Bitter Sweet Harvest by Chan Ling Yap Read Free Book Online Page A

the tension in the country. “I just lack practice. We studied Malay in school but didn’t get much opportunity to use it outside the classroom. And, I have been away in England for quite a while.”
    “Well,” he drawled, “it just shows the kind of people you have been mixing with. Obviously not your fellow Malaysians and certainly not those proud to speak Malay.”
    “Hussein always spoke to me in English,” she countered.
    Ahmad frowned and his eyes flickered over her, sizing her up, as though seeing her anew. Checkmate, he thought, he had to be careful. She was no walkover.
    He leaned forward and with his finger drew a drop of condensation from the side of the glass onto the table, painting a circle on the glass top. “Yes, Hussein,” he murmured gravely, “that is why I am here now to tell you about Hussein. He is at this very moment, preparing to get engaged. His fiancée to be, as you might have guessed by now, is Shalimar, my sister. Their marriage is something both our families have been looking forward to since they were children. Now that my parents have both passed away, it is my duty to oversee this union. A marriage between them would be a marriage made in heaven. It will put a seal on all our ambitions and plans.”
    “No! That cannot be!” exclaimed An Mei. Her face was bleached white and her lips, bloodless. She felt her heart lurch and her whole being plunge into an overwhelming sense of despair. “Let me talk to him. Please let me have a phone. I would like to hear it from Hussein himself.”
    “It would be absolutely futile to talk to him. It has all been decided. I am just the messenger. I can offer you this much as a gesture of goodwill. I can give you a one-way air ticket to London to join your family and provide you with transport to the airport. And,” he said taking out a wad of notes, “money to see you through. That is all. We do not wish to see you here again. Your insistence to be part of Hussein’s life will only destroy him. Surely this is not what you want?”
    “Destroy Hussein? Me?” she asked, springing to her feet. Incredulous, her eyes, dulled with despair only a moment ago, now blazed with fury at the injustice of his accusation. “All Hussein and I have talked about is how I would work with him to achieve his goals.”
    “Don’t be naïve!” he exclaimed, standing up, not wishing to lose the advantage that he thought he had over her.
    “I had expected some opposition from Hussein’s parents, but Hussein had told me that it would be only a matter of time before he would win them over.”
    Ahmad snorted. “Only some opposition? Hah! I leave you to mull over the offer. When you come to your senses, tell one of the servants to contact me.” He turned to leave. An Mei caught hold of his sleeve.
    “Please let me speak to Hussein.”
    He shrugged her hand off. “
Tak malu!
Shameless! Chasing after him, throwing yourself at him and expecting me to help you. Who do you think I am?” He snorted again before striding off.
    Left alone, An Mei crumpled to the floor. She felt ashamed, ashamed that she had let herself, her parents and her aunt down. She did not know how she could ever bridge the gulf created between herself and her family. She was in no doubt that she had done wrong. She had gone against the filial piety that her parents expected of her. She had convinced herself that it was for love; because Hussein loved her. Now even this seemed doubtful. Why hadn’t Hussein been in touch? She was not sure if there was any truth in what Ahmad had relayed, but she felt humiliated by his taunts. Was she really throwing herself at Hussein? she wondered.

Chapter 6
    I n Kemun, Hussein paced up and down the length of the drawing room in his parents’ palatial home. He ignored their entreaties to sit down and relax. His parents were sitting on a settee with other members of the family around them. He looked at their colourful clothes, their opulence and lavish styles; he