“Hello miss Hannah…. Welcome to China…”

Someone greeted me as I picked my bags and turned around.

“Oh hey Mr. Chang… It’s been a long time yeah…. Look at you all grown up to man...” I smirked at the familiar young guy and nudge him.

“OK OK stop it Hannah banana…. It’s good to see you crazy...”Chang ruffled my hair laughing and gave me his usual bear hug.

“Oh I really missed you a lot Chan-Chan…” I squeezed his waist tightly.

Chang is my first best friend. His family moved in to our house next door when we were both six. His father was a neuro surgeon and when he got appointed to one of the best hospitals in USA their family moved to USA from China. Ever since the first day Chang and I met we became best friends. Since then we were inseparable and our families also became very close. But just as we graduated from high school Chang’s grandfather passed away and since Chang was the next heir to their family business they had to move back to China. It has been three years since then but we never lost our contact and here I am visiting my best friend just as i promised three years ago.

“Let’s go Chang… I want to see your mom and eat all those delicious food she has prepared for me..” I said rushing out of the airport dragging Chang with me.

“Of course she cooked for you. It’s not fair man I’m her son but she loves you more than she loves me…” Chang murmured his usual complain.

That is true. Chang’s mother aunt Meera and I were more like mother and daughter. Since she had only two sons she considered me as the daughter she never had.

Laughing at Chang’s stupid complains I got in to his car and we drove off to his home.

Wow C… China is really beautiful…” I said looking at the beautiful scenery we were passing through.

“This is just a little of it kiddo Get ready to see the most beautiful things you have ever seen in your life…” He smiled proudly.

“You bet Chan-Chan. That is why I chose you as my tour guide…” I stuck my tongue making him laughing.

When Chang stopped the car I was awes trucked. Their house was a magnificent traditional Chinese mansion just like those beautiful mansions in Chinese movies.

----->

I quickly shook of my surprise and jumped out of the car and ran to the main door. As i rand the door bell impatiently familiar middle aged woman opened the door.

“Aunt Meera…!” I hugged her tightly making her laugh.

“Oh my little Hannah… How have you been sweetie...?” Her hug was as warm as my mother’s.

“Come in honey I cooked all of your favorites….. Chang bring Hannah’s bags with you..” She ordered her sulking son and ked me in to the beautiful house.

After all the unpacking and settling in the guest room it was time for the evening tea.

“Hannah darling we are having a family gathering tomorrow night. Would you like to come?” Aunt Meera asked sipping her tea.

“Of course aunt Meera… Would that be ok? I mean I’m a foreigner and I can’t even speak Chinese…”

“Oh it’s not a problem dear… Most of our family members are fluent in English besides wouldn’t this be a good opportunity for you to learn our culture?” She asked patting my hand.

“Ok then I’ll come… So when is this party start?| I asked her eating my third baozi. Baozis are Chinese steamed meat buns and super delicious.

“Oh it starts around five in the evening but Hannah you have to wear a traditional dress for this even. So let’s go shopping tomorrow morning…” Aunt Meera said excitedly. She loved to doll me up whenever she got the chance.

“A traditional dress?”

“Yes honey. It’s our family tradition. One day once a year we would dress up in our traditional cloths and get together…. Do you remember Hannah even when we were living in USA we would Come to China once a year and stay here for a week?” She asked me raising an eyebrow.

“Yeah I do remember…. You brought something for me every time you come back..” I said recalling the memory and she nodded smiling.

“So tell me more aunt Meera… What is happening in this party?” I asked curiously.

“Oh nothing much honey. Our whole family would gather and we share our stories while children play together. We are a very big family Hannah so this party is the thing that keeps all of us in contact. I remember when I was a child I always look forward to this party because all of my cousins would come and we would play together. Those are beautiful memories….” Aunt Meera said with a faraway look in her eyes.

“Oh… So is it really Ok with me joining your party? I mean it sounds like very important event for your family…”

I asked doubtfully.

China is a new place for me and going to a very special event like this as soon as I came here seemed quite hard.

“Oh honey I’m pretty sure our family is going to love you. Besides you are like my own daughter so you are practically family. So don’t think too much Ok…”

Aunt Meera said with a motherly look in her eyes.

“OK OK … Let’s do it…!!!”

I cheered grabbing my fourth baozi.

-------->

Next day morning I went to shopping with aunt Meera. Chang who happened to be our driver stopped the car in front of a luxurious looking shop.

“Mom, should I come inside too? You guys will take forever to select a dress. You should be more sympathetic since you are stealing my best friend…”

Chang whined as we got off.

“Oh go wherever you want boy. I’ll call you when it’s time to pick us up…”

Aunt Meera dismissed much happier looking Chang waving her hand and led me to the shop.

Hearing Chang’s small cheer as he got in to the car we both laughed knowing he surely is going to meet his girlfriend.

As aunt Meera's order the shop assistant brought so many colorful clothes for me to try on. After trying three dresses with help of the shop assistant a bright and silk red dress caught my eyes.

“Aunt Meera, Can I try this one?” I asked her lifting up the dress.

“Oh that would be perfect dear. Go try it…”

She urged me to the fitting room.

“Oh my God Hannah dear this is the dress. You should wear this today I have perfect jewelries for this dress….”

Aunt Meera gushed turning me around admiring my dress.

--------->.

The dress apparel had three layers, underwear, an inner layer and overcoat. The coat part was decorated with pink flower embroidery while skirt was plain red silk.

Aunt Meera bought the dress for me and we walk around the town buying few things from shops here and there before calling Chang to pick us up.

Around three o’clock we started to get ready for the party. Aunt Meera got ready herself but was totally lost with all the layers of the dress so she helped me with my dress.

“This hanfu look beautiful on you dear….”

She said while adjusting the sash.

“Hanfu?”

The word was unfamiliar.

“This dress is called "Hanfu" Hannah. This is a Chinese traditional dress belongs to Han dynasty. In the past, embroidery pattern usually reflected the social standing of the person wearing it…. Sit here let me do your hair…”

She made me sat down in front of the huge mirror and started to do my hair.

“Look at you dear. You look beautiful. Wait here I’ll bring some accessories…”

She patted my shoulder and opened the ancient looking cupboard and took a wooden jewelry box out.

After helping me with some jade belts and earrings she picked a small beautiful white color wooden box out of the jewelry box. It was craved beautifully with gold designs. 

“This is Hannah our family treasure…”

Opening the box she picked out a gold hair pin.

----->

“I got this from my mother and she got it from her mother. For many generations this phoenix hairpin was gifted to the eldest daughter from mothers….”

She handed me the hair pin.

“Actually this belonged to my elder sister. But she passed away just after giving birth to her son. So my mother gave it to me…”

“How old is this hairpin aunt Meera...?”

I asked admiring it. It had the shape of phoenix and craved gorgeously. It was made by gold and a long gold tussle was hung out the phoenix’s beak.

“We really don’t know the exact age of this Hannah. My grandmother once said me that this hairpin belonged to an empress who happened to be our ancestor. But no one knows exactly the name of her or the dynasty…. Come here let me put it in your hair...”

She took the hairpin from me and put it on the right side of my hair bun.

“Oh but aunt Meera I don’t think I should wear this. This belongs to your family…”

I panicked as she adjusts the pin. With my record of losing things, I was afraid of losing this treasure.

“Oh it’s OK honey. I’m just letting you borrow it, so no worries. Besides this matches perfectly with your dress….” She smiled reassuring me.

When I looked at the mirror I was surprised. The girl in the mirror didn’t look like a modern European girl but a traditional Chinese girl with European background. My natural pale skin and black hair went well with the costume and the makeup done by aunt Meera had done a miracle.

“Oh My God! Aunt Meera I can’t believe my eyes. Is this really me? Wow…”

I gushed being not able to hide my surprise.

“Of course it’s you silly girl. Why are so surprised? You are always beautiful. I just gave you a small Asian touch which enhanced your beauty…”

Aunt Meera said laughing at my excitement.

“Thank you aunt Meera…. I love this...”

I thanked taking her hand with both of my hands.  She smiled kindly at my gesture and patted my hands with her free hand.

“Let’s go dear. It’s almost time for the party and I’m sure my son and husband are waiting for us downstairs…” She took my hand and we both went to downstairs.

“Well damn! look at you Hannah banana… you don’t look like a dork anymore…”

Chang whistled after seeing me and his father slapped the back of his head making me and aunt Meera laugh.

“Ok Ok I won’t be rude. Let’s go my sister from another mother...”

He drapped his arm around my shoulder leading me out while his father took her mother’s hand to his.

When we arrived to the hotel it was already half filled with family members. All of them were wearing elegant and beautiful traditional clothing.

After Chang introducing me to his cousins Aunt Meera took my hand and led to elderly family members.

“Come here honey… this is my late sister’s mother in law. She is representing my brother in law since he had to go back to UK for an urgent business matter...”

Aunt Meera introduced me to an elegant older woman with a kind face.

“Oh you must be Hannah right? Meera has spoken a lot about you. You look beautiful darling...”

she said patting my face lovingly reminding my own grandmother. She is such a sweet person.

“Come here sit next to me. Young people don’t talk to us anymore. I would really like to get to know you since Meera considers you as a daughter…”

She said gesturing the chair next to her. Being unable to decline her request I sat next to her while aunt Meera excused us to attend another family member.

“So Hannah tell me about you… Do you have a job or are you still in college..?”

“Oh actually I am studying to be a nurse…”

I answered her not knowing where this discussion was going.

“Nurse? That is great. You know dear, my grandson is a doctor. He also lives in America…. Wait, let me introduce you to him. He is very handsome young man. And you dear really matches with him...”

She said looking around searching for her grandson. I also looked around but I did that to find someone to get me out of this because this lady is clearly trying to be a match maker.

Luckily I was able to catch Chang’s eyes and I pleaded his with my eyes to save me. He laughed silently and walk toward us.

“Hi grandma Huan! Can I steal Hannah from here? She hasn’t eaten anything yet…”

He said greeting her with humor still in his eyes and I was already up from the seat and ready to flee.

“Oh Chang… But I was going to introduce her to Bojing…”

She said still looking around.

“Don’t worry grandma I know where he is. I’ll introduce them to each other ok…”

He reassured the old lady.

“Alright then… I’ll see you around Hannah dear…”

She said giving me permission to leave and I didn’t waste another minute after saying good bye and left there practically dragging Chang who was laughing openly now.

“I guess she tried to set you up with Bojing…”

He said when we were good distance away from the table.

“Don’t laugh. It felt weird  Chang. This is my first experience of that sort of situation.”

I said pinching him.

“Don’t worry Hannah. she tends to do that whenever she saw a beautiful girl. Since she is old she wants her grandson to get married soon but Bojing  really don't  care about getting married. I guess it is bothering her…”

He laughed and put his arm around my shoulder leading me to my favorite place. The food table. Even though I am also a good cook and a baker these Chinese food screamed celebration.

Rest of the night went on smoothly. After talking to lot of people I needed a small break so I sneaked out to get some fresh air. You can’t blame me because that family was huge. At least there were two hundred plus family members there.

Outside of the hotel was beautiful. There was a pond in the garden which was illuminated by the rays of full moon.  It was huge and water lilies and lotus made the pond look like a little paradise. I walked toward the pond and sat on a rock in the edge. Little breeze went making flowers in the water to sway. I could feel the golden tussle of my hairpin swaying along with them.

I carefully took it out of my hair and look at it. It shone in the moonlight and looked more beautiful than before. Suddenly I heard a cry and cold and strong wind went past me. I quickly stood up looking for the crying person clutching the hairpin tightly.

“Hello… who is there…?”

I called looking around but no response  came.

Suddenly strong gust of wind  made me lose my balance. I could feel my foot slipping and next thing I knew I fell in to the pond.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Someone’s cry woke me up from my sleep.

“Empress, please wakeup. You can’t leave me like this…” 

I could hear a young girl’s voice right next to my head.

I opened my eyes and looked around the room. It looked like a room from ancient Chinese dramas. This must be a hotel room.

‘Someone might have saved me from drowning and let me rest here.’

I thought looking around.

When I searched for the crying person I was surprised to see an unfamiliar Chinese girl in ancient clothing sitting on the floor crying her eyes out.

“Who are you..?”

I asked the girl. My voice didn’t sound like me. May be it’s a side effect of drowning..

Crying girl looked up hearing my voice and her eyes were wide and red from crying.

“Oh my empress I thought you wouldn’t wakeup...”

She said wiping her tears.

“Yeah well I’m fine…”

I said stretching my body and then it hit me. I quickly sat up.

“Wait… what did you say? What did you call me?” I asked the girl.

“My empress… I am so sorry your highness... I didn’t think you would wake up after last night. You were pale and didn’t look well…. But I am so happy now...”

She said with a face splitting wide smile.

“Empress” I muttered to myself.  “EMPRESS” then yelled. The girl looked at me confused and nodded.

“EMPRESS WHO???” I shouted.

And then it hit me for the second time. I wasn’t speaking English. It was Chinese. I was speaking Chinese.

And then my friends I fainted, again.