Husband's Lovely Wife

"Yes, its been a long time." answered the person on the other end, the voice expressed longing and satisfaction. It would not be wrong to say that the person on the other end had already expected her to call him.

"I will be there by afternoon." saying Zhi Ruo disconnected the call after exchanging some more pleasantries.

....

On the breakfast table,

"Let"s go out for lunch?" suggested Qing Shan while having breakfast.

Looking at him Zhi Ruo answered, "I have nothing else to do, but I... need to meet someone. Then we can go."

Thinking for quite some time Qing Shan suggested, "If you are fine, I can drop you. I have to complete something at the company and then I can pick you up. Then we can head to lunch. What say?"

Drinking a gla.s.s of Juice Zhi Ruo nodded, "Sounds good."

Smiling Qing Shan asked aunt Wei not to prepare lunch for them as they would be heading outside.

...

At a garden,

It was a bright sunny day outside. Two old people who probably belonged to the same age group were sitting across each other on chairs with a table in between them which had two cups of boiling tea kept since long time. The air surrounding them was gloomy and mysterious.

"It"s a surprise to see you here."Smiling the old man pa.s.sed tea cup towards the old lady. Even though he said he was surprised his eyes were br.i.m.m.i.n.g with happiness.

"She is not dead."said the old lady who was named Zhu Xiaofeng. Her voice was crisp and clear, devoid of any emotions. If looked closely it can be seen that her lips were trembling while her hands were clenched into fists.

Hearing the statement from the old lady, the old man"s hands trembled making the tea from the tea cup spill a little bit on the table. Keeping the cup on the table he took a deep breath before speaking, "It seems old age has messed up with your brain as well, sister Zhu."

Guilt, remorse, pain filled the eyes of the old man. Tears welled up in his eyes which were threatening to fall off at any moment. Controlling his emotions, he spoke in a painful voice, "I myself saw her dead body. It is impossible."

Silence enveloped all the voices, the only voice that they could hear were their inner voices which were threatening to destroy their inner peace.

"s.h.i.+ Xiaoli, We all believed she cannot be killed, but she was still killed. That too so skillfully."said the old lady with her graceful appearance. There was no change in her voice, but if someone removes her sungla.s.ses and sees her eyes, they were completely red at the moment. Her hands were clenched into fists while her body was trembling from anger. Each and every word she said was a direct stab at the old man"s heart making it feel like someone had held it and was tearing it into pieces.

Shocked from the revelation the old man named s.h.i.+ Xiaoli stuttered, "Xiaofeng, you..."

Giving out a mocking laugh the old lady started speaking, "You thought it can be hidden from me for long. No brother Li, no.... I knew it, though late...but I knew." This time the old lady"s voice shook quite a bit. Her words and her laugh though might seem for other"s, instead it was for herself. She was mocking herself for being so ignorant.

Trying to console the old lady, the old man spoke,"We just did not tell you because it would upset you."

"It would upset me or it would make me guilty..."Shouted the old lady unable to control her anger. Breathing heavily she started at the old man with hatred filled in her eyes. The old man"s proud head which was hanging low, his sharp tongue which was always ready to retort being quiet conformed her words.

Unable to say anything further the old man kept quiet while waiting for the old lady to speak.

Taking a deep breath the old lady calmed down her emotions and added, "Let us not make the same mistake twice. I believe she is alive."

The old man"s face had an unexplained confusion, with knitted brows he asked,"How can you be so sure?"

s.h.i.+ Xiaoli wanted to believe Zhu Xiaofeng, but conditions and circ.u.mstances were not allowing him to. How can he believe a dead person was alive. When He himself had confirmed about the ident.i.ty of the dead person and was present at her cremation.

"She has the powers, but they are incomplete."As soon as the old woman said these words Old man s.h.i.+ jolted awake from his chair in an instant, shouting on the top of his lungs, "Have you gone mad?"

Calmly looking at the cup of tea which had some ripples due to being disturbed the old lady spoke, "I was shocked as well. But I am sure she has the powers and they are incomplete."

Old man s.h.i.+ slumped on the chair as if his soul had left his body, supporting his forehead with his hand he said in a low voice, "Does it mean..."

Interrupting the old man she spoke, "I know what you are thinking, I think the same. Let"s first find out where she is and who had kept her away from us all this years."

Saying the old lady, picked up her purse, wore her sungla.s.ses, stood up and started leaving the garden elegantly.

"Do you still blame yourself?"asked Old man s.h.i.+ looking at her back.

This question was a great blow to the old lady, making her halt in her tracks. Her eyes turned misty, her vision blurred, all of her past memories, regrets, guilt flooded her heart. Without turning back she said, "Let"s be quick this time." and left.