In the hospital room,a frail woman was lying on the bed.On her hands,the arthritis and bones were clearly visible.Her nose was covered with an oxygen mask to help her breathe.Amlt.i.tude of machines were attached to her monitoring her every breath.But the woman was ignorant of all this.She was holding Ryu Long's hand between her s.h.i.+vering one as her eyes were glued to the door.She knew that her end was near and she was counting her breaths until she could finally see her son and then move on to the other world.

She looked at Master Ryu with grat.i.tude and love in her eyes.He had done so much for her.Just then,the room was banged open and w.a.n.g Wei entered the room.His eyes were wild and hais askew.Immediately looking around his eyes fell on the frail woman staring at him with gla.s.sy eyes.w.a.n.g Wei's eyes misted and he looked at her with tears in his eyes.Ignoring the man sitting next to his mother,w.a.n.g Wei went to her and fell on his knees,kissing and hugging his mother's hands.His happiness was such that he had no words.

w.a.n.g Hao touched her son's face with overwhelming happiness.She looked at the age lines and those of sadness on his face and felt the hard life her son had held.She prayed to the fates that in the next birth she would be able to take better care of her son.In a halting voice,she asked,"Wei ah,my son...is it really you?"

"Yes mother."In front of his mother,he still felt like a young boy with dreams and aspirations.His eyes,for the first time in decades a hint of vulnerability reflected in his eyes.But that vanished in the next moment when he heard what his mother said next,"Young master,thank you for bringing my son to me.I am forever going to be indebted to the Long family."

Listening to his mother,his eyes turned colder and he glared at his nemesis.Ignoring him,Ryu Long turned to w.a.n.g Hao and said,"Grandma,I have only done my filial duty.There is no debt.I am sure your son would like to speak to you alone."Extracting his hand,he got up and turned to leave.He could feel w.a.n.g Hao looking at him waiting for him to acknowledge her son.His hands fisted at his sides and he turned to w.a.n.g Hao.With a polite nod he acknowledged,"Grandfather!" and left the room with angry strides.w.a.n.g Wei had not expected Ryu Long to know the truth and acknowledge it!He felt shocked to the core.Ryu Long had done that in front of his mother that meant she too knew the truth!He turned his questioning eyes to her.w.a.n.g Hao cold still read her son's emotions and she saw the questions as well as the suppressed rage.Taking a deep breath and blinking her eyes,she pointed towards the small chest sitting in a corner of the room.It was an old chest that w.a.n.g Wei recognized immediately as the one his mother had always possessed.In small broken words she said,"The answers to all your questions are in there.I have always wanted to give them to you.Now that I have pa.s.sed it to you,I can rest in peace."

Getting up,he went to the box and with trembling hands picked it up.This box was like pandora's box to him.Until now whatever he had discovered had been lies and half truths.Now was the time for truth.To his shock,the box held three books..or rather three diaries and a photo alb.u.m.All of them looked quite old as the pages had yellowed.Opening the diary,he came across a shaky but thready handwriting that said,"This diary belongs to w.a.n.g Hao."

Another shock!How cold this be.His mother had not known to read or write.Then how had she written a diary?And it was even dated from the year when he was in prison.!How was that possible!He opened the second diary and this one was written in a similar handwriting but the words were no longer shaky.In fact they were written in confident strokes.As if the writer was now proficient in writing.This diary was dated some thirty years ago.With labored breathing he put down this diary without reading as well.He had an inkling of what the third diary contained.And he was right!THis diary was dated around 5 years ago.

His mother had written to him when his child was born.And then when his grandchild was born.And finally when his great grand child was born!Without reading any of the diary's contents.he opened the alb.u.m.On the front there were a few pictures of him but after that it was filled pictures of Ruan Long,Ryu,Neil,Matt,Ah Hai and finally Ru...Snapping the alb.u.m shut he stared at the wall blankly.Not once did he realize that his mother had already closed her eyes,never to open them again!