17 The Guardian(2)

Shi Ai leaned back in her chair once the lawyer was gone.Auntie Wu had done her best to make her safe and happy.She took the envelope with her guardian's information and Auntie Wu's letter and put it inside the small box under her bed.She had no intention of calling a stranger to take responsibility of her. The money left by Auntie Wu would go to solve many problems and she had already planned to look for a part time job. Anyways, Lawyer Jiang said that he had already contacted the new guardian so if and when he came she would speak to him about arranging a hostel for her.

Shi Ai got to work preparing a small dinner for herself.After the rice and stew were ready she put some for herself and sat in front of the television to eat.She always heard the television when eating,that way she did not feel alone.Heard and not watched because the screen had turned blank some time back and she did not have any money to have it repaired or replaced.She figured that she would let it run as long as she could and then sell it at a junkyard.

As she ate, her mind kept wandering to the guardian Mrs Wu must have chosen.Could it be Sister Alicia and Brother Ryu?She did not want them to be.When she had come back from their wedding,she had been so happy that her head had been up on cloud nine.She seemed to have forgotten that though Sister Alicia was an orphan as well,she had lost her mother to illness while Shi Ai herself had been abandoned.There really was a huge difference and someone had made her realize that when she had dreamt too much. The shattered dreams had hurt her and once she had come to country A for treatment, she had made Auntie Wu promise to not look for them. In her childishness she had believed that seeing them would only hurt her. She now regretted that greatly. If only she had kept in touch then she wouldn't be so alone today. Sister Alicia would always find ways to make her happy and smile. Sigh! It was water under the bridge now. But a tiny part of her hoped that the new guardian was them and another huddered at the thought!

Shi Ai finished her dinner amidst these morose thoughts and after cleaning the dishes made her way to study at the small dining table. As soon as she opened her books, the sound of a bell rung through the house. It was almost 8 pm and she wondered who would come calling so late.

Checking to see that she still had the spray and knife in her pocket, she slowly went towards the door. Opening it slowly she felt her mind go blank staring at the person in shock.Never in a billion years had she imagined the person in front of her to appear like this out of the blue!

Stuttering she asked, "Doctor... Doctor Zhang.."

The doctor smiled kindly at Shi Ai and asked,"How are you doing Ms Shi Ai?Are you not going to invite your old doctor in?"

Shi Ai nodded immediately as if she had a spring in her neck and moved aside to let the doctor in and answered the doctor,"I am doing fine Sir."

The doctor looked at her with a professional eye and asked,"And you are taking good care of your heart?"

"Y..yes."

Dr Zhang nodded and then took a seat on the small sofa as he looked around. Actually,Shi Ai respected Dr Zhang a lot. He had been her attending doctor for almost two years. After her treatment he had not even passed on her case to a junior and had strictly monitored her routine. Shi Ai just did not expect to see him here so suddenly. As she passed the cup of water to Dr Zhang,he made the shocking announcement."Child, you must be wondering the reason for my sudden visit. But I was only informed of Mrs. Wu's death today and so I reached here as soon as possible. Shi Ai, child I am your new guardian."

Shi Ai almost dropped the cup of water and sat on the sofa with a thump.