Chapter 37: Chapter 37

When Arya arrived home, it was already past 12 midnight.  She was afraid she would disturb her parents and so took out her keys to open the door silently.

Unexpectedly, the moment she opened the door, she heard the voices of several people.

“That’s it for today.”

“Look at your happiness, you’ve won everyone.”

“It’s just that I’m lucky.”

“Are we going to play again tomorrow?”

“No, my daughter is coming home tomorrow.  I’ll call you.”

Arya could recognize it was her mother’s voice that said the last sentence.  When she walked into the living room, she saw the rummy table and several motherly figures who were saying farewell.

Arya was dumbstruck.  She was angry and felt like crying.

“Yo, isn’t this Arya?  Your mother just said you will be back tomorrow.  It’s so late and you’ve rushed back.”

When Arya’s Mother saw her daughter, she was somewhat surprised.  Her Father who heard the commotion in the living room came rushing out of his bedroom and on seeing Arya had returned, he was shocked.  He felt very happy and hurriedly told her to sit down for a rest.

When Arya’s Mother saw her daughter’s expression was not good, in her heart she knew the reason and she sent all her friends out of the house.  Arya looked at her coldly, gritted her teeth and did not say anything.

Her Father also felt a bit guilty.  He poured a glass of water for his daughter and asked.  “Didn’t you say you’ll be back tomorrow?”

Arya’s Mother turned back from the door and walked to the living room.  Then she began to pack up the cards on the table and ignored her daughter.

The more she thought, the angrier she became and Arya said loudly.  “Didn’t you say you have chest pain and you heart is unwell?  I was afraid something serious had happened and I rushed back in the night.  I didn’t think you can play rummy with the illness!”

Arya’s Mother pushed the cards aside abruptly and shouted loudly.  “Why do you feel so proud for rushing home in the night?  This old mother had brought you up and you feel aggrieved just for taking a night bus?”

“Then you shouldn’t have lied to me!”  Arya’s anger rose. She shouted.  “Do you know how worried I felt?!”

“You also know telling a lie is not good?  You also know how to feel worried?” her Mother’s voice became louder.  She pointed her finger at her daughter.  “Just think about what good things you have done!  What trading company manager?  What yearly promotion?  You can also give us that story!  At that time, when we found something amiss, we tried to contact you and your phone was canceled.  We don’t even know where you live and we were not able to find you.  You are a girl who is living alone in a different city without anyone beside you.  For several nights, I and your Dad couldn’t sleep, isn’t that worrying for you?  Did I scold you?  This old woman held back and hadn’t taught you a lesson yet.  You are now so gutsy that the minute you come back, you shouted loudly.  You were worried?  You know nothing about worry!”

Arya’s eyes were hot, her nose felt sour and her eyes were filled with tears.  She only felt ashamed and sad.

Arya’s Father who was at the side anxiously tried to persuade them.  “it’s very late.  Don’t talk about this anymore.  Our daughter had just returned home and she’s tired.  Let her rest first and tomorrow morning we can discuss this.”

Her Mother wanted to continue talking but her Father quickly pushed Arya into her room.

Arya’s room was a small and was fully occupied with a bed, a table and a cupboard.  She had not stayed in the room for the past two years but it was still kept clean.  Her Father led her to sit at the edge of the bed and said to her.  “You have just returned.  Don’t quarrel with your Mom.”

She bit her lip and nodded.

“Are you hungry?”  her Father asked again.

She shook her head.

“It’s better for you to eat something.  Dad will cook you something.  You’re tired after the journey and after eating, take a good rest.”

“I don’t want to eat.”  She opened her mouth and to find her voice had choked up.

Her Father sighed and patted her shoulder.  “Take a rest.  I’ll go and take a look at your Mom.”

She nodded and her Father left the room.  She could hear the sounds of slamming on the table outside her room and heard her mother scolding with a few words.  Then she heard her father’s low voice whispering persuasions and after a while, all was quiet.

Arya sat on the bed, stared blankly and thought of what her mother had said just now.  She felt very sad.  Her mother had said they had spent several sleepless nights and Arya imagined the scene.  Then she thought of her own feelings today and felt very guilty.

But when they lied to her to make her return home, she felt very angry.  She took out her phone and silently looked at the picture of  Jack’s painting that she ihad painted. She wanted to call Jack very much but it was so late and she did not want to wake him.  But will he be waiting for her?  He had instructed her to call him no matter how late.  She did not want him to worry about her.

After thinking for a long time, she was ready to dial his number when two knocks sounded on her door.

She responded and her Father opened the door.  He walked in and whispered.  “I saw your light is still on, so I came to talk to you.”

She quickly got up and pulled out the chair for her father.  Her Father sat down and handed Arya a medical record.  “This is your Mom’s medical record, take a look.  It was wrong of me to lie to you but it is also not totally a lie.  Last week, your Mom had stayed in the hospital for two days because her chest pain.  Although they had put her under observation for two days, they still could not find anything wrong with her.  They still gave the same advice, rest more, stay happy and don’t over-work.  You know your Mom’s temper is like that and her words are unpleasant and cutting but she loves you.  She felt extremely angry when she found out you were selling insurance, and at that time, she also couldn’t find you.  She felt very worried.  Every day she couldn’t eat or sleep and eventually she fell sick.  She is not trying to hurt you when she says she wants you to come back to work here. Originally, we thought you will have better prospects if you work away from home, get a good job and have the opportunity to venture out. But if you are not doing well outside, why not come home?”

She bit her lip and could not speak.

“There are some words that are not easy to communicate through the phone.  Your Mom always gets angry on the phone.  I know you also don’t feel happy about this.  Try to be more understanding and don’t be angry with us.  These days, although her health is not good, she also went around looking for connections to find a good partner for you.  Now, finally a suitable one is found, so she wants you to come home to have a look.  She is afraid you are still holding a grudge and refuse to come home, so she told me to lie to you.  Take a look at the medical record, this is not a lie and she is really sick.  So it is also right that you come home to see her.  She had been feeling terribly bored for a long time and only these two days she started to play rummy.”

“If her health is not good, then she should not stay up so late.  How can she stay up late to play rummy?”  Arya also felt distressed for her mother.

“It was agreed that they would play until ten o’clock but who knew they would all feel so happy, so how could I stop them?  With your Mom’s temper, it is not easy for me to persuade her.  If I say too much, I will not be giving her face in front of outsiders, so I let her be since it is not too late.  In the past, when you were around, you’ve seen them playing through the night and this time, it was only a little past 12 midnight.  Anyway, they don’t play often.”

Arya did not speak.  She knows that in her family, her Mom is the Boss.  Her father is also someone who wants face and if there are outsiders present, he will not make his wife look bad.

“Your Mom actually wants you to go on a blind-date tomorrow night.  That’s all.  We are not forcing you to marry.  It is just two families gathering together to know each other and make friends.  We have met the parents of the family and tomorrow, we will be bringing you, the two juniors to meet each other.  Don’t harbor any resentment and just give in to your Mom’s wishes.  Go and take a look, it’s nothing.”

“But Dad, I have a job in  different city.  Even though I came back for the blind-date, I will still turn around and go back…..then what is the point?”

“Look at you.  You haven’t met this man and you’re already starting to oppose.  Your Mom had put her heart into this and I heard the young man is also working in your city.  However, later he will be coming back here to start his own business and have his own company.  So your Mom is very satisfied with him.  Get to know each other first and if you feel you have a good impression of him, you can keep in touch with him.  Once you get to know him better, then you can return with him.  As to the job that Dad had arranged for you, if you feel you are not satisfied, then you can join him to start his business.  Both of you work in the same city                                                                                                          and had seen the world outside, I’m sure you will be able to chat with each other.”

Arya’s face was full of black lines.  Where did her parents find such a miraculous person?  He is actually also working in  her city and then also preparing to return to homecity to start his business.  Not only is the working area suitable, but her job is also planned for the future.  This man is simply custom-made according to her parents’ wishes.

“Dad is telling you this because I don’t want you to fight with your Mom tomorrow.  Her temper is not good, so just give in to her wishes.  First, meet that young man tomorrow and maybe you will be able to get along with him.  Mom and Dad are getting on in years and we hope to have our children with us.  Even if you send money back every month, we will still not feel happy if you are not doing well outside.  Selling insurance is not a prestigious job but your Mom is not angry with you over this.  It is because her heart hurts for you.”

Those words were also reasonable and Arya did not know what else to say.  She could only nod her head.

“It’s good that you understand.”  Du Vin Father wanted to say something more but at that moment, Arya’s phone rang.  She pulled out the phone and saw it was from Jack.

“I’m taking this call.”  She said.

Du Vin Father realized it was late, so he said.  “Alright.  After the call, take a good rest.  Dad will not say any more, just that……tomorrow don’t quarrel with your Mom.  Obey her and make her happy.  I’m going back…..rest early.”

Du Vin Father closed her door as he walked out of the room.  She let out a sigh.  Her father’s move of ‘wavering emotions’ was executed excellently.  Her stomach full of resentment was fully suppressed and she also felt she was inconsiderate to her parents.

She picked up the phone and Jack asked.  “Have you reached home?”

“Yes.”

“Why did you wait so long to answer the phone?”

“Just now my Dad was here.”

“How is your family?”

“Um……nothing serious.  My Mom was hospitalized for observation for two days last week.”

“What is the problem?”  Although Jack’s questions sounded like an occupational attack, however, his concern still made Arya feel happy.

“Ah, I have the medical record.  Let me take a look.”  She flipped open the medical record and wanted to read out the diagnosis and the doctor’s comments.  As a result, she looked at it for a long time and could not decipher the words.  “The hand-writing of doctors are really ugly.  I can’t even read the medical records.”

“Can you use your disdain in more significant places?”

“Isn’t this socially significant?  If a doctor’s handwriting is neat and pretty, so patients can understand what is written, then everyone will have peace of mind.  Like now, I really don’t know the condition of my Mom’s illness.”

“Get a photocopy and show it to me when you come back!”  Mr. Tyrannosaurus’s standard tone sounded.

“Okay.”  She sighed and lay down on her bed.  She felt the anger that had built up in her just now and dispersed a lot.

“Dr. Jack, are you sure you can read it?  His writing is even uglier than yours.”

“My writing is not ugly.”

“Oh.”  She responded with insincerity and asked.  “Dr. Jack, do you have calligraphy class in your medical school?  They specially train you on your writing and identification of words.”

“Arya, are you sure you have reached home?  Your skin is feeling itchy, right?”

His tone made her laugh.  “Dr. Jack, tell me why is it that once we chat, the topic will turn meaningless.”

“That’s you.”

“No, not me.  I just had a meaningful talk with my Dad.”

“That must be your Dad talking and you nodding and reflecting on yourself at the side.”

“How did you know?”

“That’s too simple.  Anything with deep meaning will have nothing to do with you.”

“That’s not true.  I can also say profound and meaningful words.”

“For example?”

“Dr. Jack, when your first love came back hoping to be reunited with you, unable to forget you, still deeply in love with you…….did you ever think what is the point that she loves about you?”

“If ~ ‘what is the point she loves about you’ ~ these words were spoken by you without such disdain, I would have thought you are not hoping for gossip on this matter.

“While on the journey back today, I had nothing to do and so helped you to seriously think about this matter.”

“Is there a conclusion?”

“No.”

“Looks like you are really very idle.”  Jack said those words with similar disdain.  Then he asked.  “Arya, then what is the point that you love about me?”

“This topic is nothing new.  Didn’t I explain to you before?  The main point is that I lost my way and I had turned back.  Dr. Jack, occasionally I still reflect on life.”

There was silence on the other end for a while.  Then Mr. poison tongue’s fierce voice came over.  “Arya, you’d better go to bed!  I don’t want to talk to you.  I have to go to work tomorrow!”  After speaking, he hung up.

She also did not mind and tidied up before going to sleep.

Tomorrow, she will have to fight a hard battle.  It’s not going to be easier than working.  She put her phone next to her pillow and looked at the picture of painting.

In her heart, she wished him ‘Goodnight.’