The Excerpt #4 for Discussion: from Chapter 4: 'The Fragrance called Li Ling'

"I decided to reach out to all friends, readers and guests and seed some thoughts on 'An Other Tale of Two Cities'. This is the excerpt #4 from the book" 

from

Chapter 4 : The Fragrance called Li Ling

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.....Li came back to take them out for Dinner, in the evening. Kool was suddenly uncomfortable. Should he ask her now or not yet? He ventured at last, ‘What did you say is your name, come again. I must apologize, I am poor with names’, Kool asked. ‘Especially with girl’s names’! interrupted Joy merrily, remembering that he had taken nearly a week to be able to recall her name without being prompted. ‘Li Ling’, answered Li, extending her hand as if by habit, as she introduced herself the second time. Kool accepted her hand and her second introduction. ‘Li Ling is the fragrance of jasmine, expressed in words’, she volunteered in explanation. When he asked her coarsely and casually with a heavy accent, ‘Oh, Li’ll’y means, ‘fragrance of jasmine’? she looked shocked at Kool as though he had outraged her name! She repeated rather sternly like a school teacher, ‘No; much more than just a meaning. Li Ling is the feel of jasmine. When you hear ‘Li Ling’, you would be able to smell jasmine’. Kool understood the importance of uttering ‘Li Ling’, as he closed his eyes in meditation and said hoarsely, ‘Li’ll’y’ and simultaneously taking a deep breathe and imagined fragrance of jasmine. ‘It is tough, but anything for you’, he conceded with a grin at which Joy giggled and Li frowned, ‘Its Li Ling, not Li’ll’y’. Li mimicked his heavily accented ‘Li’ll’y’ with a huge stress on the ‘ll’. She was amused, though claimed in protest, ‘Li’ll’y sounds like a strong odour when you broke and splashed out a bottle of jasmine perfume. It’s too strong’. ‘Li Ling’ she repeated as softly and as gently as a feather that floats down in the air. Kool, who wasn’t paying attention to the demonstration of her name, continued to hold her hands as he said, ‘Li’ll’y like my Li’ll’y teacher at school’, remembering his teacher, Ms. Lalitha, better known in his school as Li’ll’y teacher.....

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.....Joy saw that they were holding their hands for too long, quite comfortable with each other. Fuming within her, she hastily stuck her hands at Li’ll’y. ‘Jay, you Si’ll’y Li’ll’y’, she shrieked, forcibly grabbing her hands from Kool’s and shaking them impatiently. Contented that she had broken their 'hand-holding ceremony’ she laughed heartily at her own concocted rhyme and repeated ‘Si’ll’y Li’ll’y’. Kool read some thing else from Joy’s ‘grab Li’lly’s hand’ urgency. He, who had not been sure of Joy’s feelings for him, now didn’t have any more doubts. He had heard of ‘love at first sight’, but he was experiencing first hand, ‘Joy’s Love at first sign of rivalry’.

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Happy Reading :-) Merry interactions :-)

Ravi Krish

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