I do not trust my luck when am racing against time to get to the boarding gate seconds before they are going to close, in those never ending moments, all I trust is the strength in my feet and the will to beat the odds. I have a struggler’s destiny, nothing ever comes easy not even a candy in the corner shop.

At last, I do board the flight and settle myself amidst the rude glances and stares of my fellow passengers. Close to me at an arm’s length seated is a tall, very German looking gentleman dressed in loose denims, wearing out of fashion sorts, kind of dark sun glasses and a leather jacket. I looked at his shoes and I loved them, sporty brown and white and guessed must be an expensive brand. I do not know much of brands except the few that keep my life ticking, like the washing up liquid brand in my kitchen,the brand of rice and milk and the sturdy handbag that I carry to work every day.  From his feet, I glanced up to his face and exchanged a nice smile and thought instantly that I knew of him from somewhere. Oh yes!  on the tennis courts, the legend himself, but then no one else was looking and he too was very unassuming. I thought to myself, ‘my tired brain is playing tricks; it has a knack of annoying me, when I am at my wits end. At such times, I have to force my brain to go into hibernation and shut the world out.

A perfect resemblance to a star I love and admire, this man was a good copy of the original. The thought lingered on as my brain went into a mad loop and I had to force shut it down. Next thing, I knew was the pretty hostess waking me up at 7pm and I saw this man and the others ready to get off the flight at Munich which happened to be my destination too. I rushed passed him and turned around to look at him once more, he was tall, good looking and so familiar. I was tempted to chat him up, not that I have ever done that with anyone in my life specially the ‘Sterner’ sex. I was stern with myself and the pride in me pushed me out of his way into the immigration box.

A feeling of being an original and one of a kind compared to the ‘copy’ walking next to me overpowered me. The gentleman and I walked together going through the entire drill of immigration, checks and baggage claims. He casually collected his luggage and while I was waiting to collect mine, I saw few people looking at him and whispering to each other, instantly I knew, I was now a certified idiot and he was none other than the original -‘Boris Becker’. Celebrities, legends enjoy their personal space and freedom in this part of the world. I have read somewhere if you want your dreams to come true don’t sleep…..Maybe I should give my grey cells a little more credit than I normally do.