Memories under the Cherry Blossom Tree

Ch 25 The Search...

Three years ago..

Singto had just started his Upper Secondary education. He had shifted schools as he needed a change in atmosphere. Though he now felt that it was a bad decision made by him..The new school had a bunch of bullies who loved picking on the timid new boy...

Singto had always avoided fights by keeping quiet, but this group only seemed to get more aggressive with his silence..After facing their taunts on being an orphan and being told a hundred times that he was not loved, Singto was on the verge of breakdown when he reached home that day...

P'Wave had known something was not right as he slammed the door of his room after coming home..Singto had skipped dinner that day and refused to talk about it..the next day he skipped school and went to visit the orphanage..he had pestered the manager for information on his parents, till the person had called Papa Jack, who in turn called P'Wave, who had come to fetch a screaming Singto throwing tantrums in the orphanage office...

Once home, Wave had gotten Singto to open up to him..upon hearing about the bullies, he was enraged. His fists clenched when Singto tearfully recited every taunt they had uttered, and showed him purple bruises on his tummy and back where they had kicked him..

The first thing Wave had done was to assure him that he would help search for information on his family. He promised in fact that he would do everything he can and not rest until he found them, if they were able to get even a tiny information.

The next thing he did was to find out the names of those bullies and lodge a complaint with the school Principal, informing him of their activities. This had resulted in the
transfer of the said bullies from the school.

And true to his promise Wave had pulled every string and used every connection to find out about the parents or relatives of Singto.

His quest led him to a mid wife, who had been the one to deliver Singto to the orphanage by stating the cause as his mother's death, she had also been the one who had given the orphanage his name and his mother's maiden surname.

Wave had taken Singto with him to visit her when he found out where she was..She was very old and terminally ill by then. Infact she was breathing her last. If they had not gone that day they wouldn't have been able to see her..When Wave explained to her who Singto was, her eyes widened and she smiled relieved. She gestured to her daughter to bring her something. Her daughter brought a small handkerchief which was knotted with something and gave it to Singto.

He had opened the knot and found the ring. He had looked at the old woman confusion in his eyes. The daughter was the one who explained,as the nurse couldn't speak very well due to her condition.

"Your mother left you this, but due to dire circumstances my mother had to borrow it for a while. She always meant to return it to you but was unable to do so because of our family situation for many years.When she finally came to the orphanage to return it you were not there..it has been on her mind for long, tat she had not been able to give it to you. Now she will be at peace. This ring s the key to your family, she told me once. I think it has a twin like itself as its a puzzle ring,I guess they would fit together, and maybe its design is unique. She always wanted you to be united with your family. Hope you find them. And we sincerely apologize for not returning it earlier. "

Singto looked at the handkerchief and let his fingers trace the initials embroidered in it..'K.S'

"That also belonged to your mother, I have heard my mother say she was very beautiful. " the daughter said, to which the mother nodded and joined her hands in a gesture of asking for forgiveness from him..

Tears in his eyes Singto hugged the old woman and whispered in her ears, "It's ok grandma. Thank you for everything. I am not angry with you..I will find my family soon. So please let ur mind be relieved of any guilt."

They left after thanking both of them..

So, now the only two clues they had gathered by hounding the orphanage and visiting the mid wife were his mother's ring and her maiden name of ' Suthiluck '. The 'S' in the handkerchief must have stood for tat, but what did the 'K ' stand for?

With these questions in mind they started searching for any clue on the Suthiluck family... They even did searches on family heirlooms of puzzle rings and rare designs....but no trace was found of them.