268 A Letter for you

Sitting outside their son's room, Mrs. Xie composed herself and told her husband that she wanted the best therapist hired, no matter what it took.

"We will do so but you have to be patient. Like the doctor said, this will take time. We can't hope for a miraculous recovery in a few days or even weeks. And you tend to get agitated very quickly. I know how the last three weeks have gone by. You refused to cooperate. By not eating or sleeping enough, you added extra worry on your daughter's plate and mine during the last few days. Henceforth, you will need to stay calm and strong for your son to stay positive and motivated," her husband instructed her.

"Hey, Mr. Married man, Welcome back! I had hoped that we would get to see your wife as soon you landed. But I have been informed that you left her behind and came," Jia Li exclaimed as she saw Eric walk upto her desk.

"Hey you… I heard that you went and scared away all the bats from Sudan. The poor creatures are petrified to go back even now, despite your having left the place long ago," Eric teased her in return.

Jia Li punched him lightly on the arm.

"Even in the middle of your own marriage proceedings, you were busy seeking gossip about others. Tsk tsk, really bad. I wonder if it is too late for Melissa to re-think her decision to spend her life with a gossip addict," she told him in mock anger.

Eric made the exaggerated gesture of his heart getting hurt.

"Well, when you see her, you think whether that's the first thing you want to say to her instead of how nice have I been to you and how helpful since your first day in this organisation. I am going to see the boss. Will come back and fight with you," he told her.

He knocked at Hui's cabin and entered.

"Oh, you are here. Welcome back. I thought you were intending to shift to New York permanently," Hui looked and gave his friend a warm smile.

"Basically, you are trying to say that you missed me," Eric winked at him and said so.

Hui nodded in agreement and replied in all honesty, "of course I did. I think I was lost at many occasions without your guidance."

Eric looked at his friend who had almost never acknowledged this fact let alone say it in so many years. He was changing.

"So, should we address Earthly matters first or your heart matters?" Eric asked him.

Upon Eric's insistence, Hui had told him briefly about what had happened with Jia Li in Sudan on the phone. But now Eric wanted to know how his friend was coping with the heartbreak.

Jia Li sat immersed in her work when the office staff delivered a letter to her. It was an envelope with the stamp of the prison in Shanghai. She paled and her fingers shook suddenly. Why was he writing to her, out of the blue???

A part of her wanted to burn the letter instead of opening it but the other part urged her not to be a coward.

She got up and took the stairs to reach the rooftop cafeteria which was thankfully deserted at this hour of the morning. Carefully, she broke the seal and opened it –

Dearest Jia Li

Hope the letter has surprised you pleasantly. How are you doing these days? My sources inform me that you have managed to find a cushy job for yourself in one of London's top companies. From a mere language expert to a nice corporate position, well done YOU!

But I wonder if the hiring manager was impressed with your skills or your charm. Even while sitting in a cramped cell with stinky inmates as company, I can recall and smell your beauty with near perfection. Such is the magic of your 'assets'. Hence it wouldn't surprise me if the foreigners were also slayed by the same sword. But have they discovered the icy interior beneath the pretty surface yet or are they still smitten by the misleading looks? Well, whatever the case, I am sure you will keep them hooked with the smiles first and then the tears.

Oh, I almost forgot. Do you know that you successfully managed to break-up Xie Tang and Mei Zhen's marriage. Congratulations!!

But the strange bit is that he hasn't come back to you post that, has he? I wonder what's the reason for it. I would have thought that since he was ready to die for you, he would have come running post the marriage shackles broke, if not before. Maybe he doesn't want you anymore. People's tastes do change, you know…

But don't worry. You have me as your ardent lover for life. No matter what, I would never give up my love for you. When are you coming to Shanghai?

I miss YOU!

Always your lover

…