Three rapid knocks sounded again, a little more insistant this time. In the tiled bathroom the sound destroyed what little tranquilty I had left.

“Yup. Still here.” I said, not even bothering to hide my irritation. Did he not hear me? Maybe he didn’t speak English?

I urged my body to hurry but there is only so much one can do without rupturing a blood vessel. I wasn’t in control though and had absolutely no say in the proceedings. What I did have was a sinking feeling that this was one of those times where things were going to take as long as they were going to take.

Another round of repeated knocks banged against the door.

“Do you think I left without you noticing?” I asked sarcastically. “This place is not that big and there’s only one door. Let me assure you that A) there are no secret passages in here and B) that I am not performing a magic trick that involves vanishing inside a public restroom.”

There was a moment of blessed silence.

When the next knocks came I tried not to scream in frustration.