Earlier
Back from the museum, Raoul had his mind in a quandary. There were questions that were there which seemed to have no answer, at least not right now. He was pacing back and forth in his home office (he smirked at the term; it was a small room with hardly space for a small table and a chair which had been pushed against the wall so that he could pace in that 2 X 2 room), trying to absorb the parts of conversations he had over-heard. He was so engrossed in his thoughts that he did not notice the sound of soft foot-steps behind him. The hand touched him on the shoulder, startling him out of his thoughts. He smiled at his his wife of 10 years, Lyana, trying to look undisturbed.
Lyana smiled back, her smile reaching her eyes, her eyes crinkling and her mouth going up from one side forming a lop-sided smile. His heart did a flip, it was her smile which had attracted him to her. He had noticed her smile from across the room that night in the party. He had turned to face her now. Her hand slid from his face and was lying softly at his shoulder, still smiling, she asked, 'You seemed to be worried! Anything bothering you?' Raoul knew that telling Lyana of the conversation would help relieve the tension he was feeling but also felt that now was not an appropriate time. Lyana belonged to the Batek tribe and was very fierce in protecting the native culture. She was one of the founding members of 'Malaysian Cultural Group' although with the babies coming along she was more of a passive member.
Raoul assured her that it was just the small tiff he had in the office with Abdul. Abdul was being his obnoxious self and was making the new interns uncomfortable with his nonsensical demands on their time and energies. Lyana's smile spread thinking about the oh-so-often tiffs Abdul and Raoul had, but were still friends. She ruffled his hair and told him not to worry and come to bed. Raoul smiled but his mind had already gone back to the questions. He assured her, he'd be there shortly. With that promise, he gently moved Lyana out of the office towards the bed-room.
Raoul stood facing the small window, lost in his thoughts. A distant horn of a car brought him back, looking at the clock on the table, he noticed it was quite late. He decided to hit the sack and may be his subconscious would help him reach an answer soon.
Next morning, he gobbled the breakfast of fried beehoon (fried noodles) which Lyana had served today with egg. It was one of his favorite foods and he would have gone for another helping but for Lyana's eyebrows going up, the moment his hand went towards the serving bowl. Kissing his kids and being told by them, 'Ow, gross!', he moved out the house, chuckling to himself.
Punching in at the attendance machine (groaning at himself for being late again), he moved towards his desk. He still had to get his own office even after 15 years in the same paper. He had always been given the look-over when it was time for promotion. He waited patiently (it had now become a part of him.... patience) for his chance, each rejection pushing him to work harder. Keeping his bag on the chair, he nodded an early morning greetings to his colleagues and sidled to his boss's office. He had to share his 'news' with him.
to be continued....Raoul - 3
Back from the museum, Raoul had his mind in a quandary. There were questions that were there which seemed to have no answer, at least not right now. He was pacing back and forth in his home office (he smirked at the term; it was a small room with hardly space for a small table and a chair which had been pushed against the wall so that he could pace in that 2 X 2 room), trying to absorb the parts of conversations he had over-heard. He was so engrossed in his thoughts that he did not notice the sound of soft foot-steps behind him. The hand touched him on the shoulder, startling him out of his thoughts. He smiled at his his wife of 10 years, Lyana, trying to look undisturbed.
Lyana smiled back, her smile reaching her eyes, her eyes crinkling and her mouth going up from one side forming a lop-sided smile. His heart did a flip, it was her smile which had attracted him to her. He had noticed her smile from across the room that night in the party. He had turned to face her now. Her hand slid from his face and was lying softly at his shoulder, still smiling, she asked, 'You seemed to be worried! Anything bothering you?' Raoul knew that telling Lyana of the conversation would help relieve the tension he was feeling but also felt that now was not an appropriate time. Lyana belonged to the Batek tribe and was very fierce in protecting the native culture. She was one of the founding members of 'Malaysian Cultural Group' although with the babies coming along she was more of a passive member.
Raoul assured her that it was just the small tiff he had in the office with Abdul. Abdul was being his obnoxious self and was making the new interns uncomfortable with his nonsensical demands on their time and energies. Lyana's smile spread thinking about the oh-so-often tiffs Abdul and Raoul had, but were still friends. She ruffled his hair and told him not to worry and come to bed. Raoul smiled but his mind had already gone back to the questions. He assured her, he'd be there shortly. With that promise, he gently moved Lyana out of the office towards the bed-room.
Raoul stood facing the small window, lost in his thoughts. A distant horn of a car brought him back, looking at the clock on the table, he noticed it was quite late. He decided to hit the sack and may be his subconscious would help him reach an answer soon.
Next morning, he gobbled the breakfast of fried beehoon (fried noodles) which Lyana had served today with egg. It was one of his favorite foods and he would have gone for another helping but for Lyana's eyebrows going up, the moment his hand went towards the serving bowl. Kissing his kids and being told by them, 'Ow, gross!', he moved out the house, chuckling to himself.
Punching in at the attendance machine (groaning at himself for being late again), he moved towards his desk. He still had to get his own office even after 15 years in the same paper. He had always been given the look-over when it was time for promotion. He waited patiently (it had now become a part of him.... patience) for his chance, each rejection pushing him to work harder. Keeping his bag on the chair, he nodded an early morning greetings to his colleagues and sidled to his boss's office. He had to share his 'news' with him.
to be continued....Raoul - 3
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