Chapter 47 – A much pending reconciliation

Enlai looked at Dr. Wu with tears in his eyes and said, "I misunderstood her friendship and built castles in the sand that were washed away by the waves of time."

Dr. Wu Boqin walked up to Enlai placed his hand on his shoulder and replied, "You guys were not at all compatible."

"The fact, that we were two parallel lines, that looked like going in the same direction, and yet could never intersect each other, was understood by me, many years down the lane. I had been completely shattered then, after the breakup of the engagement."

Dr. Wu Boqin shook his head and replied, "My judgment, and understanding of the engagement only drew one conclusion. The engagement was purely a business deal and a one-sided love affair. The wedding would have merged the Wang Businesses with the Li Empire, creating a business empire, that would match none, which succeeded, despite the break-up of the engagement. On the merger front, the proceedings had been in process months before the wedding. The business circle was abuzz, with the gossip; however, the families had not officially released the wedding details, as they did not want untoward attention at the time of the merger, and wanted the whole celebration to be a low-key family affair. Am I right?"

"It's true, that there was a business element involved when it came to the families. However, there is no denying the fact, that I had sincere feelings for her. Wang Jiang ran the Wang Enterprise, along with his best friend Chang Ai, and Ai's brother, Chang Bohai. They were vital business partners of the Li Empire, and the merger would catapult us to the top. The reason I was well acquainted with Diu, and Roulan since childhood, was basically because of the business relationship, that we shared, and the family gatherings, that involved business partners of my dad. I always loved being around the Wang, and Chang families, since childhood."

"You loved being around these families because you desired the joy, that was so missing in yours, and was in plenty in theirs."

Li Enlai nodded and replied, "That's true to some extent. My family system was very organized, and disciplined, like a military organization. An interpersonal relationship was lacking. Everything revolved around respect, and pre-set norms. It was like my second school. The Wang, and the Chang families, enjoyed the simple joys of life. Whenever I walked into their families, it looked like home. They were close-knit with each other and stood like a rock by each other. Their children could share their feelings, and voice their opinions freely. I felt at ease with them."

Dr. Wu Boqin tilted his head to Enlai and replied, "So your attraction to Roulan, had more to do with, what you lacked in your routine life than with her."

"At home, dad was quite busy throughout, and my mom had no say when it came to decision making, though she lacked nothing in life. We could share our feelings with her, but our opinions never mattered. In fact, till the time, I had not taken an active interest in the business, I rarely shared mutual conversations with my dad. It was not that he did not care for us, or was not aware of what was going on in our lives, but had no time for us. Though he was well-briefed about our day-to-day activities, and progress in life, and school we never spent time playing with each other or having a fun time with each other. I had always desired to change that system and loved Roulan deeply as she was bright, cheerful, and compassionate. Though she was an extrovert who was bold and stood for her beliefs strongly, she also knew exactly where to speak, and when to be still."

"After all these years, I have always felt that her decision was very correct. No one better matched your temperament and family, other than Diu who was calm and patient. Your marriage to Diu is a blessing in disguise. There is a saying in the Bible, that everything happens for the best of those who believe. It would have been a disaster if the extrovert, bold, and outspoken Roulan would have entered your family, as she would never have been able to remain calm unless she uprooted the archaic system, that prevailed in your family."

"I realized later, that she always despised my competitive nature. Probably, my competitive attitude in school combined, with my serious disposition repelled her. I was, however, always silently in awe of her cheerful, loving, and helpful nature. I thought she could complete what I lacked. Even when she under the influence of Abigail, embraced Christianity, my love for her had not changed. As the events unfolded, I began to find fault in the influence that Abigail had over her life and thought that she was the reason for our separation. Years down the lane, I realized, that I had lost three beautiful friendships as an outcome of that broken relationship."

"My understanding of what happened, that year, has much to do about the prevailing systems in our society. Though dynasties, are taken over by socialism, and communism has taken over the state of China, nothing had changed much for the business empires. The ruthless business tycoons who replaced the kings, go to any stretch to fulfill their ambitions and desires. Like in the past, when the princess of states, fought over each other to become the next emperor, the present-day business houses have indulged themselves in ruthless feuds, to spread their empires, like the tentacles of an octopus spreading itself to catch and devour its prey. The octopus, however, pounces for food, unlike its human counterpart who devour for greed and power. Marriages became a part of business ventures and mergers."

"That's true uncle. I only felt bad about the fact that Roulan did not vent out her heart to me."

"Was there any time for her to do that? Could she have done that at a time when you were going abroad for studies?"

"I have till date not understood how she misunderstood my advances and statements."

"I have seen Roulan through her growing ages. She was compassionate in her outlook and devoid of greed. She had thus drifted far away from the ruthless world, of the business empires, that existed in China. She abhorred envy and greed to the core and wanted to carve a life devoid of these for her. Amidst her struggle to overcome the need to stay away from the greed, that like quicksand had sunk the mighty of the society, to descend to levels from where there was no return. Moreover, she very well knew, that Diu had deep feelings for you, and was already in a dilemma of losing a friend she cherished for life. You cannot force someone to love you, especially if your paths lead to two different routes altogether. Roulan had found love in Xiao Zhen, one of her classmates at Princeton University who shared the same level of compassion and integrity. It is true, that spouses complement each other, and in that manner, both you, and Roulan never did that because both of you were bold, extrovert, and outspoken."

Li Enlai stood up, looked at sky azure blue sky, and said, "It took me years to understand, and accept what you said just now because I was too egoistic then, and was not willing to let go. The needs of the heads of families had gotten fulfilled quite satisfactorily. In fact, in a better way than what they had desired as Mr. Wang Jiang decided to go ahead with the merger. He forfeited his share of holding in the Wang Enterprise, by selling the fifty-two percent holding to me, and chose to retire to the peaceful abode of his long purchased and cherished mansion in the Kunming Yunnan Province. The remaining stake of twenty-five percent, and twenty-three percent held by Chang Ai, and his brother Chang Bohai respectively, were converted into the holdings of the newly merged company. Thus, they ensured, that the business merger went smoothly. They all got, what they wanted and desired, and I was the scapegoat in the whole dealing. Diu's parents were more than happy, to replace her in the place of Roulan, as they very well knew, that their daughter cherished and loved me."

Dr. Wu Boqin stood up, walked up and stood next to Enlai, and said, "My dear boy, have you ever thought of the sacrifices, that a father made, for the choice that his daughter made. His years of hard work were sacrificed, on the altar of his daughter's joy and well-being. For years he had cherished their family to return to their Wang mansion, but his sincerity towards the Chang family, and their daughter Diu, prevented him from doing so. He under no circumstance, wanted Diu to suffer, and not be loved by you."

"That is true to some extent. The early years after my marriage to Diu, were devoid of emotions, and empty. In the first year of my marriage, I found it difficult to accept her. I always thought, that the feelings that she had harbored for me since high school could have led Roulan to reject me. Other than fulfilling my marital responsibilities towards her, I always distanced myself emotionally from her and spent most of the time in the office. The regret, that I had in life had by then become a volcano whose destructive lava was channelized positively and diverted toward my quest for reaching a peak in business. It was not until we had lost our first child and nearly lost her in a tragic accident when she went into labor, that I began introspecting my behavior towards her."

"How did you lose your first child?"

"On the day she went into labor, a trailer crashed into our exit gate, and blocked the exit from our home. By the time, we arranged for a vehicle by creating an opening in the compound wall, we lost our first child, and nearly lost her to excessive bleeding. On that day, as I stood in the hospital consoling her, I for the first time felt emotional toward her and regretted ignoring her in the past."

"After years of introspection and correction, just when I thought, that joy had returned to my family, Bao and Ann went through this disaster."

Dr. Wu Boqin patted Enlai and said, "I can understand your pain and loss, as these grey hairs have experienced as many losses as you have experienced. I have but, always handed over my burdens to the Lord and wept only before his presence. No human condolences can comfort you like the comfort you receive from Jesus. Let me pray for you if you don't mind."

Li Enlai closed his eyes as tears swelled in them, and ran down his wrinkled cheeks like sparkling diamonds created by the ripples of time, and replied, "I desperately need your prayers. On the outside, I have been showing myself to be bold enough to face all these storms, but inside I have been desperate for help."

They walked back to the lounge, sat down, Dr. Wu Boqin held his hand, and in tears, they prayed for peace and joy to return to the Li household.

As they were praying, Diu walked in with Henry, Julian, and Liqin. Her eyes became moist watching them pray in tears and together she whispered "Amen," as the prayer ended. Liqin was taken aback by the reality, that Li Enlai could also shed tears in prayer, and thought to himself, "People are usually not what we perceive them to be. You need to be a pillar of support for them to open up."

They spent the rest of the morning, in knowing each other better and recalling memories. Liqin had become very close to Dr. Henry Wu, and they realized, that they had a lot of things in common. Julian on the other hand shared a lovely morning with Diu, as they were both calm and composed by nature.

As the Li family prepared to leave, Liqin said, "It has been a joy knowing all of you, though the circumstances have not been joyful. We will surely keep in touch."

Dr. Henry replied, "Sure, we will do that."

As Liqin, Henry, Diu, and Julian walked towards the car to leave, Li Enlai stayed back with Dr. Wu Boqin, and said, "Uncle till I get everything sorted out, please do not inform Roulan about the fact, that my son was involved in the accident. I do not want paparazzi going about rounds disturbing our lives."

"Do not worry my lips will be sealed, till you do not wish to disclose."

"When do you plan to come back?"

"That may not happen very soon."

As the car drove out of the Wu residence, Liqin called Jia and asked her to come to the restaurant for lunch.

Li Enlai held the hands of Diu, and said, "If I have in the past, ever hurt your feelings do forgive me."

Diu placed her other hand on his and replied, "You have never wronged me, neither in the past nor in the present."

As the car wound through the road, Li Enlai thought to himself, "It is a relief to be set free from the pain and bindings of hurt, rejection, and revenge. I was foolish: not to forgive her all these years."

The rest of the afternoon was spent with the family at lunch and as they decided to leave for the hospital, Li Enlai said to Liqin, "You guys better go and meet the Huang family either today or tomorrow. Also, find some quality time for yourself."

Liqin hugged Li Enlai, and said, "I am so blessed to have you uncle."

Li Enlai held him by his shoulder, and said, "I have always told myself, that I have two sons."

As they returned to the hospital, Li Enlai said, "I have decided to reconcile with Roulan and her family once this mess is cleared. Hope you can stand by me."

Diu replied with moist eyes, "I am so glad to hear that. We can all be together, like before then."

Li Enlai replied, "I already know, that you have been in touch with her all these years, and, that she has been Bao's mentor as well."

Diu replied, "You knew it?"

Li Enlai replied, "Yes, I also know, that she was instrumental in your healing post the death of our firstborn. I had not held any grudge for years now; however, I did not want you to have any misunderstanding of my stand, in relations; hence, I decided to keep away."

"How did you know about it?"

"I have a very strong security team. The only time when I let them give Bao some freedom was when he had been to Zermatt as he wanted some privacy, though not fully. I won't take any chances in the future."

"What does 'though not fully' mean?"

"I had private investigators check on any danger to his well-being without keeping track of his privacy. That's how we received the alert on him being trailed."

Stunned, Diu asked, "Do those people have access to our privacy as well?"

"They do not store any private information, other than that, which might lead to any harm. Do not worry about your privacy being intruded upon. They control any information on the web, that might intrude into your privacy."

"I always thought, that you did not like me communicating with Roulan."

"The reason, I neither communicated with her nor reconciled with her, was because I thought, that you would feel insecure. Now, that we are past those stages of life, and our children have also grown up, we need not think about all those feelings. There is one request though."

"What is it?"

"Kindly do not call them now. Let us call, once this storm is stilled."

"Okay, I'll call her once we are through with all of these."

The next few days went without many happenings, and the family spent a quiet new year without any celebrations but with a hope, that the new year will ring in new hopes.