were nothing at all. He then checked the visas and stamps for dates of entering and leaving other countries. The dates didn’t made much sense so he checked the coat again for anything else in the pockets. There were a few business cards with the name on the passport but it wasn’t the same as what Tom, or whoever he is, told him that he was doing for living.

We wanted to sleep as he had to wake up pretty early in the morning but he couldn’t stop thinking about the mysterious guy and the events took place since. I mean there was the obvious that he didn’t wanted to tell his real name to him but then why would he give away his coat and If so why there isn’t anything about his real name on the internet that was written on the passport. As the time passed and he couldn’t sleep, he thought to walk it off so went out again to find the same pub as it may be still open but it was not as all the other places on the main street so he headed to the dodgy streets as he was thinking they might be the only places with open bars up till this late. And he was right, he found a bar that looked like a dump but it was better than nothing so he went in, sat on the bar and asked for a scotch.

The guy looked at him with a very little interest and turned his head back to the other guy he was previously talking to. He was clearly not getting that well needed scotch very quickly If not at all. So very politely asked to the guy at the bar again. The barmen then reached under the bar and pull out a glass which looked exactly the same as the one from the bar earlier on the night. As the barmen poured the whiskey he had numerous theories in his mind about what actually might have happened, why would a guy who clearly didn’t wanted to reveal his true identity to authorities let alone a stranger on the plane would give him his coat but more importantly why he was the one he sat next to regardless of the inconvenience it might have caused his changing seat and many more questions. But on top it all, as it all seemed like he was a fugitive, he should have been more careful with keeping his fake passport at his sight. Maybe losing the passport somewhat must have been what he had in mind. As these ideas made him more worried the whiskey was finished long ago and he didn’t felt like going to all the trouble again to get a second one so he payed up and getting ready to leave while which he started to have this feeling of everyone in the bar was watching him. He thought this was pretty normal considering the circumstances and left the bar.

On the way he couldn’t make up his mind, should he ditch the coat and the passport right there on the dodgy streets or go to police. Would there be more complications with the police as this was a foreign country and there was every possibility that things might have got more complicated. While then he reached to his hotel and it was almost morning so he went up to his room, took a long shower and went down bright and early for breakfast.

With the alcohol in his body, tiredness and of course the questions, he didn’t felt like eating a lot so a black coffee, orange juice and a single pain au chocolat was all he needed. While he was sipping his coffee after only the half of the croissant, a young lady who just walked in asked him If she could sat with him. He looked around with a reflex only to see almost all the other tables were empty which made it a little awkward but him checking around looked a little impolite and she was also surprised so he suddenly put himself in shape and told her that she could. She just left her coat and went to get her breakfast and came back with a flat white, some fruit and a little bread just to sit opposite of him on the table. All of a sudden they started to chat about each other trips, the hotel and cities surrounding and such. The conversation was going very nicely and smooth which kind of made him suspicious as everything happening since yesterday he was nothing but very anxious of everything happening and thought this might have been connected as he had watched a lot of old spy movies when he was younger. But just not to be impolite again he just kept on chatting with her even though he was finished and probably should have left already as he would have been late to his presentation.

As he looked at the other side of the restaurant, by the lobby there was a clock which showed 7:15 and he had about 45 minutes only to his meeting so he kindly asked her permission to leave and she nodded with a little bemusement.

He rushed to his room, put on his suit and cologne, grabbed his bag and laptop just to call the reception for a taxi and run downstairs. She was at the lobby having another coffee and nodded him good bye while talking on her phone. He felt this might be a part of the whole thing so felt even more uncomfortable than before. All he could think of was that he was a part of an illegal, even maybe an international unlawful act.

He got on to the taxi and they went on their way. The guy driving seemed so familiar. As he started to chat with him, he then just realized that he was the guy from the first bar the night before. The one offered him scotch on the rocks. But he was surprised that the driver didn’t even said anything about remembering him. This made him feel more peculiar but with the tiredness and everything going on he didn’t felt like caring and left after paying the taxi fee.

He finally made it to the studios where he was about to make a presentation about this show he was pitching to the board of this network. This was his last chance, or that’s at least how he was feeling, after not being a part of a show that succeeds for so long. So he was more nervous than ever as he was waiting at the lobby for the board to be ready. As his scheduled appointment was approaching, the lady on the reception called him near and told him that they were going to be late as the meeting before him was taking longer than expected. He was cool with everything as soon as it is not cancelled so kept waiting.

Finally he was called up and with his shaking hands he reached to the handle of the meeting room door. As he opened there were quite a few people but one seemed very familiar and instantly he realized who he was. To him it was “Tom” but to other gods knows who he was. As he tried to make sense of it all, Tom shouted to the guys next to him, saying “search him, the guy came here with a fake passport!” and started laughing so did the guys next to him. It was becoming bizarre even a little surreal just before Tom starts to explain that he is one of the producers working for the network and he brought the fake passport from US to be used in another show they were shooting at the studios. Now all was making sense, the taxi driver must have been simply very tired from working all night at the bar and driving a taxi all day, the girl must have been just another alone business traveller looking for company and the guy in the second pub is just an asshole who doesn’t care about his job.

Of course after this short conversation with the board members it was time for his presentation but all of a sudden he felt the idea he was about to pitch was nowhere near as good as it should be for these wolfs to be interested in. Which made him incredibly nervous which was when he came up with this idea that seemed like the best idea ever so he did shut down the presentation he spent months on and started telling the story of his since yesterday evening in his most aspirational manner with such excitement.

After an hour of such intense story telling he finished and packed his things to leave as he was very familiar with the process where he makes his pitch/case, leaves the room and wait for the call that never comes. But this time with his earlier connection to “Tom” and wonderful story for this mini-series about an everyday guy who is living the most ecstatic day and a half of his life out of a simple misunderstanding he was convinces his 15 minutes was just round at the corner.

With the excitement that was making his heart pumping the blood to his veins twice as faster he went back to his hotel with a regular taxi driver just to say hi to the door man of the hotel whom he was sure that he never met. Then he went passed the receptionist guy who said “hi” to him just because he is guest in the hotel and went up to his room.

As he was getting ready to check out, his mobile rang from an unknown number so it had to be the studio. Of course them calling this quick usually is not a great sign but he was still hopeful so answered the phone.

It was the studios representative who started the conversation with the words; “We don’t usually call under these circumstances but Mr. Geister asked me to” he then immediately knew this was a “no”. But he cut him talking and asked who Mr. Geister was. The representative was a little surprised so paused for a moderately short moment and said Tom Geister, the owner of the studio. As he didn’t actually thought he was the owner of the studio now was only angry to himself for not making a more thorough research of the studio he was pitching to so he could have known who he was even when he first sit next to him at the plane and it couldn’t have been much more different than now. Of course since it was all too late he let the representative to finish the job he started and hang up.

As his plane was in a few hours, he just left the hotel for the first bar from the last night to grab another drink before him going back to his miserable life back at home. It was a different barmen this time as the one before probably driving his taxi right now but at least he was capable of pouring a glass of double scotch on the rocks in a mildly fast manner. As he sipped his glass he read the Compton Mackenzie on the wall once more and thought how different it might have been…