But before I could scream, the alarm's beeping woke me up.
Slowly and peacefully.
It was 3:30 a.m., and the alarm clock kept emitting its soft, persistent beep before I shut it off. It had been a while since I had a nightmare.
The sky was still shrouded in darkness, and the streets of London had yet to stir. I had not expected this level of cold in late March, but here I was, greeted by the unrelenting chill. Last year, it was warmer at this time. The year before that, London bid farewell to spring with a milder touch. But this year, the city surprised me with its harsh cold.
I rubbed my bare feet against the warmth of the bed beneath the thick duvet, which retained the heat of my body. Coziness filled me with unfathomable happiness because today marked the beginning of what promised to be the best week of my life. Every cell in my body danced with excitement.
I shook off my drowsiness and glanced around the room to assess what needed to be done before I left for the airport. I never slept with the lights off, so the apartment was bathed in a soft, ambient glow. It did not take long to figure out my pre-departure tasks.
And calling it an apartment would be an insult to the injury that was named "poverty." It was a mere pigeonhole compared to the homes scattered across the city. Yet, I paid double the rent for this pigeonhole. I knew, as a doctor, I should not complain about my salary, but if you were a Londoner, you understood the struggle. In this city, everyone but millionaires and property owners is considered poor.
However, if I could pass the first part of my membership of the Royal College of Surgeons Examinations this year, maybe next year I would relocate to Glasgow for advanced surgical training. Perhaps there I could save money for future adventures and, who knows, a place to call my own................
Maybe, someday.
Anyways.
My flight to Italy was scheduled for 7 a.m.
As a proud owner of a desi brain, I could not help but worry the night before whether I had packed enough for my dream vacation in Italy. Actually, the whole of Europe had always been my dream destination, but as an NHS worker, saving money for such a grand tour across the continent was no easy feat. It was a challenge, but I was determined to explore all of Europe. And after that, Asia. Then, I would venture into Africa. And who knew what awaited me beyond that...
Oh, Switzerland! How could I ignore my dream country? Maybe, if fate allows, I will find a way to move there someday...
I continued mentally listing all the places I intended to visit while also giving my luggage a final check. Two suitcases filled to the brim with my summer-themed clothes, exclusively purchased from Primark and Covent Garden. I had been planning this trip for nearly a year, meticulously saving every penny because staying at a luxury resort by Lake Como was far beyond my usual budget. These luxury hotels rarely had sales, but I lucked out and managed to secure a small room. It might not have the most breathtaking view, but anything that was not a damp London street was a treasure to me.
After taking a refreshing shower, drying, and curling my hair, I ate a mini breakfast of eggs on toast while I called for an Uber to pick me up from my Camden apartment and take me to Heathrow Airport.
When I checked in for my flight, the time displayed on the clock was 5:30 a.m. My heart was again filled with blissful anticipation because I knew that not only was I treating myself to a trip to Lake Como, but I was also fulfilling a promise I had made to my younger self—a promise that had now become a beautiful reality. As I approached the boarding gate, I couldn't resist taking a few selfies and a photo of my passport next to my tickets for my Instagram!
The flight itself was relatively short, taking only two hours to get from Heathrow to Milan Malpensa. However, my journey was far from over, as I still had to catch a train from Milan to Como. After going through immigration in Milan, I realized it was 9 a.m. local time, as Milan is one hour ahead of the UK time zone.
The airport was bustling with various food kiosks, and the delicious smells of freshly baked bread made my stomach growl with hunger. Unable to resist, I decided to satisfy my cravings by buying a Tuna Tramezzino sandwich for my second breakfast from one of the nearby kiosks.
Before heading to the train station, I called my hotel to confirm my arrival and requested a chauffeur to pick me up from the train station. They assured me that everything was arranged and that a ride would be waiting for me upon my arrival. I gracefully thanked them and made my way to the train station within the airport. I boarded the Malpensa Express train at Terminal 1. Even though my journey began in Milan, my final destination wasn't the city itself. I planned to get off at Saronno, just a 20-minute train ride away. From there, I would continue my journey to Milano Cardona, where I would transfer to my last train bound for Como Lago.
Before switching trains, I updated my hotel's reception with my new Italian phone number, which I had obtained at the airport. They assured me that the designated driver would contact me within 30 minutes of my arrival.
The scenery outside my train window was breathtaking and surreal, momentarily taking me to another world. The magnificent mountains, lush landscapes, and serene surroundings were so captivating that I almost forgot my destination and the reason for my trip. Though I had brought a book with me, intending to read during the journey, the mesmerizing views outside made me lose myself in the views.
As expected, right on schedule, I received a call from my driver. He introduced himself as Luca, and his voice was as smooth as melted butter with a hint of honey, as I guessed he would be in his late 50's. I decided to create a mental image of him so that I could easily identify him when I arrived at the station.
Upon descending from my train at Como Lago station, I found myself in the midst of a bustling crowd who came to see Lake Como. It had always been a popular tourist destination, and I had not anticipated that it would be easy for my chauffeur to spot me among the sea of tourists arriving from various parts of the world.
"Signora Kaya! Signora Kaya!!"
He waved at me from a distance.
I waved back at him. He came forward, pushing through the crowd, and took one of my suitcases from my hand. I felt a pang of sympathy seeing him working at his age. He looked exactly like an older Robert De Niro but in distress, and I had not expected him to converse in English.
But Luca proved me wrong. As I settled into his car, he spoke to me in English with a thick Italian accent.
"Signora, I haven't checked whether you are our guest, Dr. Kaya Rashidi, or not," he said with a playful chuckle.
I chuckled in response. I knew he was teasing me. Before booking at this hotel, I had to provide extensive information to prove that I was a genuine guest with no ill intentions during my stay at their exclusive establishment meant for the wealthy.
"Well, Luca, your guess is correct. I am indeed an imposter," I joked back.
"A very pretty imposter, Signora," Luca flirted with a smile.
I could only laugh in response.
He drove me along the scenic route to Hotel Caelus, right beside the lake. We chatted a bit in the car, discussing things to do and not to do in Como, among other topics.
My jaw dropped at the sight of the place. The scenery and the buildings around were simply heavenly.
The entire hotel resembled a palace from a mythical land, seemingly suspended between the sky and the water's edge, with majestic mountains serving as a backdrop. It was situated on multiple terraces of a small hill covering the northern side of the lake. The property spanned roughly 4–5 acres of land and, when viewed from a distance, appeared as if it were its own island. Constructed with cobblestones and luxurious Italian marble, it featured a hip-shaped roof with a rich, muddy-red hue. The hotel's surroundings included canopied areas, open-air restaurants with various statues guarding the railings, and two or three scattered swimming pools, although none of them seemed to have any swimmers. A large stony quay extended to the water, providing access for a leisurely stroll or a quick dip in the lake for those who wished to cool off.
The scene was breathtaking, and the view from this spot was truly remarkable. I couldn't help but picture myself sitting on the steps of that quay, dipping my heels into the cold lake water, and delving into the books I had brought with me, all while basking in the glory of that enchanting place.
There was another quay, more accurately described as a jetty, designed for docking small canoes and boats rather than swimming. I made a mental note to explore this area for a round of canoe rides, as it was an experience I had never tried before.
The Hotel Caelus's logo featured a four-pointed star that, from a distance, resembled a cross. I knew that "Caelus" referred to the God of the Night Sky, though I couldn't recall whether it was a Latin or Aramaic word.
I never imagined that a simple star-shaped logo could exude such elegance. The hotel's interior design echoed this sense of refinement, but what truly stole my breath away was the fountain situated in front of the hotel. It featured a lion's head mounted on a wall at the entrance, spouting water from its mouth into a basin below. This basin was filled with water and adorned with white rose petals gently floating on its surface. As I approached the fountain, I realized that it was designed with eagle wings, forming the lion's majestic mane and giving it the appearance of a phoenix head. Moreover, there was a star, a prominent 5-pointed star, positioned on its forehead. I berated my less-than-perfect eyesight and could not help but notice that the lion bore a 5-pointed star on its regal brow.
"Does it mean something?" I asked Luca, pointing to the phoenix head, as we crossed the main foyer toward the lobby, where a receptionist greeted us with a wide smile.
"Well, it is the official emblem of The Volkner family. They own these chain hotels. You didn't know that?" Luca answered with confusion.
I nodded to him as we approached the lobby. The interior of the hotel was not exposed cobblestone like its exterior; instead, the walls, the floors, the furniture—everything was adorned with white, warm peach, nude, and pink colors. The floors were made of white marble, smooth as mirrors. Faint music played somewhere in the background. Sofas were tastefully placed around the lobby, leaving plenty of open spaces. High-arched windows allowed the natural breeze from the lake to flow into the lobby. Behind a white marble desk, a beautiful lady wearing a pink coat smiled at me. There was another man on the opposite side, but I decided to approach her. She was very cute, with a petite stature, beautiful black eyes, and bangs cut stylishly across her forehead. I couldn't quite determine her age, but her friendly aura was palpable, and I immediately warmed to her.
"Dr. Kaya Rashidi, I would like to check in," I introduced myself.
"Buongiorno Dr. Kaya. I am Julia, I'm the General Manager here. I will be checking you in today. You were supposed to arrive at 11 a.m., but it's now 12:30. Why the delay?" she feigned concern, her warm, welcoming smile never leaving her face. I already liked her.
"Well, I miscalculated my train route, so I had to wait at the station for an hour."
"You could have called us! Luca would have driven you here."
"Nah, I was doing fine. I got lost in my books and the scenery," I said, showing her the copy of "A Thousand Splendid Suns" in my hand with a grin.
She shook her head in mock frustration.
"Signora, this is a happy place. You are on vacation, I assume. Don't read sad books here. Read sexy books...." She emphasized the word "sexy" so dramatically that Luca burst into laughter, clutching his stomach.
".... Go on dates with Italian men here if you're single. You will enjoy them," Julia concluded her playful speech with a meaningful wink.
"I'll help," Luca added with a grin. I realized that Julia's mention of sexy books might have been caused by some early happy-hour experience at work, which made me chuckle.
"Well, I prefer fictional men over Italians. But where do I find myself a fictional man?" I asked Julia, pretending to be in despair. She waved her wrist at me in disbelief and slid a keycard to my room across the marble table while ringing for a bellboy.
Luca immediately guided the bellboy outside as soon as he appeared, seemingly out of thin air.
"Go to your room, and take a shower; Luca and Vitto will bring your bags. And enjoy your trip to Como! As you are a first-time guest at Hotel Caelus, you'll get complimentary breakfast, two-hour free access to the bar upstairs, and a round of the Lucia boat ride for an hour three days. Julia smiled.
"Thank you," I said, taking the key card and hurrying to my room. I knew exactly where my room was, as there was a map displayed in front of the lobby, illustrating the entire premises.
To my surprise, the room exceeded my expectations.
This hotel was designed for millionaires and billionaires, although I doubted that such people would vacation in a hotel rather than own a personal vacation house in places like this. And here I was, a bougie peasant earning less than 50,000 pounds per year, with not even 100k in my bank account, renting a room at this upscale hotel for a vacation. My habit of taking expensive trips might one day land me in a serious financial mess!
The room had a spacious balcony with two recliners, a double-sized bed, a sofa, and a television. The bathroom, however, was the main highlight. The bathtub offered a full view of the lake, as if I were bathing above the water.
Suddenly, there was a knock at my door. It was Luca and Vito who brought my luggage.
"Thank you," I smiled as Vito placed my luggage on the cupboard and stood in the doorway with a beaming smile.
Luca also smiled kindly, and I could see the creases of his smile lines forming around his eyes, reflecting his eager anticipation. It took me a moment to realize what they were waiting for, and I felt a bit foolish when I finally did. I reached for my money bag, contemplating how much to tip them.
I sighed inwardly, took out two fresh 100-euro notes, and handed one to each of them with a somewhat pained smile. Each note represented the earnings from one of my locum shifts, and parting with them felt a bit like a sacrifice.
"It's very generous of you, Signora," Vitto replied, his enthusiasm deflating like a punctured balloon. Luca, on the other hand, seemed positively elated.
"You have my number; call me whenever you need a ride or want to hang out with some jolly-good Italian men and have a drink," he said enthusiastically, his joy filling the room.
"I will, for sure," I replied with a giggle, then closed the door behind them.