Love story:
A place stolen from time - Verona, Italy. My next vacation destination for Summers. Don't know how I decided this old city out of the world's option available. Seems time had stopped in year 1303, the year immemorial of Romeo and Juliet. History says Verona is the place where Romeo and Juliet lived and died. So I planned to visit the place where Juliet lived. The place was well maintained and was managed as a grand museum. It was hustling place for a change. There were guides, flower sellers, antique shops, food joints, musicians playing music, balloons, flame throwers, dancers and what not just outside the Juliet's place in the garden surrounding the place. I was attracted to a violinist playing a melodious tune. I could hear the violin music distinctively clear in the midst of the crowded noise. I approached him and he stopped playing and asked me "Gentleman, are you interested in buying one of the violin?" He was surrounded by beautiful set of violins to be sold. "No, I'm a musician as an audience." I said. He laughed,"So you are, the best one. Only you came listening to my music." That was a smart reply for a musician. I had no answer.
He continued pointing at the violin which he was playing,"This particular violin is made from the Rosewood tree that grew in the backyard of this home, the Juliet's home." I said "okay". He added "Legend says that Romeo and Juliet were secretly buried in the same backyard." I laughed "wow, now it's no more a secret then." He smiled and was getting mystically serious," If you notice, there is only one Rosewood tree around, single Rosewood tree around 20kms of this place." I questioned "So?". He told "This violin is made from the same Rosewood tree. Nothing in Verona could be as precious as this Violin." Frankly I was floored by the selling skills of this guy. I said "I'm impressed by your selling skills. What's your name?" He introduced himself,"I'm Mercutio. And friend if you are impressed, shall I pack this Violin? It's only 50 bucks." I couldn't resist and bought it. He seemed delighted with the sale. I started moving ahead with a pleasant feeling. Was I happy because of the Violin or the pleasant conversation with Mercutio? So I looked back to see Mercutio, one more time. But he was nowhere to be seen. I ran towards that place, it was empty. I asked the neighboring stall owner "where's the violin seller?" The old owner replied "Who violin seller? This is an empty place. No one's here." I told "I bought this Violin from him, Mercutio. Yes, his name was Mercutio." The old man laughed," Sure Romeo, Mercutio was here but now he's gone." I didn't understand and I left. I couldn't get it out of my head. I constantly starred at the Violin throughout the journey back and thinking of the ghostly meeting. Who was that guy? Was it real? Of course it was real, as real as this Violin. I searched online about "Mercutio Violin Seller" but couldn't find anything of this time.
"Mercutio is the cousin of Prince Escalus and Count Paris, and is a close friend of Romeo" was the most common search answer.
