Monday, August 6, 2007
Wah Love Story Again arh, well not exactly.
Well sbeen a really long time since i last wrote a short. So have decided to write. Uhm did what I needed to do and well it turned up quite ok. Uhm just in case anything,DISCLAMER: The following short only represents the fantasy world of the writer and not the actual world. Whatever fallacies it presents is a lousy overlook on my behalf.
(I Love You...NOT)
In the heart of the rural plains of Guangzhou, there lived an old man. He has seen the springs and summers where they till the land to reap its harvest, he has also tolerated the many autumns and winters where the freezing cold bite deep into the bone. In other words, he has lived his life to the sweetest joys and the most bitter sadness. However, he is quite blessed. Through these many years, he was not alone. He has a lovely and endearing wife who has been his support and his joy. Heaven knows it is not easy for them to stay together.
He was initially a coolie by the ports of Guangdong. She was the daughter of a palm tree tycoon in Nanyang. As expected, the standard Shakespearean story happened. Star-crossed lovers with no hope, they did the classical Chinese romance story. They eloped. She, being born of a silver spoon, had much to get used to. Apart from that, she also had to endure the many times when his ego took a bruising. A virtuous wife who suffers in silence, a hardened man of the street, who knew their affections would last.
Anyway, the story is not about their love. Nope, it is not about any romantic endeavour also. The title means exactly what it say and yet not really. Guess again.
He had everything any man would desire. They had a couple of kids together (this is before the one-child policy). In these later years, his daughters have grown and married, and he has but one son, the treasured fruit of his loins. To give his children a better chance than he had, he saved up money for them to travel to the urban area to receive a proper education. These many years, apart from the festivities held at the beginning of the lunar calendar, the couple lived alone.
One day, he received a letter from his son, he is finally fulfilling his legacy. A lovely lady is willing to spend the rest of their days growing together. They came back home to celebrate and such.. Rapture ensues and finally as the Chinese proverb goes, “Below the heavens, there is no banquet that does not ends”.( ok at least i didn't do my usual direct translation, haha)
They return to the city and lived their city life while the old couple lived their rural life.
No more contact other than letters, the families led separate lives. That is until one day, a miracle happened. The son did his father proud by impregnating his wife. You'd think that any grandfather to be would be rejoicing at such a news. But no,(haha writer's privilege can start sentence with But.)in fact, he was enraged. Why would this be so? The infuriating part is that now that the one-child policy is established, and also with the traditional thinking of the Chinese, you can guess what was it.
Everyday he stormed about with his veins protruding at ugly intervals around his neck and face. His wife left his side and went to look after her daughter-in-law. But he(wahaha i love abusing this privilege)could not compromise upon his ridiculous beliefs. He couldn't forgive his useless son and newfound daughter. They have brought shame onto his name by being unable to produce a son to carry on the name and legacy of him. Every morning he wakes up in fury and every night slumbers in tempest.
Finally, the time came for the new blessed parents to bring their little bundle of love back to their home. It was the 1st month of her birth and in the custom of Chinese, a little celebration in in due. His wife had returned earlier than the couple in order to prepare for the celebration. He being still embittered, neither helped nor made things easy. A difficult man to coax, his wife let him be.
The couple returned with their little blessing and their little party begins. All is in merry but the grumpy old man.
In their drunkenness and merrymaking, everybody slept early. Everybody but the man that could not be happy. Late at night, in the ungodly hours of the wee morning, when the whole world is having its 40 winks, 1 man remains ignored by the sandman. He stood there staring at the cradle rocking slowly following the tempo of the song of the cicadas.
“I do not understand what have I done. Why is it that I am cursed to have no more heir to carry on the proud family name. You... what did I do to deserve you.”
The little infant arose and stretched.
“You are no grandchild of mine. I do not love you at all. What are you doing?!?!?”
These words echoed in the silence of the night interrupted by the mating call of the insects in the wild. They resound loudly in the hollow of his head. But this time it was not in anger.
As he was lamenting and pointing at the child in accusation, the precious little beauty awoke and took his finger. All 5 fingers of hers wrapped around 1. No other words were spoken that night. And the world carries on its nightly rest until dawn arises.
ahBoey blogged
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8/06/2007 02:32:00 PM
