She picked up the phone and called Tang before she could change her mind . The phone rang for one full minute but went unanswered . What was happening? Her mind refused to believe that history was repeating itself . Circ.u.mstances, people… everything was different now, wasn't it?

"No, I am not going to a.s.sume anything . I will wait," giving herself the solace, she got up from the bed and busied herself with house cleaning, with a vengeance .

Every single day she looked forward to hearing back or getting a mail from his end but to no avail . It was as if he was purposefully avoiding her . She didn't want to involve Wei or Li Jie by asking them about him . Nor did she want to ask Chu or Aunt Xie . From what she had understood, he hadn't spoken about them reconnecting with anyone yet .

She, herself, wasn't ready either, for her newly made decision or the thought process behind it, to be put under scrutiny by anyone, yet . So she persevered… kept the faith .

It had been almost two weeks since Tang had gone missing from her life, once again . Jia Li tried calling his number once every day .

But now, enough was enough!

She needed to know if all was well with him . Was he unwell, under pressure or something else? With no office work to distract her on a Sat.u.r.day morning, she decide to bite the bullet and call up Xie mansion .

She was relieved when the landline was picked up by one of the staff members . She enquired about Tang's whereabouts eagerly, trying not to sound desperate . Before the woman at the other end could answer, the phone was taken over .

"Who is this?" a gruff, stern voice came on line .

Jia Li hesitated . She was tempted to put the phone down but steeled herself .

"h.e.l.lo, Uncle Xie, this is Lin Jia Li . How are you? I, uh… I wanted to speak with Tang," she managed to say the words, without stuttering .

There was silence on the other side, making her wonder if he had disconnected the call .

After a few seconds' pause, he replied, "Tang is unavailable at the moment . I will let him know that you called . But… if I were you I would move on in life, rather than trying to cling to the past . "

With that, he cut the connection .

Jia Li stared at the phone . What did he mean by that? Was he warning her off? His voice had sounded ominous, as if he was holding himself back from saying something more .

"Tang, what mess have you dragged me back into? And after pulling me in, why have you deserted me? Don't break my heart again, please . I will never come back to you ever again, and I mean it this time," she thought despondently .

But even as she thought this, Jia Li was determined that she would not shatter into pieces, no matter what happened in her life, henceforth . d.a.m.n it, it hurt, of course it hurt .

The next day dawned with bright sunlight streaming into her room . At least the Earth wasn't feeling the aftereffects of her broken heart . She got up dispiritedly from the bed and went for a shower . The night had brought uneasy sleep and she had woken up with a headache .

The bell rang and so did the phone, at the same time . She leapt towards the phone first thinking that HE had called . Snapping at the telemarketer, who had no clue as to why was he receiving a verbal whiplash on the phone, Jia Li disconnected the call and went to open the door .

This was unexpected . Looking at him in surprise, she allowed him to walk in .

"Hi, you didn't inform me that you were coming," Jia Li told Wei, who was busy soaking in the vibe of her place .

"You have been avoiding my calls, refusing to let me travel here, so I had to come see for myself if you had gotten yourself a new distraction which I wasn't aware of," Wei's words were light but the tone held reproach and hurt .

"I… have been busy . Sorry! There are new responsibilities in my portfolio and I am caught up with that," she said, apologetically .

"Hmm… is it so? Work has you so busy that you can't spare even five minutes to talk to me?" he asked .

"Anyways, now that I have travelled thousands of miles to see you and today being a holiday, can I have finally the pleasure of your company?" he asked with a smile .

Jia Li was torn . She didn't feel like talking, laughing or stepping out of her hurt zone, right now . But she also knew that being around other people would distract her, help her . Plus, she was feeling guilty about Wei having travelled all the way to see her . She couldn't possibly say NO .

Why do I have to behave like a poor me, martyr me, all the b.l.o.o.d.y time? she reprimanded herself . She picked up the phone and called Tang before she could change her mind . The phone rang for one full minute but went unanswered . What was happening? Her mind refused to believe that history was repeating itself . Circ.u.mstances, people… everything was different now, wasnt it? No, I am not going to a.s.sume anything . I will wait, giving herself the solace, she got up from the bed and busied herself with house cleaning, with a vengeance . Every single day she looked forward to hearing back or getting a mail from his end but to no avail . It was as if he was purposefully avoiding her . She didnt want to involve Wei or Li Jie by asking them about him . Nor did she want to ask Chu or Aunt Xie . From what she had understood, he hadnt spoken about them reconnecting with anyone yet . She, herself, wasnt ready either, for her newly made decision or the thought process behind it, to be put under scrutiny by anyone, yet . So she persevered… kept the faith . It had been almost two weeks since Tang had gone missing from her life, once again . Jia Li tried calling his number once every day . But now, enough was enough! She needed to know if all was well with him . Was he unwell, under pressure or something else? With no office work to distract her on a Sat.u.r.day morning, she decide to bite the bullet and call up Xie mansion . She was relieved when the landline was picked up by one of the staff members . She enquired about Tangs whereabouts eagerly, trying not to sound desperate . Before the woman at the other end could answer, the phone was taken over . Who is this? a gruff, stern voice came on line . Jia Li hesitated . She was tempted to put the phone down but steeled herself . h.e.l.lo, Uncle Xie, this is Lin Jia Li . How are you? I, uh… I wanted to speak with Tang, she managed to say the words, without stuttering . There was silence on the other side, making her wonder if he had disconnected the call . After a few seconds pause, he replied, Tang is unavailable at the moment . I will let him know that you called . But… if I were you I would move on in life, rather than trying to cling to the past . With that, he cut the connection . Jia Li stared at the phone . What did he mean by that? Was he warning her off? His voice had sounded ominous, as if he was holding himself back from saying something more . Tang, what mess have you dragged me back into? And after pulling me in, why have you deserted me? Dont break my heart again, please . I will never come back to you ever again, and I mean it this time, she thought despondently . But even as she thought this, Jia Li was determined that she would not shatter into pieces, no matter what happened in her life, henceforth . d.a.m.n it, it hurt, of course it hurt . The next day dawned with bright sunlight streaming into her room . At least the Earth wasnt feeling the aftereffects of her broken heart . She got up dispiritedly from the bed and went for a shower . The night had brought uneasy sleep and she had woken up with a headache The bell rang and so did the phone, at the same time . She leapt towards the phone first thinking that HE had called . Snapping at the telemarketer, who had no clue as to why was he receiving a verbal whiplash on the phone, Jia Li disconnected the call and went to open the door . This was unexpected . Looking at him in surprise, she allowed him to walk in . Hi, you didnt inform me that you were coming, Jia Li told Wei, who was busy soaking in the vibe of her place . You have been avoiding my calls, refusing to let me travel here, so I had to come see for myself if you had gotten yourself a new distraction which I wasnt aware of, Weis words were light but the tone held reproach and hurt . I… have been busy . Sorry! There are new responsibilities in my portfolio and I am caught up with that, she said, apologetically . Hmm… is it so? Work has you so busy that you cant spare even five minutes to talk to me? he asked . Anyways, now that I have travelled thousands of miles to see you and today being a holiday, can I have finally the pleasure of your company? he asked with a smile . Jia Li was torn . She didnt feel like talking, laughing or stepping out of her hurt zone, right now . But she also knew that being around other people would distract her, help her . Plus, she was feeling guilty about Wei having travelled all the way to see her . She couldnt possibly say NO .