LOVE BEYOND BORDERS

unveiling the beauty...

I got ready wearing a Pakistani model grey color embroidered salwar kameez with lace and patch work,.And used a matching grey color niqaab too

. I went down and as usual Yong opened the door for me with his humble and welcoming smile. I wished him thanks and got into the car to find my very busy husband digged in his phone.

Ammu : Where are we going..

Lin : dinner...

Ammu : hmm, Lin are you not going to the wedding anniversary celebration.

Lin : it's postponed to next Saturday...

Ammu : Postponed, why all on a sudden....

Lin :Grandma is not feeling well.....

Ammu ( shocked): oh is she in hospital. Shouldn't we go and meet her.

Lin : No need, she is fine.

Ammu : hmm

While talking the car stopped in front of a luxurious villa and Lin got down and opened the door for a very beautiful young lady. Once she got into the car the limousine was filled with the strong fragrance of her perfume.

I coughed as my throat and nose got irritated out of the fragrance. My eyes filled with tears and Lin asked me whether Iam okay. I nodded without looking into his face as I was afraid whether my eye lens would get dislocated due to tears. I checked in the phone mirror and confirmed it is in tact.

Lin introduced Wei Jei to me. He said she is the brand ambassador of their project in France.

Ammu : Hello

We Jei : hello, what's your name.

Ammu(smiles) : Simi Varma

Jei : So, You are working in brother Lin's firm, An accountant right. (her English was not so fluent as Lin)

Ammu : Yes... And you...

Jei frowned and with a laughter a snicker may be she replied in pride " Iam an actress and now brand ambassador here."

Ammu (Smiling) : Actress!.Which movie... (pretended to be excited)

Jei : (irritated as she couldn't show off) Iam in TV series.

Ammu : Oh.. (as If not interested}

I slightly smirked as I wanted to make her realise that she is also not at the peek level of her profession.

The other three gents Lin, Yong and the driver enjoyed our mild War. Lin thought his wife is not a soft spoken person as others think.

Lin and Jei started talking...

and as usual I didn't understand a word what they spoke.they continued with their talk as if I didn't exist and chatted till we reached the hotel. I have never seen Lin talking so eagerly and listening to somebody with such patience and enthusiasm.

We reached the ABC Hotel at 7:00 pm and Lin opened door for her. It's the first time I have seen him being so polite to a lady. He had never done this for me even when I insisted, for me he prefers his assistant and bodyguards.

I felt being degraded. With heavy heart I followed them. I thought we are going to our usual Vip lounge but they went upstairs to a room which has floor level sofas on one side of the room and the other end there was a table where two ladies and two gents were siting. I think they were couples too. Lin took Jie to them and Introduced her. They were playing mahjong and Lin and Jei joined them.

After sometime another couple came and they too sat on the table. They started playing mahjong. I felt left out and saw Yong who was sitting on the corner of the floor level sofa looking at me, I went and sat beside him as nobody was there to direct me what to do.

I asked him about mahjong and he explained it beautifully however I didn't get it .To overcome the boredom I asked him about his family, he said he had parents and is a bachelor.

Ammu : Bachelor!Are you not planning to get married.

Yong : I wanted but Iam afraid whether I would get a wife who is as stubborn as you and also makes fuss... .

Ammu rolling her eyes, do I make fuss...

Yong felt awkward from being mouth slipped...

Ammu laughs it's alright yong, you are correct...

Yong also smiles at her... Immediately his phone rings, Yong goes out to attend the call and yes he too didn't come to give me company.

Again I had to sit their watching them playing and enjoying with their drinks.To find my another world I scrolled into my phone. I received a message from an unknown number.... "

Hey Ammus... Iam coming...

" look for me by moonlight,watch for me by moonlight, I come to thee by moonlight though hell should bar the way"

I was surprised and replied who are you...

I received a smiling emoji... In reply.

Actually the words in the message is from the famous poem "The Highwayman" by Alfred Noyes, I like this poem very much from my childhood.I too dreamed of a highway who comes to save me from all my worries and insecurities.Tjat message really excited my curiosity.

Bur not too long again I fell into the pit of boredom and checked on busy husban Lin, they were still laughing and chatting. So I send him a message Iam going to use washroom.

I went out of the room, immediately a bodyguard came and stopped me saying madam there is a washroom inside the room. I said no I will use the common washroom.

He stood in front of me and said madam please. I felt offended for Lin sending his bodyguard to me, he could have replied to my message or could have told me in person. I angrily said "move", but he stood their blocking my way and I shouted at him losing my patience "move from my way Mr.", after few seconds he moved aside. Its then I noticed the Bluetooth earphone attached to his ear, he was in call with Lin and he too might have heard me shouting.

Actually going to washroom was just an excuse to get out of that room. when I entered the washroom I saw my colleagues who had received the gift coupon for watching music concert here. Since I left early from last day's party I didn't know about the lucky draw. Many staffs had won the lucky draw to watch the music concert. They invited me to watch the concert with them, I sadly refused as Lin won't allow me to attend.

When we came out of washroom, Jei came to me and shouted, where the hell have you been. We are waiting for you for the dinner.

Actually I was bit jealous with her as she was the first girl whom I saw too close to Lin that too a very beautiful girl and to whom Lin behaved with gentleness.

I don't know why or what is it with me , I don't like to see any girls to be close to him,may her be beautiful or not .

And to my dismay Jei is very pretty with good facial features, she is bit taller than me, I could hardly reach Lin's shoulder but her bosom is small compared to mine and I was happy for that with no reason. However her dressing sense is just awesome .Since I wear full sleeve salwar kameez fully covering my body,Iam not so attractive as her. And that made me jealous to the core.

To make my emotions worse now she yelled at me. I felt annoyed and said "Are you all eating with my mouth, If you want to, have your food, why do you wait for me" .

She lost her patience on me and said don't you know the table manners it's only because you are brother Lin's guest I have tolerated you otherwise I would have....

Ammu : What.... would have swallowed me.... Haah..

Jei : I know Simi what's your problem is, you are jealous of me. Because Iam beautiful than you, you had to hide this disgusting face(poking at Ammu's face) beneath this niqaab from everybody. You are jealous to the core.

Ammu : ( frowned how did she know I have a scar) Get lost you bi....

My words were cut by Lin yelling out my name "Ammu "

His anger was clearly visible in his eyes and the tone....

Ammu frowned at Lin coldly...

On seeing Lin my colleagues backed off and stood far away as they were scared of him.

Lin walked towards us and told.. Ammu behave yourself, don't make any fuss. Jei come let's go they are waiting for the dinner. He turned to Ammu and told if you want you can join and have dinner with us...

He held Jei's hand and walked away.

I felt very depressed , he brought me here for dinner and treating me as a dog. He always want me to follow him at his will, he had never been so polite to me. I just felt he no more wanted me as by yesterday he had taken everything from me. I stood there with moist eyes.

My colleagues didn't hear what we said and , they came running to me worriedly. It is when they told me I knew Jei was Lin's distant relative too. Since they heard her talking about my niqaab my colleagues were curious to see my face. I said I will show them later. They asked is it too ugly, I just smiled in response.

None of us noticed other than us there was someone else watching all that happened in the corridor.

I just walked in the lawn without joining them for dinner. Later Yong came to me and told madam Simi you should go upstairs otherwise your leave will be cancelled.

I have requested for three days leave to go back to India to attend my parent's death anniversary.

I angrily went inside and sat besides Lin. He sneered at me and Jei was unhappy to see me. The food was served and we all ate and again they all sat down talking and laughing in the floor level sofa.

I sat near a foreign lady who is from London ,she asked me what they were talking about. I was relieved thinking I got company, I told her we are even, I too don't speak Chinese. She laughed giving me a high five. we chatted for sometime, she asked me what my name is I told Simi Varma, she told Lin mentioned another name. I said It's my nickname, after sometime the British couples left leaving me again to taste the lonliness.

Later after 15 minutes the other two company representatives also left with their partners, Lin and Jei continued talking. I felt really bored and decided never in my life I will accompany Lin to his business dinners.

After sometime I again received the message from the unknown number... "Today's music concert is dedicated to the most beautiful girl I have ever had in my life, Yes to my Ammus..."

I frowned and didn't understand who it was. I Checked in my family w******p group, but it's none of them.

Meanwhile a bodyguard knocked on the door and called out.. Madam...

I looked at him confused and turned to other side and found that I was all alone in the room. I really felt abandoned and left out. I could no more bear Lin's attitude towards me.

The bodyguard pleaded me to follow him as he knows that Iam stubborn and will sit there . He was the same bodyguard who once took me in the car and I jumped off at the signal. I nodded and held back my tears from falling. Just to distract my mood asked what his name is, he said Mu Chen.I smiled and said nice name Mr. Chen.

when we reached the reception I saw Lin opening door for Jei and he too entered into the limousine.

He sat there and saw me coming. I stood out for him to open door for me, he just ignored. I could see Jei sneering and covering her mouth as if to hide her sarcastic smile. Yong was to get down from car, but Lin told something to him and he looked at me as if pleading me to get in. But this time whatever happens I am not going to get in.

When this ego drama was going on I received call from that familiar unknown number. I couldn't attend as Iam stuck between the silent war. Then I received message" hey beauty come to me". I heard somebody speaking through mike from the concert hall... Hey Ammus where are you, please come fast Iam waiting...

I....I know that person.. It's.. I couldn't believe,... Is it him. . I wanted to run upstairs to find him but how could I, being still stuck in ego war. The song had already started, its in my mother tongue malayalam song "oru madurakinavin lahariyil remix". One of my favourite...

I stood there listening to the music.

Like earlier car drove forward but I stood firmly where I was, I didn't chase the car like last time. It stopped at few distance and I received call from Yong..... I disconnected his call. He again called... again Disconnected...

Third call came... It was from Lin... I switched the phone off. The car moved forward and I slowly moved backwards and as the limousine crossed the gate I hurriedly ran upstairs to find where the music concert was. I ran like a crazy girl and at last I found that tall handsome guy with silky hair, brown eyes and skin tone as fair as mine.... Kitchu... My brother.

He smiled at me while singing,danced near me and I too just made mild steps to join him. I felt as if found an oasis in the desert. He took me to the stage and hold my cheeks in his palms and kissed me on forehead. I was touched,he had never kissed me. I felt secured in his hand.

He suddenly turned me towards the audience and hugged me from behind while singing and rested his chin on my shoulders. I thought he is dancing along the rhythm, so I also swinged my body but he pulled my niqaab off from my head. I covered right cheek with my hand to hide the scar, he turned me to face him. He pulled out the artificial scar on my face. I made a sszz.. sound from pain.

Usually I remove it gently using rose water or glycerine. He again turned me to the audience and back hugged me and continued singing. While singing the last stanza he took me around the stage.

I was least bothered about how I look ,I was lost in my brother's affection ,I smiled at him happily and we looked at the audience as he was waving at them.

In between the audience I saw a tall figure staring at me. I couldn't understand the expression of his face. But for the first time I couldn't bear those cold stare out of guilt. I don't know how to explain to him. I tried to smile but couldn't make it Iam sure. I saw him moving out of the crowd. I wanted to follow him desperately, but Kitchu kept me in his embrace, his eyes became moist, and tears rolled through my cheeks......

Kitchu : Ammu.. You wait there in the backstage, I will come within half an hour when the concert will be over.

Ammu nodded.

From the backstage I ran to the corridor and found him near a pillar with one hands digged into pocket and other hand had a burning cigarette. His eyes were fierce and cold that could burn me into ashes...

I stood there lowering my head out of guilt.....