Hong Kong Café
It was the last days of my trip when TAO called me; "change your departure date and come to Hong Kong before leaving!" TAO said on the phone.
I was very near to Hong Kong border but entry required permissions and I had no time to follow up.
The last time during a film festival we met each other. TAO was a film director.
"Wait for my retort!" TAO said to me when i cheated him for having fun with an unreal news about his wining awards in festival.
Finally, TAO made a plan to meet each other in a café located in the zero border of Hong Kong.
I got out of the subway in the last station and took a taxi.
"Hong Kong Café, Yan Tian Street" I said to the taxi driver.
I knew destination was not far from the station, I found out taxi driver is turning the route. Finally he exited the highway when I showed him destination on G.P.S.
It was only 9:30 pm when I arrived to the Café, still I had time to walk around there. It was Christmas night and a good weather.
There were many tall building both sides of the streets gave a modern view of the area. Expensive cars were passing under commercial billboards, some times the youths were seen cheering and joy in nice metallic open cars.
TAO called me; he said that he will have delay and its better if I go inside the café and waiting for him there.
Two violinists, a Bassist and a singer in European style were performing music on the stage of café.
I found an empty table and took a seat there; the waitress in Santa Claus dressing came to me, put the menu on the table and waited for order.
I chose a hot milk coffee.
Every side of café a group of persons were sitting under the warm lights, talking, smoking and drinking.
I tried to call TAO but he wasn't responding anymore. I got weary of his delay and decided to leave there soon.
"Can I sit here" an Asian young girl with colored blonde hair said to me. She was standing beside my table with a bag in the hand and a red cap on the head; she looked polite and beauty.
"It's Ok" I said.
Three seats were empty and also I had to go soon.
"Thanks, I am Rosie" she said then offered hand to shake.
My hot coffee was ready, I check the time, it was around 11 pm and still TAO wasn't come.
"Are you waiting for someone?" she asked me.
"Yes, I am!" I said.
"Is it a date?"
"Just meet a friend!"
"An artist?"
"Yes, he is a filmmaker but how do you know?" I asked her.
"Here in a hangout for artists" she said, and then she tried to get my attention to something.
"Do you see them?"
A guy beside a table was acting the role as Charlie Chaplin, a bowler hat on head, an umbrella in the hand as a cane and Charlie Chaplin style feet.
Girls and boys around the table were laughing of his act. I check the time once again, my coffee was finished, I picked my coat up off from the back of chair and started to go. TAO's perfidious was making me angry.
Out of café, some people were staying and talking in the sidewalk. I tried to call TAO for the last time, but still he didn't response.
The girl with a red hat and colored blonde hair also was in sidewalk now, her bag was hanging on hand and she was talking on her cell phone.
A vacant taxi stopped close to the café; I got in the taxi and started to look into my coat's pockets for the hotel address card.
Suddenly in the sidewalk, someone stole the blonde girl hand bag and ran away along the street. He had covered his face with a black woolen hat.
Blonde girl first screamed and then very fast got inside the taxi; she looked very agitated.
"Go! Chase him!" She said to the taxi driver.
Taxi driver started the chasing but when the masked man had turned into a side alley; taxi driver just continued the road.
"He went to the left side alley, did you see?!" I asked taxi driver.
But he continued driving in his direction and he was regardless of me.
"Could you stop the car?" I said and hit his shoulder.
But there was no response of him.
"Could you ask him to stop the car?" I turned back and asked blonde girl.
She said some things to the taxi driver in their local language but still taxi was going non stop. I got worried and tried to call TAO, fortunately TAO responded fast at this time.
"Where are you? I can not find you inside the café!" TAO said on the phone.
"I am in the taxi now" I said.
"What's up? Where are you going?"
"Believe me I don't know where I am going! it was a happening first but now taxi driver is going his way non stop, maybe he doesn't understand me when I talk with him, would you please ask him what is he doing now?"
I gave the mobile phone to the driver. He took the phone and spoke with TAO and after he put my mobile phone in his pocket.
"It was my mobile phone" I said.
"Your wallet!" he said and acted his hand to take my things.
"Faster give him your wallet!" A voice came from backside.
"What?" I said
"There is a dark forest on the way, its better to give us valuable things and go before it be too late!" blonde girl said.
It was a deserted alley, taxi stopped and they stole my every thing.
Now I was alone in a dark alley, without any money, mobile phone and even I didn't know where I am exactly.
A man had to come to me from other side of the street.
"Excuse me sir, may I know what is happening to you?" the man said.
"They stole my every thing and left me here" I said.
"Here is border area, do you know? You are a foreigner and it can be a problem for you."
I checked my coat's side packet, my passport was there.
"Fortunately, they did not take my passport, still it is with me" I said to the man.
"What can I do for you?" he said.
"Do you have a mobile phone? I should call police and after I should talk with my friend.
He said that his mobile phone is in the car and asked me to follow him.
He was walking slowly along the street and then turned to a downhill of a parking area.
"May I know where your car is?" I asked.
"It is just here, in this parking area" he said.
I was worried.
"Ok, I will wait here, please bring the phone"
"Do you scare of me" he smiled when he was saying this.
I followed him to the parking area.
It was a big parking with massive plumbing and hanged light in the ceiling.
The man went to the car and took one thing; I waited for him with keeping distance.
He had hidden some thing behind when he was coming back to me.
I turned and looked at the gate, but before I want to run, he was staying front side of me with a big wrench in the hand.
"Your passport and every thing else you have with you!" he said.
"Oh, my God, may I know what is happening here tonight?" I said.
Suddenly all parking lights switched off and a deep darkness covered the area.
"Cut, it is the ending" someone said.
Then the lights came back to the parking and a camera flash hit my face.
TAO took a photo of me in that trouble condition.
The blonde girl, taxi driver and the masked man also were with TAO there.
"I will send this photo to media" TAO said.
"Oh my goodness! You were killing me!" I Said.
"Do you believe my works now?"
"I am sure finaly you will get award in festivals"
"and you will give me a real news about that, won't you?"
Write in Persian language: Reza Tajvidi
Translate to English: Reza Tajvidi
Date: Jan 2013
