LOVE BEYOND BORDERS

Back to China

I saw grandpa and Fuzhi walking in our courtyard and having some serious conversation.

The nalukettu where we are staying is separated from other houses in the compound with short wall fencing. Most of our close relatives are also staying in the same compound, there are in total 20 houses in four acres of land. The whole property is ours, and all our family members have individual houses here.

During occasions like festivals we all gather at my grandparents house. Some of the relatives especially aunties often come to visit my grandparents whenever they have time. We children used to meet daily at our playground where the boys play cricket, football, and kids play hide and seek and so on.

There is two or three swings tied to huge trees and concrete benches beside it for us to sit.Some of our cousins are abroad and others in different parts of Kerala so whenever they come we all play and spend time in our playground.

We have Lord Siva and Goddess Sarawsathi (Goddess of knowledge, music, art, speech, wisdom and learning) temple in our compound. Since I have many cousins I I never had any friends other than them or may be I have never tried to have one, until I went to study and work abroad.

I saw grandpa pointing towards each house bit far from our's and talking something to Fuzhi. May be he is saying about his sons and daughters staying there. I found Fuzhi also keenly talking and listening enthusiastically , in between Fuzhi was looking into his phone and seems disturbed on some matter.

I wanted to ask him the reason but my grandpa doesn't likes ladies getting in between when males are talking unless asked to , so I stayed inside and watched them and did not accompany Fuzhi.

I saw chinnu coming with desp face as if she lost in some games. I asked her the reason for her grief and she told that she tried to eavesdrop their conversation but didn't understand their language.

I laughed at her and teased her. She shouted at me telling, 'sister can't you find a malayalee(keralite) lover"

I covered her mouth and told her pinching my throat as a sign to swear that he is not my lover and just a friend.

With my swearing gesture she was quiet convinced but unhappy too as she asked "really sister ".

I nodded my head in affirmation.

Later I saw Grandpa and Fuzhi coming inside the house and Fuzhi told me he is leaving as he need to ger back to the airport on time.

We bid farewell and I accompanied him to his car and asked him about their conversation. He told me that everything is fine, he had explained what happened in Dubai and grandpa is quiet convinced. I waved him goodbye and wished him a safe journey.

Fuzhi smiled at me and said "goodbye Ammu, and do you have any word for my brother?

I know he was teasing me so I said to keep my pride " say hai for me"

He said you say it by yourself and added my number to their family we chat group.

While we were bidding farewell I heard grandma coughing behind purposely , hinting me to stop talking with Fuzhi and go inside. So without daring her patience anymore I immediately returned inside.

While having lunch I found grandpa in a good mood, so I was relieved. We talked while having lunch and I told him about my joining the new job. I asked him how he know Chinese and he told me before marrying grandma he worked in China for almost 5 yrs and they met in the flight while returning from China to India.

I asked grandpa whether he will teach me to speak Chinese. He replied in silence to my request, letting me know that he is not interested or not willing to .

I also remained silent and saw Chinnu smiling at me covering her mouth to tease me . I rolled my eyes at her and

grandma was noticing us throughout. And I didnt notice her suspicios glare on me for requesting to learn Chinese,she was still stuck with Lin holding my hand and me allowing him to do so.

After somewhat one hour I called Fuzhi in the number he had called me in the morning to check whether he had reached safely back to hotel.

After long ring a cold voice came from other end " Hello, who is this".

Hearing the strange voice I remained silent for few seconds and just called out his name to confirm "Fuzhi?"

It was then followed by silence from other end and the call was disconnected. I thought it's better not to call on that number again and was searching for his other number, immediately he called me back.

Fuzhi : Hey angel, you miss me so soon?

Ammu : I just call you to check whether you have reached safely back.

Fuzhi : Angel don't worry Iam all safe.

I felt like he was trying to be intimate with me.

Ammu : Who answered the phone when I called in the other number.

Fuzhi : oh, It's second brother.

Ammu (panicked) : My goodness. So were you using his phone.

Fuzhi : When I called you from my number in the morning it was not getting through, so I borrowed his phone and forgot to return it. That's why I left your house early , to give his phone.

Ammu : When did Lin come to India?

Fuzhi : Today morning, he was there in Infopark too as he had some official works to handle.

Ammu : Oh thank god we didn't collide, (giggles)... OK then safe journey bye...

While in the hotel room Lin was hearing their conversation sitting in the sofa though he was looking into the laptop screen. When Fuzhi started talking intimately with Ammu he gave a cold look to Fuzhi as well. Lin recognised her voice when the call was connected and he asked Fuzhi why Ammu was calling to his number. Fuzhi explained him the matter and Lin listened to him without much interest.

Both brothers returned to China their home country and were busy with their business affairs. While in Wang family house , during their breakfast time Li Min asked Fuzhi" who is Ammu in our family group , Do you know that person "

Fuzhi : Mom, brother added Ammu to our group,you ask him.

Fuzhi used Lin's phone to add Ammu in their family group, as he was sure nobody will question Lin because of his unfriendly and cold character. Even if anybody asks also he will just ignore them without answering.

Li Min : Others in the group asked who it is. Ammu has hidden her profile so we are not even sure whether it's a girl or boy.

Fuzhi with a laugh replied 'oh Mom, don't worry, of course it's a girl.

Li Min : What ! Lin added a girl to our group. I don't believe this,is it true son, who is she, his friend?

Like Min all others present in the dining table were astonished hearing that Lin has a female friend and all thise queations Min asker popped in their head too.

Fuzhi raised his shoulder as if he didn't know anything about it.

Thus Ammu became their conversation topic during breakfast time.

The old master and madam of Wang family always prefers to have food with their Son and grandsons. But due to busy schedules it's not possible to always have food together with family but all of them has the habit to have atleast breakfast together.

Wang Min being a good daughter in law, always obidiently followed their instructions, so she insisted Fuzhi to stay with his parents and grandparents as their other two sons stays in separate villas.

Lin stays in a separate villa nearby as he always prefer to stay alone as he is a bit reserved in character. Their elder brother is married and have two kids of age one and three years old. He is also staying in the nearby villa.

They all visits the family in every weekends and the whole family have their food together and some chit chat too. Lin usually avoids such get together unless his grandmother insist him to . He ignores it mainly because of their talking and to ignore grandma's advise to get married soon.

Lin is always busy with his business and is least bothered about having a family life. Because of his cold nature most of the girls are scared even to be near to him and those who approaches him, is either for fame or for his wealth.

On hearing the son mother conversation chatting grandma Ming told, "don't worry let him come I will ask. "

She was happy atleast her grandson has a girl near to him, she was sure that this girl is not just a friend to him otherwise why he would add her to their family group.

Fuzhi feeling trapped said "Grandma, don't ask brother ,actually she is from India and brother met her in Dubai. They are just friends, that's all grandma.There is not much to ask about.

Grandma(frowning) : hmm.. friend haah.....

Fuzhi : I will explain to you in person after breakfast.

After breakfast Fuzhi had a talk with his grandma wang Ming and she promised not to ask Lin about Ammu.

*INDIA*

Ammu joined her new office and started the job in Accounts department. Days, weeks and months passed by and she got acquainted with her work and the freindhip between Ammu and Fuzhi also grew in depth along the time.

Today is July 15th 20XX her 6 months probation period ends on the very day and she becomes a permanent employee in this company.

Ammu was excited as this was her first job after articleship and she is going to get an opportunity to work abroad as well. Their company had an offer for top performers of the accounts department to work abroad for 1 year.

They can choose any country out of the five country list UAE, CHINA, UK, AUSTRALIA and USA and from their priority list they will be chosen to work in any of the above foreign countries for 1year. Ammu chose UAE as her preference.

She just wanted to use this opportunity to escape from her marriage with Arun,but though she is a top performer of the month this offer is permitted only to permanent employees. So today is that crucial day ,she had successfully completed her probation period so she can apply for her project migration to abroad .

Yesterday she rechecked with the HR department and they said that UAE still has one open vacancy so rest assured.With that excitement ,At early morning she went to temple and prayed...

"Lord Shiva The auspicious should happen today".

Ammu always like God's will to happen, she rarely asks God for any wishes.So she didn' ask for what she exactly wants.