"Miss Saue... wake up! The sun is over the head already." Aunt Lily's voice awakened her, Nui opened her eyes with some efforts, she definitely needed another hour of sleep. Nui checked her alarm clock there was still half an hour left for the alarm to go.
Nui gave an angry glare to Aunt Lily, she always fell for her trick. "Come on now, since you are already up, better wash yourself fast. It's your birthday, Mrs.Tan will be waiting for you at the breakfast table, have you forgotten already? And Happy Birthday."
Aunt Lily had been the house keeper at the Tan Manor for several years now, and ever since Nui had started living with Mrs.Tan, Aunt Lily has been responsible for taking care of her. Although she was a house keeper, Nui respected and loved her a lot and also confided in her.
Mrs.Tan, Nui's grandmother(mother's mother) was a very strong,conservative woman in her late fifties, she believed in discipline and ancient values. They were an extremely respected and wealthy family and Nui's grandfather was a big name in the shipping business, after retiring from the army back in his days, however, Mrs.Tan always lived a simple and disciplined life in her Manor House in the outskirts of the Port City. After losing her daughter and son in law in a car accident, she took in her granddaughter Nui.
It was eight in the morning, Mrs.Tan, a frail woman with sharp strong eyes and a beak like nose, was sitting at the head of a long table in a dining room decorated with traditional furnitures.
"Madam, Lawyer Wun is here."
In no time a middle aged gentleman was ushered by a housekeeper. He held a large thick sealed envelope in his hand.He bowed to Mrs.Tan while she greeted him with a nod and a bright smile, "Lawyer Wun, thank you for keeping my request."
"Madam, its an honour to serve you." the lawyer said with genuine sincerity. "Please take your seat," Mrs Tan indicated and the man complied immediately.
A few moments later, Nui walked down the stairs. She looked exquisite in a white floral print long dress, her hair neatly braided with a rose put to decorate it. Nui's ivory complexion was enhanced by her dressing. Lawyer Wun couldn't help but be amazed at this beautiful girl who has turned into a heavenly beauty. He kept looking at her with fond eyes, he remembered how she used to look like a doll, hiding behind house keeper Lily, a few years back, when he had first came to this house for the initiation of a legal contract, all that seems to be just a few days back. How time flies! now she has grown into a woman blessed by the heavens with her beauty.
"Good Morning Grandma," Nui offered a deep bow to Mrs.Tan.
"Good morning sunshine, I wish you a very Happy Birthday." there was hint of fondness in her otherwise stern eyes, looking at her beautiful grand daughter she couldn't help but smile.
"Thank you Grandma" Nui replied deeply touched by how her grandma remembered her birthday and made her feel special every year.
"Now, Nui let me introduce to you, Lawyer Wun."
Nui greeted him with courtesy, as he stood up to greet her, "Miss Saue."
Nui was surprised to find a lawyer at the breakfast table that too on her birthday of all days. Although she was accustomed to seeing many lawyers and other important people visiting her grandmother frequently, but she met them all at the study cum office, and it was a rule that her grandmother never allowed any visitors inside the house. Especially on her birthday she never did any official works. So this was quite an unusual happening.
"Nui have a seat" her grandma instructed. "Let's have breakfast first."
The customary birthday breakfast was laid on the table, all her favourite delicacies were there,Nui was heartily enjoying it, while her grandmother watched her fondly with soft moist eyes, as if she was keeping all of Nui's smiles photographed in her heart.
After breakfast, Nui planned to meet her friends so she casually said, "Grandma, Lawyer Wun, if you would excuse me, I plan to head out now, I have to meet my friends Nana and Fow today we have planned to go to the beach for a picnic lunch." This was the only day when Nui was allowed to enjoy outside with her friends, she only had two friends ever since her childhood and both lived nearby.
She was about to get up and leave when she heard her grandma say, "Nui, we aren't finished here yet.There is something we need to discuss today for which I have called Lawyer Wun."
Nui was surprised, she was never asked to stay in such discussions earlier but of all days she was asked to stay back today. Nui knew that when grandma said something it was an order which needed to be obeyed.
"Lawyer Wun if you would please read out the legal arrangements made by Mr. Tan about Nui."
"What legal arrangement about me? Why are you suddenly bringing up grandpa?" Nui was surprised, her grandfather Mr.Tan had passed away when she was 10, she didn't understand what arrangements had he made about her without her knowledge.
"Nui, when your grandpa was in the army, he went to fight a war in the northern frontiers, during an ambush your grandfather was fatally injured. At that time his loyal comrade Lieutenant Cinri risked his life and saved him inspite of all odds. Your grandfather had promised to repay his debt. As our traditions say we must repay the debt of a saviour when he asks for it. However, after the war both retired from the army and parted ways. Several years later they met during a business conference. There he came to know that Mr.Cinri was in reality from a wealthy family at the Zavik Megapolis and he had enrolled in the army for the time of war. When the old comrades met, my husband invited him to our place. When Mr.Cinri came he saw you playing at our garden, you were four back then. I remember, when he entered our Manor House that spring morning, the first thing he asked about was your identity. Then all of a sudden, he asked your grandfather if he remembered about paying off the debt. Of course, we couldn't deny that, then he said that he wanted you as the bride for his third son. Your grandfather gave his words...When you will turn 18 you will automatically become the bride of the third master of the Cinri Corporations. As I have always told you, you must accept whatever gift I offer to you on your 18th birthday.Here it is." There were tears of nostalgia in the strong eyes of the old woman. She was so lost in her own past remembrance that she didn't notice the pale face of her granddaughter, Nui sat there frozen, as if she was living in a nightmare.
After a long silence, Nui spoke in a feeble voice, "Noooooo.... this isn't real" She pinched herself so hard that her hand turned blue.
"Miss Saue," fathoming what was happening Lawyer Wun intereceded, "legal arrangements had been made by your grandfather and Mr.Cinri when you were 5, and the clauses of the contract are such that if you back out from this now, or if you die a prematured death, then all the movable and immovable property of Madam Tan will be transferred to the Cinri Corporations. Madam Tan will be bankrupted completely."
"What?" This was completely unexpected, this was the last thing Nui could imagine, how could her grandpa agree to such harsh conditions. Of course, she couldn't let this happen, she was willing to give up her life for her grandma, but this marriage was worse than death for her. Grandma, called it a gift but it was more of a banishment for Nui.
Nui tried to fight back her tears but in vain. Floodgate of tears opened as Nui ran out of the room. She wanted to die, but living was the only choice she had. She cried her heart out sitting in her rose garden, then after a long time she came back.
Lawyer Wun was sitting patiently at the same place, but grandma wasn't there, " Miss Saue, I know this is sudden for you, but Mr.Cinri wants the procedure to be completed in a week, then you have to move to Zavik Megapolis and live with your husband."
A chill went down her spine, but she remained silent, while Lawyer Wun briefed her with the legal details, Nui wasn't listening to anything. One eternity later she was asked to put her signature below a paper which was like a contract and she was Party B, pen seemed to be the heaviest thing for her to move at that point of time, while signing she found that party A had already put the signature, the name was Xian Cinri.