"Take this dearie, it's a special tea which I brew myself and carry everywhere with me. You will feel better after drinking this, I promise," said a kind voice who had come up to Jia Li's seat.

"Omg, I don't believe it, 87********. I have a sore throat and had asked you to share that tea with me before we boarded the flight. Instead of giving me a cup, you went and bought me that horrid liquid from the vending machine. So not fair," MJ3011 complained standing behind her.

Jia Li accepted the cup gratefully. In the past few minutes, she had been so engrossed in trying to understand the conversation which was happening around her that she nearly forgot her own pain.

"I am sorry, my love. At that time, I had just met you and I don't know why I got confused and thought that you belonged to the other team. And I wasn't going to share my special tea with them. Only when we sat in the flight together, did I realize that you like the same man as I do. My mistake. Can I offer you a cup now?" 87******** replied with an apologetic smile.

"Wow, you guys maybe fighting with each other on the face of it but I can sense a strong bond existing beneath that. In the past, I was lucky enough to share such a bond with some wonderful people as well. You must enjoy these moments to the fullest," Jia Li spoke up suddenly.

All of them looked at her with concern in their eyes.

Divaity spoke up, "don't sound so sad, dearie. I don't know why are you feeling low but remember that this shall also pa.s.s someday. You should just be open to new possibilities."

SYW nodded and said, "she is right. Also, remember to not judge yourself and others too harshly. We are all humans and more often than not, we make the wrong decisions. When life gives us another chance, we must think carefully before rejecting something on the basis of past experiences."

KM60 got up from her seat and went up to her.

She patted her back in comfort and said, "be brave and be confident."

Jia Li's eyes teared up. She hadn't expected to find such comfort and understanding from strangers. Getting up from seat, she murmured that she needed to use the washroom.

"Poor thing doesn't want to cry in front of us," said Princess September, once Jia Li had left.

"Don't you feel that there is something strangely familiar about her," Meghna mused.

Agarsums replied, "stop speculating about this. We need to keep a sharp lookout for the author. She may slip away from our hands."

"You are absolutely right. I need to know what is going on in her mind. I don't want to die of curiosity. Just waiting to get my hands on her. I won't let her get off till she tells me who will our dear Jia Li end up with, finally," Riddhi declared.

87******** vigorously nodded her head, "completely in agreement. The author has to tell us. Torturing us in this manner, really mean of her. Thank G.o.d for the new character, Ying Hui. The minute I read about him, I knew that the author would have gone to research in Tunisia. Let's keep our eyes and ears open."

MJ3011 spoke up, "yeah what's with the new character? I don't like nerds and he sounds like one. Don't tell me that our gorgeous Jia Li would end up with him…"

Everyone looked at her with a horrified expression. And the discussion became more intense…

Jia Li came out of the washroom and walked towards the flight attendant's station to request for a warm gla.s.s of water for herself. She saw someone lurking there. a.s.suming the person to be one of the flight personnel, she went up and asked her for the water.

The woman was startled initially, then visibly relaxed, "oh, it's you. I thought one of them had found me."

"I am sorry. Do we know each other?" Jia Li asked her.

"Uh…that is, we have never met but I have seen you at the Language inst.i.tute in Moganshan" she said.

"Oh, is it? I am sorry I don't remember meeting you," Jia Li apologised.

"Don't worry. It was a brief meeting and you had many people to interact with on that day. Uh, btw, the women whom you are travelling with…do you know where are they headed?" the woman asked tentatively.

Jia Li looked at her intently and suddenly asked, "are you SMK08, by any chance?"

The author looked startled, "has my female lead recognized me? Impossible…"

"Why such a question?" the author asked her.

"Well, you seemed to be hiding here while they are trying to find someone. Since you asked about them, I a.s.sumed that you were that person," Jia Li shrugged.

"Did I make your character that smart? Why didn't I realize it till date? Let me use that in future," the author muttered to herself.

"Err…did you say something?" Jia Li asked her.

The author shook her head and said, "no, I have a habit of talking to myself. Wonder, where did I pick that up from. Never mind, all you need to know is that you will be fine, in fact more than fine. So chin up. To quote my mother, 'if HE has put you in a tough spot, it's because HE knows that you can come out of it victorious.' Now its up to you whether you believe in yourself or not."

"Ah, and last thing before you go. Don't judge yourself too harshly for whatever you think you have done wrong. Once you do that, you will find it easier to forgive others as well," with that cryptic remark, the woman pulled a scarf to cover half of her face and walked towards the end of the aircraft.

Rest of the flight pa.s.sed surprisingly fast for Jia Li, enveloped in the light hearted bickering and warmth of the women around her.