All Chapters of Symbiosis: Growth of Lichens in Ochre soil: Chapter 31 - Chapter 40

It was already morning when Jina opened her eyes. She was frightened at first with the unfamiliar surroundings, but eventually recognized it as a hospital room. She saw Chan dozing off near her bed and decided to get up without waking him. After all this was the best chance to escape from here, before any one knows.But Chan woke up sensing movement from the bed. He quickly helped Jina sit up and asked, “How are you feeling now? Should I call the doctor? Or are you hungry? I will get you something to eat first.”Jina resisted Chan’s intimacy and concern. She moved back in to the bed’s corner to distance herself from Chan. She said, “Let me go from here. Please…Please leave me alone.”Chan understood what Jina was saying and how she was feeling. He decided not to argue with her but instead took their marriage certificate and placed them on her lap. He had asked Mr. P to retrieve it, last night itself, along with some clothes for him to change. It was better if she herself found out the

Ultimately Jina agreed to Chan and decided to become a good wife for the time being. From the day she came back from the hospital, Jina took over all the responsibilities in the house. From cooking to cleaning and even washing and arranging Chan’s clothes, she did everything to please Chan. Chan was also obviously happy with Jina’s new attitude. According to him, she was becoming more lovable.Chan and Mr. P were having a discussion in his office. Chan was looking at some file and Mr. P was waiting for his response.“When can we start?” Chan asked.“By next week, Boss,” Mr. P replied.“I will inform Jina and let’s try to keep the schedule.”“Yes, Boss,” Mr. P answered.“Boss, aren’t you being too patient with ma’am?” Mr. P asked, though he knew it may not be appropriate to ask.“She is my wife. Shouldn’t I be tolerant with her?” Chan said without raising his head from the file.“But boss, what makes you love her this much?” Mr. P asked again.“I don’t love her; yet,” Chan said emphasi

Jina opened the file which Chan had given her. It contained the details of experiments her mother conducted before the tragedy occurred in her laboratory. As Chan suspected, this could be the reason for why doom befell on her family. Jina studied everything written in that, very carefully.Jina’s mother, Jie Hain was a pioneer in pharmaceutical research. Her father Feng Hain and brother Jian run their pharmaceutical company ‘Live On’. The company had successfully launched many drugs at much cheaper rates, especially life-saving drugs under Jie Hain’s contributions. Her researches were mainly focused in developing cancer treatment drugs at a cheaper and much efficient manner, that too with minimal side effects.Curcumin – which is extracted from Curcuma longa or turmeric was the focus of Jie Hain’s research. Curcumin was found to have unique anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties. It aids in increasing immunity and faster healing. Jie Hain was researching on its further benefits

Jina realized what Chan had said, only after reaching the cafeteria. By then Chan had pulled a chair for Jina and went to order two drinks and pastries. Every employee at the cafeteria was now looking at Jina in envy. Their boss had brought his wife for snacks and was going to eat with her. They realized the meaning of Anna’s words now - ‘Boss is sensitive to matters related to his wife.’When Jina looked around, she saw the envious admiration in other’s eyes and felt uncomfortable. On seeing Chan return with food, she said in a low voice, “Everyone is looking at us. Shall we leave?”Chan laughed lightly on hearing her. “Why? Are we doing something shameful here?” he asked in a teasing tone.“But… they…” Jina tried to make him realize what she was saying.“Sh… Don’t talk while eating. Have you never learnt any table manners?” Chan said as he kept his finger on her lips to stop her from complaining.Chan and Jina’s cute interactions were really heartbreaking for the female employees pr

Jina took three days leave and gave Merin and Siwan off for the same days. They also had worked really hard. To repeat experiments from its reports and getting the same results in such a short time was not an easy task at all. So she asked them to relax before starting the next set of experiments.Jina took half the day to clean the house, which had been pending for some time now. Chan was doing enough by maintaining it tidily, considering how a chairman of a business empire was already cooking for both of them after his job. So Jina did all her undone works and then packed her bag for the trip. Chan had said that he will come to pick up in the afternoon, so she waited for his arrival.As planned, Chan came to pick her up along with Mr. P. The three of them took Chan’s car and Tim Tim and another two guards followed in another. It was a five hour trip to the said town.Jina spend some time by watching how the landscapes changed. From tall gray buildings, green trees became more visibl