| A month has passed! A long and what would | | | | would smile, her eyes blinking like lights, |
| have been an insufferable month but for my | | | | and she would sing in her own sweet, |
| computer in my apartment in this | | | | not-so-melodious voice, a voice that, |
| unfriendliest of places called Huainan in the | | | | nonetheless, was music to my lonely ears. In |
| Anhui province of the People's Republic of | | | | this unfriendliest of places, I had my very |
| China. Don't get me wrong. China is generally | | | | friendly darling - my computer!But my darling |
| a very friendly place, especially to | | | | is aging. She's already something like sixty |
| foreigners - at least at a superficial level. | | | | (oops, six, I should say!) and she's been |
| And, who has the time or need to probe | | | | with a few others. But, she never says |
| deeper? But Huainan? Huainan's another story! | | | | anything about them, never makes me feel less |
| It was among the world's ten-most | | | | loved and never compares my skills against |
| crime-infested cities and it held on to its | | | | theirs. So, when I am with her, I think she's |
| position for a long time until the | | | | mine, and only mine!My darling's a little |
| powers-that-be stepped in, cleaned up their | | | | slow! I thouch her once, press, |
| act, and the streets of hoodlums.When I first | | | | you-know-where and then I have to wait while |
| arrived here, my students advised caution. | | | | she hums and sends the right message to her |
| 'Don't go to Caijiagang alone,' they said. | | | | bird-brain that her lover is ready for her. I |
| Caijiagang is one of Huainan's | | | | wait patiently. No point rushing her, I know. |
| unfriendlier-still neighbourhoods and one | | | | That might anger her and cause her to lose |
| where the hangover from the criminal past | | | | interest. Oh, my darling! But, I know what I |
| lingers on. 'Don't go out alone at night' and | | | | need to do to keep her in good humour. Wait, |
| 'don't get into any argument with any | | | | and then, when she's ready, start! Easy!I am |
| strangers,' were other recommendations. I did | | | | a simple bloke and know little about what |
| it all and, thankfully, still survived. Well, | | | | goes on in my darling's little peabrain and |
| maybe Huainan is not as unfriendly as to | | | | my sweetheart realizes that. I never force |
| cause me physical injury but it's unfriendly | | | | too many tasks on her and she reciprocates by |
| enough to leave emotional scars. Well, not | | | | doing the simple things I need her to do - |
| really emotional emotional!Anyway, in this | | | | though sometimes, she does them rather |
| unfriendliest of places, with all my | | | | slowly. But, then, some things in life must |
| acquaintances having left for their homes, | | | | not be rushed. Some things in life must be |
| leaving the vast university campus | | | | relished and enjoyed at a relaxed leisurely |
| practically to me alone, I had little choice | | | | pace.Hey Darlin', Compy, I luv Ya!Rajesh |
| but to stay cloistered in my apartment. My | | | | Kanoi (Jack) is a published writer, now |
| broken rib didn't help matters either. But, | | | | living and working in China. Many of his |
| my darling computer waited for me every | | | | short-stories, poems and articles have been |
| single day. She waited whenever I left her to | | | | published, including a book of short-stories, |
| go out for a stroll, a meal or whatever else. | | | | 'From China With Love' (Lipstick Publishing). |
| And, when I would return and touch her, she | | | | |