Zh like "j" in "job" that’s how it is pronounced. He is my colleague Zheng Li here after will be called Li. Li comes from China and is a very good programmer. A Very talented guy indeed, but he is having some problems. He can read English and write too, but cannot understand or speak properly. Speaking to Li was like talking to a person who can’t speak; mostly we conveyed messages through actions. Li says he has some other problems too. He said that his vision power is reducing day by day. From the way he walks we can understand that he is having some balancing problem too. Li is married, he says his wife knows English, but she is not teaching him. He asked me to teach him English everyday a little. I was talking to another colleague of mine regarding "weekend". Li was keenly listening to our conversation. I said "Yes, It's Friday... Weekend, Time to Enjoy". Li said "No"(in his own language a mixture of Chinese with some English words in it.) "Saturday is weekend and Sunday is week start, the first day of the week". It took me a while to interpret this. And yes, what he said is literally correct, Week ends on Saturday. Then I had to explain him what is so called weekend in the corporate world.
April 19th 2011, Morning Li and I were walking towards Office canteen. I was telling him for me going for lunch to food courts which are far from the office is difficult as I am having migraine and being out in the sun for long will result in headache. I saw a sudden surprise in Li's face, which looked like he was so much concerned about my headache. He fired me with so many Questions in his mixed language. Like, consulting a doctor, taking medicines and all. I felt happy for his concern towards me. We had the breakfast and were back to the seat. Half an hour later Li sent me a message via office communicator, "Have you taken Health Insurance Card from HR, Why don't you use that for head ache". I was thinking why he was so much concerned about my head ache, as I just casually informed him. Later that day I came to know Li took a half day leave and went home as he was not feeling well.
April 20th 2011. Li was not there in his seat. I went for breakfast alone. after being back to the seat Li's team member and one of my friend showed a mail sent by their project manager stating that Li got admitted in a hospital and he is suffering from Brain tumor. On 19th itself he underwent a surgery to reduce his pressure as his condition was very severe. I got the answers for all my doubts which I had the day before. I was concerned about my small headache due to Migraine. But Li having such a severe pain in him was actively joining me everywhere for lunch and breakfast. I asked to God "Why are you so Cruel to Li"
April 21st 2011 it was Maundy Thursday, Colleagues were planning to visit Li in the Evening. His wife had SMS-ed the Hospital/Ward details to one of our friends. We reached the hospital after office hours. I didn’t want to see Li in this state initially, but the words of one of my friend saying that "You need to give mental support to his family by visiting him" made me visit him. Li was lying in the bed I could see a tube pierced to his head which is said to remove fluid from his head, as the tumor has grown big, the pressure in his head was increasing. His face was swelled and bulged which shows the pressure in his head. I imagined his condition and felt dizziness. I couldn't take that condition of his and left the ward suddenly. I went to the corridor and waited for my colleagues. I was breathing heavily. Waited there for 10 mins then again I thought I should talk to him something. I went inside and smiled at him. He also smiled at him. His wife was looking very cool, giving him full confidence. He introduced me to his wife in Chinese "This is 'Popular boy' of our office". That’s how he calls me. I am very social to all and mingle with any race easily. That made him to give that nickname to me. I told Li that to get well soon and come to office soon, as I miss my Lunch partner. Li's Wife translated it to him. Li said "Tsank you Yes yes" that’s how he say Thank you. Li told to his wife to tell us "You all have to have dinner and reach back home, so you can go now". He was worried about our dinner, see his kindness. It was 8pm and Visitors will be asked to leave by that time. So we said goodbye to Li and moved out of the hospital.
As we came out of the hospital, one friend of mine was explaining Li's Flash back. Li was working as an Engineer in Microsoft China. His wife was in Singapore since long, so Li came down to Singapore leaving his Microsoft Job and joined my company 4 months back, just to start living together with his wife. April 27th 2011 Li had a 10 hours long surgery. With all our prayers it went successful. Today Li is recovering his health. Hope he gets well soon and come back to normal life. I had requested many of my friends to pray for him. And I thank you all for doing that for him. I started writing about him in March 2011, but I never knew the content of this post will be like this when I started writing. I dint edit anything, all what you read from the start is like my personal Diary‘s copy.
This post is mainly for thanking all my friends who had Zheng Li in their Prayers.
