Chapter 4: Getting a New Friend!
The house was adequately equipped with essentials. There were some dry ingredients in the kitchen and she could see some vegetables planted in the backyard. But she had never lived alone, and that, too, in the middle of nowhere. She could see that there were very few houses nearby, and that, too, at some distance. For two days, she could not bring herself out even in the courtyard. She spent the entire night awake on the bed, feeling as if someone was walking all around the house. The stress and anxiety took a toll on her and by the third night, she was down with high fever. She could not even get herself up for a drink of water, no matter how thirsty she felt. Tears flowed endlessly as she felt hopelessly helpless.
"Why on earth did he agree to get married in the first place? If he didn't want to live with me, he could have let me live there. At least Amah would still be with me. I miss you so much Amah!" she was miserable and delirious, and found herself in and out of consciousness.
"What do we have here?" a silvery voice woke her up.
Xiu was too exhausted to get up. She opened her eyes and saw a young girl, with a bag on her back, before fainting once again.
She woke up when someone patted gently on her face.
"Wake up sweety! Here! Drink this porridge so I can give you some medicine for your fever."
She was barely able to drink it. The girl carefully fed her some medicine and she fell asleep again as soon as her head touched the pillow.
The next she woke up, it was early morning. She felt better and got out of the bed. She remembered seeing a girl, and someone feeding her porridge and medicine. She at once went out to see if the girl was still there. As soon as she got out of the room, a delicious aroma led her to the kitchen.
"Hey! You woke up!"
"Thank goodness! The girl is still here," she thought happily.
"Who are you?"
They both asked simultaneously.
Xiu smiled awkwardly, while the girl laughed and then said, "The breakfast is almost ready. Freshen up first. Let's get the introductions done with breakfast."
Xiu obediently followed her instructions.
"Hurry up! It'll get cold."
Xiu dragged a chair and sat opposite to her.
"It's delicious!" Xiu told her as soon as she took the first bite.
"I'm so glad you liked it. I am Chen. Who are you and what are you doing in our house?"
"Your house?" Xiu was lost for words.
"Yup! Our house. Although we use it mostly during winters, but all family members have a key. Whenever it is getting late, as we can't walk to our village at night, we stop and spend the night here. So this is our house. Now tell me, who brought you here? Or did you break in your self. Although you don't like some one who'd break in!" Chen scrutinised Xiu carefully.
"No, No! I did not break in! I did not know it was your house. My husband left me here!" Xiu explained frantically.
"Husband? Only my father and two brothers have the key. My father doesn't need a wife as my mother is going to slaughter him the next moment she finds about his other woman, and my brothers are not married, not even engaged yet," Chen said matter-of-fact-ly.
"I don't know, I don't know! I know nothing about my husband!" Xiu sobbed tearfully
"What? You don't know anything about your husband? Are you sure you live in the 21st century and you have not transmigrated here from the Hans era?"
Xiu continued to sob silently.
Chen looked at her for a few moments and as there didn't seem an end to all that sobbing and tears, she decided to tackle the problem differently.
"Ok! Let's get to know each other first. What's your name?"
"Wen Xiu"
"Good! So where did you live before coming to this house?"
"In L city"
"Why did you come here?"
Xiu pondered if she should tell Chen the truth or should make up some story.
"Hey Xiu! No cheating. I can only help if you'll tell me the truth. I don't like lies."
"I don't like them either," Xiu said quietly, and then started telling Cheng her story.
"Wow! Your story's amazing. Just like a novel, or a drama. Why were you living with your uncle's family? Where are your parents?"
Xiu hesitated and decided not to tell her more about her parents.
"They died when I was young."
"So basically you're a runaway bride and are now hiding from your uncle's family?"
"You can say that"
"And where is that great saviour husband of yours now?"
"I have no idea!"
"What is his name? He must be someone from this area if he has the key of this house"
"His name is Ming"
"Ming? Just Ming?"
"This is what he told me"
"Xiu! Either you're a simpleton, or you've transmigrated recently and are not telling me about it!"
"It's not that!" Xiu was perplexed.
"Just kidding Xiu! Don't get hyper. But just so that you know, we have an entire clan of 'Ming' here in this area. Actually my name is Ming Cheng."
"What will happen now Cheng? May be he did not tell me his complete name so that I won't be able to find him. He never wanted to marry me, so he abandoned me…WAaaaaa" and the sobbing started once again. This time it was more intense.
At first Cheng was lost for words, then she came forward and hugged her.
"There, there. Don't worry. It would be just fine."
"Cheng, you have no idea. What would I do? I have no home, no family, no one at all. Where would I go? I can't go back!"Xiu wailed loudly.
Cheng kept on rubbing her back, and comforted her through kind words.
"Silly! Home is where the heart is! And you have me! Friends are as important as your family. Come with me. I'll take you to my family in my village. I am sure you're going to like my family. They are very loving and kind."
"But Ming told me to stay here…"
"And Ming is a SCUMBAG! Do you know that?" Cheng interrupted her angrily.
"Your brain would have fried because of fever if I had not come on time. How can someone leave his wife alone, in a strange new place? To hell with him…Just leave him and come with me. I am going to take care of you really well. Don't think about it, follow your heart, not brain for once, lady! So, What's your decision? Would you come or not?"
Xiu thought about it for a moment, and for the first time in her life, she followed her heart! She took a decision all by her self and all FOR herself. She was going to go with Cheng!
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