A story for 2007
Getting Better
The problem with writing stories is that one must invent some dire calamities to be
overcome, some daunting odds to be defeated before the final cathartic release of
victory and success or tragedy. Here we have taken a different route.
Equally, our hero may have lived in times past or in some mythic time of dragon and
monsters or a historic story of a golden Sufi age, and then our story would have
taken some different form with sword and sorcery or wise men and fools etc. Instead
we have set it in the present day, which changes the form but not the essence of our
tale.
Therefore our story, O reader, opens in an airport café. Our hero, though as you will
see the term ‘hero’ is a rather archaic term in the context of the story, is a fair haired
man who appears to be in his mid to late twenties, who could be described as
potentially quite good looking or ‘pleasant’ in appearance, but with a gloomy aspect
that rendered such terms inappropriate. There is a background of half heard chatter,
the sound of cutlery and plates being cleared, background music and
announcements across the airports sound system. These hardly penetrate the
sombre thoughts that circulate through his mind. He was a man who had reached
what is sometimes termed ‘rock bottom’. Indeed he had passed beyond thoughts of
suicide, ‘a coward’s way’. All about his life seemed to him grey, colourless. His very
body seemed a pain. Nothing seemed ever to go right.
Looking up he saw that opposite him was a young woman sitting at a nearby table
enjoying animated conversation with a man of her own age. He could hardly avoid
noticing her vivacious looks, elegant legs and impressive figure all set off by an outfit
that was tasteful without ostentation. ‘A classy lady’ sprang to his mind as he
averted his eyes to avoid the glance she cast in his direction. ‘What I would give to
meet someone like her’ he mused. He pushed the thought away – ‘I bet she has
everything’ he said to himself – ‘money, looks, probably dozens of boyfriends and all
the rest’. He caught the words of a Beatles song in the background…’ ….I’ve got to
admit its getting better…’ ‘Oh yeah, yeah’ he thought, with heavy irony.
Having come to the end of his coffee he was contemplating whether to make the
effort to get another when he noticed the woman’s partner had got up and left. She
sat back down after hugging him farewell and then her gaze appeared to turn
towards him and a warm smile spread across her face. He glanced behind him in
classic fashion checking the smile was directed at him. She unwound her elegant
legs to stand and he assumed she was leaving but no – she picked up her cup and
walked directly towards him.
‘Do you mind if I join you?’
‘…Er..not at all, please do’.
‘I was just seeing my brother off’
‘Oh....’
She was pleasant in manner and an easy talker and gradually the conversation
became a little less one sided. Another cup of coffee later and they were talking
animatedly in a way in which he astonished himself.
Later as he watched her walking back to the table with yet another cup of coffee for
the two of them he began to speculate – ‘This cannot be happening to me…wait a
minute with my luck I bet she is some kind of call girl or something, these things just
don’t happen for real…’ He pushed the thought away determined at least to enjoy
the moment, but at the back of his mind clouds of suspicion and doubt lingered.
The conversation turned to him and his flight – ‘To be honest’ he said, ‘I was sitting
here wondering whether or not to book a flight.’ He went on to reveal his plans to
return to his home country as he felt the present situation unbearable.
‘Well’ she said eventually ‘I had better go, but I live in a flat nearby here overlooking
the river, and if you decide to remain in this country you would be welcome to come
over to stay the night. I tell you what, I have to collect my car – if you decide you
would like to stay, meet me at the airport pick up place in about 15 minutes. If not I
will understand. Oh! By the way we haven’t really introduced ourselves formally
have we, my name is Lucy but my friends usually call me Lucky’. She flashed a
disarming smile at him, kissed him easily on the cheek, and left.
He sat a moment contemplating – ‘Either things have really started to get better or I
am dreaming … or more likely there will be some sting in the tail – she really is some
sophisticated call girl or there is some con trick going on here…still what is there to
lose!
As he made his way with his luggage towards the airport exit he thought ‘I bet I either
can’t find the pick up point or she has changed her mind and doesn’t show’. But
even as he thought that, he saw a clear sign pointing to the pick up spot and on
arrival he found a smart white sports car just pulling up. ‘Jump in’ she cried and
before he knew it they were speeding through the traffic. She seemed a skilled
driver and had a knack of weaving through the traffic and catching the lights on
green. It wasn’t long before the crowded city gave way to a pleasant park at one end
of which the road wound up a large hill. At the top she pulled up outside of an
elegant mansion and they took an elevator to what turned out to be a spacious
apartment covering the whole of the top floor. In what seemed no time at all he found
himself sitting with her on the veranda overlooking a winding river below, having just
finished what undoubtedly must be the best meal he had ever eaten. Doubts about
her being a call girl had evaporated – he had never met one but there was no way
they could have behaved like this woman.
Whilst she cleared away the dishes he sat on the veranda musing. Things just
seemed to be getting better – but now a new set of doubts entered his mind.
‘Perhaps she just likes to take in waifs and strays’ he thought – ‘I suppose tomorrow
I will be lugging my case back to the airport. Or else she is married and her husband
will arrive’. Several other scenarios all ending in ignominy for him presented
themselves to his imagination. However the evening continued to get better – sitting
on a lamb’s wool rug by a large open fire – (‘this just cant be happening’) - he
discovered that she was single and unattached and was not in the habit of inviting
strange men back to her apartment but found him really interesting. Talk soon
became more intimate and when the hour became late he began to have thoughts of
making a pass at her but felt sure he would mess it up and end up being kicked out
– he always misread signs from women. However she took the lead and indicating it
was time for bed kissed him just long enough to be passionate and inviting – giving
him just the confidence he needed to feel in command. She showed him to the guest
room she had prepared for him and they took one further kiss, lingering a bit longer
with even more hint of promise.
On his bed he contemplated the situation with rising excitement. Things just seemed
to be getting better and better. Something would surely go wrong soon. But they just
kept getting better. As he lay awake with a restless vibrancy of anticipation mixed
with an expectation of disappointment. He imagined her appearing at the door ready
to fulfil the promise in that kiss but then thought – ‘even were that to happen I would
surely disappoint her for I am no sexual athlete and that would surely be followed by
awkwardness in the morning as she found excuses to get rid of me’. Then again he
felt he was surely reading more into that kiss than he should. Despite what she had
said may be she was just one of those girls out for a bit of fun – no strings. But even
whilst amidst these thoughts the door opened slowly ‘ I am sorry to disturb you ‘ she
whispered, ‘but I thought you might like some company’.
O reader we must draw a veil over the scene that followed or risk offending
sensibilities but suffice it to say that thing just kept getting better and better and
better. By morning they were lovers many times over and it was well past midday
before they even thought of getting up for food. In fact it was many days and nights
before they even contemplated leaving the apartment for walks in the park or along
the sunlit river. When they did people who passed them moved on with lighter hearts
for observing two so obviously in love. Things were clearly getting better.
‘Love like this must surely end in heartbreak or losing its vibrancy’ he pondered, as
he sat watching the sunset one evening whilst she was clearing the dishes from yet
another superb meal. ‘Or perhaps we could marry – but then too the harsh realities
of life would eat away at our joy day by day. More likely’ he said to himself, ‘that this
will be one of those short once in a lifetime romances that leave a lingering hole in
one’s heart’.
But O reader things just kept getting better. They married quietly with her brother
and just family and a few of her friends present. He expected opposition from her
family or the usual in-law problems but no opposition arose and they turned out to
be both delighted and delightful people.
He felt sure the strains and complexity of making arrangements for a wedding would
lead to problems but as it happened the arrangements were made by Lucy’s brother
and proceeded with ease. He was concerned about how they would manage
financially but the flat was her own and she turned out to have considerable financial
independence. ‘This puts me in a position of financial dependence and that can
easily mar a relationship’ he thought. Two days later he received a call on his
mobile notification him that his doctorate had been recognised and an offer of a
lectureship was available requiring a limited amount of time at a nearby college. ‘Life
does not work like this,’ he thought, as switched off the phone. There will surely be
some downside to this – but, O reader, things just kept getting better and better.
Now he had someone so dear to him he wondered what would happen if she were
to fall ill or meet with some accident. He felt he would be inconsolable – but nothing
like that did happen. She and he continued to enjoy good health, and instead of their
love growing less intense it matured into something deeper and better. Sexually it
was different every time – like having many wives. Some nights would be intense
and very physical others gentle and warming, sometimes she would be submissive
others demanding or experimental.
In the days he thought there must be occasions of conflict as there were in all
marriages but she seemed to detect his every mood and adapt to it with ease so that
even the daily routines became a kind of extension of love making in a different
sphere.
His grasp of his academic work somehow became easy and his students learnt with
enthusiasm and hung on his every word. He became feted in the academic world for
the quality of his scholarship. Things just got better and better.
He found physically he grew in strength, vigour, and coordination on an almost daily
basis.
Meanwhile Lucy bore him two sons and a beautiful daughter – he felt sure this
would bring pressures in to the home situation but instead of difficulty all three
proved a delight to raise and loved their father and mother immensely – responding
to their words with loving obedience. At times he would muse on the situation and
wonder when some turn of events would bring the rain that must fall into every life –
but no such event materialised instead, O reader, things just got better and better.
He made some financial investments and despite concerns that these were risky
and could put their growing wealth at risk, each one proved better than the last till he
could be described as more than merely affluent – indeed he became first very
wealthy and then extremely wealthy. ‘Wealth can destroy a man’s values’ he
thought, but along with it came wisdom and generosity. In fact O reader things just
continued to get better and better,
Midlife arrived and he began to notice his attraction to some of the female students
began to increase – surely this he thought will be my undoing, but Lucy anticipated
the situation. ‘If you feel attraction to these beautiful girls you must not resist’ she
begged. He contemplated the morality of the situation and sought the company of a
number of known stern divines from various faiths but though they were known for
their righteous attitudes in general, when they sat with him they found themselves
unable to be critical in his case of anything he might do. Thus he found himself with
an ever ardent wife, the loving mother of his children, and with the occasional
company of beautiful young girls. Surely there will be some consequences to such
philandering he thought, either some emotional complexities or physical disease or
some such, but this never happened instead things just got better and Lucy’s
happiness grew too.
Surely, he thought, in the after life I will have to pay for all this happiness or perhaps
my good fortune is at the expense of the suffering of others. So he sought for the
company of some mystics of great knowledge. From each he learned of the various
ways of attaining knowledge of the inner secrets of life. He found he mastered each
way with ease and without the kind of hardship the masters had undergone to attain
their knowledge. In fact they all proclaimed him their own master. He saw for himself
the inner workings of man’s soul. People flocked to him for guidance and help and
he gave it freely. He wondered about the effect his growing fame would have since
he understood fame can bring with many problems – but these problems did not
materialise – instead things just got better and better.
In older age his health and vitality continued to grow and his looks took on a maturity
that added to his attractiveness. He pondered the effect of the probable death of his
dear wife but when this actually happened he was already so much in contact with
the unseen world that her passing from the body seemed to him a joy and things
continued to get better.
He reflected on the responsibility he had to deal with the misery and hardships of life
experienced by others and undertook to bring greater happiness not only to those
close to him but to the community, indeed the nation. He felt sure this would be a
great burden but in fact the nation’s moral and even material wealth flourished under
his inner and indeed outward direction and under the direction of those he trained. In
fact, O reader, things just got better and better.
One day death came to him – I mean, in the form of a man death walked in through
the door and stood respectfully near by. ‘So my time has come too has it?’ he asked.
‘No! Not so, sir’, death replied. ‘I came merely ask at what time and in what way you
would wish me to come for you’. ‘I will call you when I am ready’ our hero replied. O
reader things just kept getting better.
At the age of 120, revered by all, he finally called death and asked him to take him.
He wondered whether this would involve some difficulty of passing over. ‘Not so in
your case’, death replied, ‘If you would just step through this door sir’. He followed
him out of the room and found himself in the other world, greeted and feted by all
who had passed before. However he paused a moment and said to death – ‘Is it
possible to return for a moment there is one thing I would like to say to those who
may be grieving’ ‘In your case sir you can pass in either direction at any time.’ death
replied.
He returned back and found his sons and daughter and some disciples in the room.
‘Sir’, they said, ‘we were wondering where you were!’. ‘I am leaving this world now’
he replied. ‘I came to make my farewell but I can return when I wish so look out for
me from time to time’. ‘Sir,’ begged one of his disciples, ‘tell us the secret of your
success in life please’. ‘My secret’ he said, ‘is simple, it is due entirely to my good
luck. I cannot explain it except to say things just kept getting better and better’.
O reader, may Lady Luck walk in to your life this coming year.
Jamiluddin Morris Zahuri
Southampton, December 24th 2006.
Getting Better
The problem with writing stories is that one must invent some dire calamities to be
overcome, some daunting odds to be defeated before the final cathartic release of
victory and success or tragedy. Here we have taken a different route.
Equally, our hero may have lived in times past or in some mythic time of dragon and
monsters or a historic story of a golden Sufi age, and then our story would have
taken some different form with sword and sorcery or wise men and fools etc. Instead
we have set it in the present day, which changes the form but not the essence of our
tale.
Therefore our story, O reader, opens in an airport café. Our hero, though as you will
see the term ‘hero’ is a rather archaic term in the context of the story, is a fair haired
man who appears to be in his mid to late twenties, who could be described as
potentially quite good looking or ‘pleasant’ in appearance, but with a gloomy aspect
that rendered such terms inappropriate. There is a background of half heard chatter,
the sound of cutlery and plates being cleared, background music and
announcements across the airports sound system. These hardly penetrate the
sombre thoughts that circulate through his mind. He was a man who had reached
what is sometimes termed ‘rock bottom’. Indeed he had passed beyond thoughts of
suicide, ‘a coward’s way’. All about his life seemed to him grey, colourless. His very
body seemed a pain. Nothing seemed ever to go right.
Looking up he saw that opposite him was a young woman sitting at a nearby table
enjoying animated conversation with a man of her own age. He could hardly avoid
noticing her vivacious looks, elegant legs and impressive figure all set off by an outfit
that was tasteful without ostentation. ‘A classy lady’ sprang to his mind as he
averted his eyes to avoid the glance she cast in his direction. ‘What I would give to
meet someone like her’ he mused. He pushed the thought away – ‘I bet she has
everything’ he said to himself – ‘money, looks, probably dozens of boyfriends and all
the rest’. He caught the words of a Beatles song in the background…’ ….I’ve got to
admit its getting better…’ ‘Oh yeah, yeah’ he thought, with heavy irony.
Having come to the end of his coffee he was contemplating whether to make the
effort to get another when he noticed the woman’s partner had got up and left. She
sat back down after hugging him farewell and then her gaze appeared to turn
towards him and a warm smile spread across her face. He glanced behind him in
classic fashion checking the smile was directed at him. She unwound her elegant
legs to stand and he assumed she was leaving but no – she picked up her cup and
walked directly towards him.
‘Do you mind if I join you?’
‘…Er..not at all, please do’.
‘I was just seeing my brother off’
‘Oh....’
She was pleasant in manner and an easy talker and gradually the conversation
became a little less one sided. Another cup of coffee later and they were talking
animatedly in a way in which he astonished himself.
Later as he watched her walking back to the table with yet another cup of coffee for
the two of them he began to speculate – ‘This cannot be happening to me…wait a
minute with my luck I bet she is some kind of call girl or something, these things just
don’t happen for real…’ He pushed the thought away determined at least to enjoy
the moment, but at the back of his mind clouds of suspicion and doubt lingered.
The conversation turned to him and his flight – ‘To be honest’ he said, ‘I was sitting
here wondering whether or not to book a flight.’ He went on to reveal his plans to
return to his home country as he felt the present situation unbearable.
‘Well’ she said eventually ‘I had better go, but I live in a flat nearby here overlooking
the river, and if you decide to remain in this country you would be welcome to come
over to stay the night. I tell you what, I have to collect my car – if you decide you
would like to stay, meet me at the airport pick up place in about 15 minutes. If not I
will understand. Oh! By the way we haven’t really introduced ourselves formally
have we, my name is Lucy but my friends usually call me Lucky’. She flashed a
disarming smile at him, kissed him easily on the cheek, and left.
He sat a moment contemplating – ‘Either things have really started to get better or I
am dreaming … or more likely there will be some sting in the tail – she really is some
sophisticated call girl or there is some con trick going on here…still what is there to
lose!
As he made his way with his luggage towards the airport exit he thought ‘I bet I either
can’t find the pick up point or she has changed her mind and doesn’t show’. But
even as he thought that, he saw a clear sign pointing to the pick up spot and on
arrival he found a smart white sports car just pulling up. ‘Jump in’ she cried and
before he knew it they were speeding through the traffic. She seemed a skilled
driver and had a knack of weaving through the traffic and catching the lights on
green. It wasn’t long before the crowded city gave way to a pleasant park at one end
of which the road wound up a large hill. At the top she pulled up outside of an
elegant mansion and they took an elevator to what turned out to be a spacious
apartment covering the whole of the top floor. In what seemed no time at all he found
himself sitting with her on the veranda overlooking a winding river below, having just
finished what undoubtedly must be the best meal he had ever eaten. Doubts about
her being a call girl had evaporated – he had never met one but there was no way
they could have behaved like this woman.
Whilst she cleared away the dishes he sat on the veranda musing. Things just
seemed to be getting better – but now a new set of doubts entered his mind.
‘Perhaps she just likes to take in waifs and strays’ he thought – ‘I suppose tomorrow
I will be lugging my case back to the airport. Or else she is married and her husband
will arrive’. Several other scenarios all ending in ignominy for him presented
themselves to his imagination. However the evening continued to get better – sitting
on a lamb’s wool rug by a large open fire – (‘this just cant be happening’) - he
discovered that she was single and unattached and was not in the habit of inviting
strange men back to her apartment but found him really interesting. Talk soon
became more intimate and when the hour became late he began to have thoughts of
making a pass at her but felt sure he would mess it up and end up being kicked out
– he always misread signs from women. However she took the lead and indicating it
was time for bed kissed him just long enough to be passionate and inviting – giving
him just the confidence he needed to feel in command. She showed him to the guest
room she had prepared for him and they took one further kiss, lingering a bit longer
with even more hint of promise.
On his bed he contemplated the situation with rising excitement. Things just seemed
to be getting better and better. Something would surely go wrong soon. But they just
kept getting better. As he lay awake with a restless vibrancy of anticipation mixed
with an expectation of disappointment. He imagined her appearing at the door ready
to fulfil the promise in that kiss but then thought – ‘even were that to happen I would
surely disappoint her for I am no sexual athlete and that would surely be followed by
awkwardness in the morning as she found excuses to get rid of me’. Then again he
felt he was surely reading more into that kiss than he should. Despite what she had
said may be she was just one of those girls out for a bit of fun – no strings. But even
whilst amidst these thoughts the door opened slowly ‘ I am sorry to disturb you ‘ she
whispered, ‘but I thought you might like some company’.
O reader we must draw a veil over the scene that followed or risk offending
sensibilities but suffice it to say that thing just kept getting better and better and
better. By morning they were lovers many times over and it was well past midday
before they even thought of getting up for food. In fact it was many days and nights
before they even contemplated leaving the apartment for walks in the park or along
the sunlit river. When they did people who passed them moved on with lighter hearts
for observing two so obviously in love. Things were clearly getting better.
‘Love like this must surely end in heartbreak or losing its vibrancy’ he pondered, as
he sat watching the sunset one evening whilst she was clearing the dishes from yet
another superb meal. ‘Or perhaps we could marry – but then too the harsh realities
of life would eat away at our joy day by day. More likely’ he said to himself, ‘that this
will be one of those short once in a lifetime romances that leave a lingering hole in
one’s heart’.
But O reader things just kept getting better. They married quietly with her brother
and just family and a few of her friends present. He expected opposition from her
family or the usual in-law problems but no opposition arose and they turned out to
be both delighted and delightful people.
He felt sure the strains and complexity of making arrangements for a wedding would
lead to problems but as it happened the arrangements were made by Lucy’s brother
and proceeded with ease. He was concerned about how they would manage
financially but the flat was her own and she turned out to have considerable financial
independence. ‘This puts me in a position of financial dependence and that can
easily mar a relationship’ he thought. Two days later he received a call on his
mobile notification him that his doctorate had been recognised and an offer of a
lectureship was available requiring a limited amount of time at a nearby college. ‘Life
does not work like this,’ he thought, as switched off the phone. There will surely be
some downside to this – but, O reader, things just kept getting better and better.
Now he had someone so dear to him he wondered what would happen if she were
to fall ill or meet with some accident. He felt he would be inconsolable – but nothing
like that did happen. She and he continued to enjoy good health, and instead of their
love growing less intense it matured into something deeper and better. Sexually it
was different every time – like having many wives. Some nights would be intense
and very physical others gentle and warming, sometimes she would be submissive
others demanding or experimental.
In the days he thought there must be occasions of conflict as there were in all
marriages but she seemed to detect his every mood and adapt to it with ease so that
even the daily routines became a kind of extension of love making in a different
sphere.
His grasp of his academic work somehow became easy and his students learnt with
enthusiasm and hung on his every word. He became feted in the academic world for
the quality of his scholarship. Things just got better and better.
He found physically he grew in strength, vigour, and coordination on an almost daily
basis.
Meanwhile Lucy bore him two sons and a beautiful daughter – he felt sure this
would bring pressures in to the home situation but instead of difficulty all three
proved a delight to raise and loved their father and mother immensely – responding
to their words with loving obedience. At times he would muse on the situation and
wonder when some turn of events would bring the rain that must fall into every life –
but no such event materialised instead, O reader, things just got better and better.
He made some financial investments and despite concerns that these were risky
and could put their growing wealth at risk, each one proved better than the last till he
could be described as more than merely affluent – indeed he became first very
wealthy and then extremely wealthy. ‘Wealth can destroy a man’s values’ he
thought, but along with it came wisdom and generosity. In fact O reader things just
continued to get better and better,
Midlife arrived and he began to notice his attraction to some of the female students
began to increase – surely this he thought will be my undoing, but Lucy anticipated
the situation. ‘If you feel attraction to these beautiful girls you must not resist’ she
begged. He contemplated the morality of the situation and sought the company of a
number of known stern divines from various faiths but though they were known for
their righteous attitudes in general, when they sat with him they found themselves
unable to be critical in his case of anything he might do. Thus he found himself with
an ever ardent wife, the loving mother of his children, and with the occasional
company of beautiful young girls. Surely there will be some consequences to such
philandering he thought, either some emotional complexities or physical disease or
some such, but this never happened instead things just got better and Lucy’s
happiness grew too.
Surely, he thought, in the after life I will have to pay for all this happiness or perhaps
my good fortune is at the expense of the suffering of others. So he sought for the
company of some mystics of great knowledge. From each he learned of the various
ways of attaining knowledge of the inner secrets of life. He found he mastered each
way with ease and without the kind of hardship the masters had undergone to attain
their knowledge. In fact they all proclaimed him their own master. He saw for himself
the inner workings of man’s soul. People flocked to him for guidance and help and
he gave it freely. He wondered about the effect his growing fame would have since
he understood fame can bring with many problems – but these problems did not
materialise – instead things just got better and better.
In older age his health and vitality continued to grow and his looks took on a maturity
that added to his attractiveness. He pondered the effect of the probable death of his
dear wife but when this actually happened he was already so much in contact with
the unseen world that her passing from the body seemed to him a joy and things
continued to get better.
He reflected on the responsibility he had to deal with the misery and hardships of life
experienced by others and undertook to bring greater happiness not only to those
close to him but to the community, indeed the nation. He felt sure this would be a
great burden but in fact the nation’s moral and even material wealth flourished under
his inner and indeed outward direction and under the direction of those he trained. In
fact, O reader, things just got better and better.
One day death came to him – I mean, in the form of a man death walked in through
the door and stood respectfully near by. ‘So my time has come too has it?’ he asked.
‘No! Not so, sir’, death replied. ‘I came merely ask at what time and in what way you
would wish me to come for you’. ‘I will call you when I am ready’ our hero replied. O
reader things just kept getting better.
At the age of 120, revered by all, he finally called death and asked him to take him.
He wondered whether this would involve some difficulty of passing over. ‘Not so in
your case’, death replied, ‘If you would just step through this door sir’. He followed
him out of the room and found himself in the other world, greeted and feted by all
who had passed before. However he paused a moment and said to death – ‘Is it
possible to return for a moment there is one thing I would like to say to those who
may be grieving’ ‘In your case sir you can pass in either direction at any time.’ death
replied.
He returned back and found his sons and daughter and some disciples in the room.
‘Sir’, they said, ‘we were wondering where you were!’. ‘I am leaving this world now’
he replied. ‘I came to make my farewell but I can return when I wish so look out for
me from time to time’. ‘Sir,’ begged one of his disciples, ‘tell us the secret of your
success in life please’. ‘My secret’ he said, ‘is simple, it is due entirely to my good
luck. I cannot explain it except to say things just kept getting better and better’.
O reader, may Lady Luck walk in to your life this coming year.
Jamiluddin Morris Zahuri
Southampton, December 24th 2006.
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