Chapter eight:THE RESPITE

Board meeting at CROMA GROUP OF INDUSTRIES

Board members assemble in the conference hall

Discussion

"Mr chairman, the INTELLEKT GROUP has been vocal and has gone on board with the claims to takeover our company"

"not to blame the rivals, our own company has been stagnant in its achievements of late"

"If things continue this way.."

The speaker stops and looks at her

Hee jin enters: "This way....what happens that way? Everyone here, just listen to me the company is in safe hands, as CEO I reassure you that"

one of the board members try to interrupt her

Hee jin: "I am not done yet, a fresh group has been reconstituted with experts in the field of gaming, none can stop us from being Number 1 in this field, we were and we shall always be one"

Board members "it would be better for all of us if Mr.chairman can speak on this issue"

Sun woo: "I do not feel the need for anyone here to be anxious about any rivals' claim. We are upgrading our game version soon"

Board members do not feel sure but leave with a sense of apprehension

Meeting concludes

members walk away.

Sun Ri walks toward her home

She reaches her home

Sits on the couch, and words of Joo won kept ringing in her mind

"Ms.Sun Ri these are the issues with the present version of the game and the hurdles for upgradation, please go through it and I need the solutions as early as possible"

"Ms.Sun Ri discuss the things with Mr.Alex soon, Keep me posted through the mail, and I will call you.,mean I will call Mr.Alex about the update tomorrow"

Sun Ri thinks about the work to be done

Sun Ri freshes up and get to work

She goes through the file given by Joo won

Meanwhile, Joo won in his room, thinking about Sun Ri

Feels a strong urge to call her,thinks hard to find a reason to justify his urge

"I am concerned about the progress of the work, so I should call now yeah"

Calls Sun Ri

Joo won: "Actually, I was not able to contact Mr.Alex's phone, so-called you up to ask about the progress. Have you guys discussed it?"

Sun Ri: "Yes Mr.Joo won, I have, I mean we have gone through the file. The issue with the bugs has hampered the progress of the up-gradation of your current version. Some features have become obsolete too. I think there is a need to remove those and add on features relevant shall be added"

Joo won is impressed

"Ok, so you have grasped the crux of the issue. I hope you will not take much time in resolving it"

Sun Ri: "yes sir"

Joo won:" I will call you tomorrow.."

Sun Ri interrupts: "Sir due to a personal appointment tomorrow I shall not be able to take the calls, I will contact you in the evening"

Joo won remembers Kim's words

"I have a personal appointment tomorrow, please allow me to be absent for half a day"

Joo won remembers the Sun Ri and Kim having a conversation at the store

Joo won: "Ok"

Sun Ri" good night sir"

Joo won hung up the phone

Sun Ri looks at the phone,

thinks

he doesn't even wish! anyway keeps the phone aside

it's ok ,let's get back to work

Joo won feels curious but just tells himself

"Joo won what is wrong with you, why are you curious about your employee's lives

unlike you

very unlike you

unprofessional of you

Very unprofessional of you"

He reprimands himself and then goes to sleep

Sun Ri calls Shin Min

(Shin Min has admitted her brother to the hospital. She is in the hospital right now)

Sun Ri: "How is everything going?"

Shin Min: "Doctor has conducted tests, says everything is ok for tomorrow's surgery"

Sun Ri: "That is good, Had your dinner?"

Shin Min: "Not yet"

Sun Ri: "Do not worry much, everything will be alright, have your dinner, boost the little boy's spirit. I will join you tomorrow morning"

Shin Min:"Ok,good night"

Sun Ri arrives at the hospital the next morning

Kim and Shin Min stand outside the patient's room

Shin Min's parents keep crying

Sun Ri goes to them: "Do not worry, the doctor has assured us that everything will be fine"

Kim also assures them

Sun Ri: "Shin Min can I meet him before surgery"

Shin Min: "yeah"

Little 12-year-old Bon Hwa looks tense lying on the bed

Sun Ri enters the room

"Hi champ"

He wakes up, "Oh sun Ri"

Sun Ri: "Yeah it is your friend Sun Ri here"

Bon Hwa: "I am glad that you are here, I am nervous doctors have done some tests, and they say they will do some surgery"

Sun Ri in a comforting and cheerful tone says: "Do not worry, nothing will happen, surgery is just to make you more healthy, then you can go out play sports you want, we can play video games all day"

Does Bon Hwa look excite: "All day"?

Sun Ri: "Yeah but only if you promise you will not get nervous, you will be brave and become healthy soon and there is a special gift for you"

Bon Hwa: "Special gift?"

Sun Ri: "If you get well I will make a game character named bon fighter"

Bon Hwa is excited: "Really"

Sun Ri smiles: "Yes"

Bon Hwa: "Ok I will"

He smiles

Sun Ri smiles, kisses his forehead, and leaves

The nurse arrives and takes the boy to the operating room

Everyone waits outside the operating room

Surgery begins

Kim holds Shin Min's hands (who has been trembling)

Kim: "Nothing to worry"

Alex, Jong-soo calls sun Ri

Sun Ri over the phone: "The surgery has just begun"

Alex: "I pray that the little kid recovers soon, call me once the surgery is done"

Sun Ri: "Ok"

Hangs up the phone

Jong soo and Alex pray

"Dear God please save the child"

The operation ends and the doctor steps out of the theatre

Shin Min: "Doctor,!?"

Doctor: "Do not worry, the surgery went well, he is fine now"

Her parents cry out of joy

Kim smiles

Sun Ri sighs in relief

Shin Min curiously asks: "Can we see him now"

Doctor: "he is not conscious now, he will be by evening, you can meet him then"

The words of the doctor come as a great relief for the family that has been under severe stress owing to the child's disease

Sun Ri, Kim, and Shin Min go to the cafeteria in the hospital

Shin Min: "Kim, I think you need to go now"

Kim: "Do not worry, he granted me permission till afternoon"

Kim: "Ms. Sun Ri, how is the work coming along"

Sun Ri: "Yeah it has been going well. I am ok till it is online but the thought of meeting CEO weekend gives me stress"

Shin Min: "Yeah managing Mr.Alex on one side, Mr.CEO on another side, quite a task"

Kim: "Do not worry, we all can do this as long as we work together"

All three smile

After a few hours, Kim and Sun Ri leave

Kim: "Ms. Sun Ri, if you do not mind, I can drop you"

Sun Ri:"ok"

Both board the car

Kim: "Everything went well, thanks to you "

Sun Ri: "no, there is no need to thank me, I just fulfilled my responsibility"

Kim smiles: " However what lies ahead is a big task"

Sun Ri smile realizing the magnitude of the task ahead

At the traffic signal

Joo won's car passes by and he sees them smiling,looks for a while till the signal turns green

He then looks straight thinks

"what would be that "personal" thing that kept Kim and Sun ri engaged?"

Meanwhile Kim:" He might not appear to be one but Mr. Joo won is considerate most of the times"

Sun Ri: "you are full of praises for your boss"

Kim: "once you gain his trust through efficiency, there is no going back"

sun Ri: "really? "

Kim anxiously: "however, one thing bothers me"

Sun Ri: "what is that"?

Kim: "he can turn as dangerous as one can imagine, once his trust is broken. For the first time since I have been working for him, I have been dishonest, about this project, hiding your identity"

Sun Ri: "sorry, you have to go through this because of me"

Kim:"no"

Sun Ri: "I will try my level best not to let you in a position where you have to face his wrath"

Kim: "let us hope for the best"

Kim drops sun ri at the store

on seeing Sun Ri

Alex, jong soo rushes toward her

Alex: "Is he ok now"

Sun Ri: "yeah, he is fine"

Alex, jong soo -sigh of relief

Alex: "it was sad that the little creature has to go through so much pain at such a young age"

Jong soo: "ah, he has recovered now, that's what matters, isn't it? "

Alex: "Yeah, thank god for answering our prayers and blessing the child"

Jong soo: "madam, can we see him"

Sun Ri: "he has not gained consciousness yet, I think we should plan a visit tomorrow "

Alex, jong soo nods

Alex's phone rings

Alex stumbles...

Jong soo: "what is wrong with you"

Alex: "it's Mr. CEO"

Sun Ri: "Calm down, answer the phone, and put it on speaker"

Alex breathes deeply

Alex: "Hello Sir, Good morning"

Joo won: "Mr. Alex, I have gone through the inputs you have send me last night "

Alex(clueless)

Sun ri writes on a piece of paper

yes sir, did you like the inputs

Alex: "yes sir, did you the inputs"

Joo won: "yeah I liked your ideas preliminarily but am afraid Mr. Alex, will it run on the current version of the game"

Sun Ri writes sir I will give you a demonstration when we meet in person on a piece of paper

Alex reads it: sir, I will give you a demonstration, when we meet"

Joo won interrupts and says: "ok Mr. Alex, I have sent a list of things which concern me regarding your inputs through the mail, have a look at it and get the work done soon "

Alex: "ok sir, have a good day"

Joo won hung up

Jong soo: "you should thank god again that CEO called when madam was around"

Alex: "yeah"

Jong soo: "what would have happened if she was not around "

Alex and Sun Ri look at each other

Sun Ri: "Do not worry, just do not pick up the call when I am not around, he will then call your assistant"

Alex: "assistant??? oh yeah he will call you"

Alex smiles

Alex:" Oh I have to get back to work, I am planning to send meals to shin Min's family at the hospital "

Sun Ri Smiles:" I appreciate that gesture"

Jong soo Alex get back to work

Alex smiles

jong soo: "what's with that smile? "

Alex: "I think I was born to be an actor. I look, act better than many drama artists"

Jong soo coughs

Alex: "what's with that cough?? "

stares at him with anger

Jong soo: "it's good to have some false notions about oneself but not too much"

Alex: "false notions?? do you know I was a theatre artist and people use to come from far away places to watch me perform"

jong soo closes his ears with his hand

Alex pats his back

jong soo: "that hurts "

Alex:" you invite beating, I am helpless"

jong soo rubbing his back: "oh"

Alex: "stop blabbering and get back to work"

jong soo: "who was the one who was"

Alex: "shut up or get ready for another round of beating"

jong soo: "ok, ok"

Alex gets immersed in preparing food

Jong soo finishes his tasks as well

Alex packs all the food and hands it over to Jong-soo

Jong soo leaves for the hospital

Shin Min and her parents wait in the lounge

Her parents: "By god's grace everything went well, hope our boy regains consciousness soon"

Shin Min: "Do not worry. The doctor said he is alright and he will soon be able to go to school, play ,and get back to his routine"

Her Dad: "I hope the day comes soon by god's grace"

Her Mom: "today whatever good has happened is because of god's grace and also our guardian angel ,your boss Sun RI"

Shin Min nods

Jong soo enters the lounge

"The guardian angel has sent food for you all now"

Shin Min: "Ah jong soo, this was not necessary"

Jong soo: "Why you people were planning to starve because of happiness or fall sick due to starving to improve the business of this hospital"

Shin Min Laughs

Her parents: "You guys have helped us a lot during these testing times when even our so-called relatives, and friends have turned their back"

Jong soo: "Ah, do not be emotional, everything ended well, you should be happy about it"

Her Mom: "Dear God, Sun RI has saved my child as a guardian angel, protect her, bless her with all happiness"