Chapter 2

Back at the airport, Dr. Helman answers the routine questions of the immigration officer at the booth. Though tired, he maintains his composure in responding to the inquiries, which are all answerable with the same riposte yet are being asked in different ways.

“Welcome back to Thailand, Mister Helman,” said the immigration officer after all his inquiries. His smile, however, is not enough to mask his stern looks. To this, Dr. Helman responds with a weak nod and an even weaker smile.

After Pat, Arthit, and he are done in the immigration, they all walk towards the exit where a white Grandia is already waiting for them, engines running with its hazard lights on.

“Just in time,” said Dr. Patrick Neenga, a guy with an imposing figure, and one of Dr. Helman’s companion during the conference. He is a native of India, who transferred to Thailand after obtaining his doctorate degree at a university in Hyderabad. His colleagues usually call him Pat or Doc P, something to which he doesn’t object. Where Dr. Helman’s expertise is Botanical Cytology, Doc P’s is more towards Pedology. During the conference in Morocco, it was Doc P who answered questions that were mostly about soil structure and classification, and its relationship to plants and vegetations.

“That is what I like about Lee, he is always punctual,” said Arthit Amanpath. He is Exeter’s corporate secretary, which has been for quite a while now. As such, he takes care of his boss’ meetings and engagements down to the last detail. He is an organized guy not only in being a secretary, but also in his personal life. As Dr. Helman’s secretary, Arthit knows his boss’ sexuality, which he doesn’t mind at all. When asked once how it is like to be Dr. Helman’s secretary, he said “He is not like the other boss I worked with before. He treats you like a friend and not a subordinate.” Over the years, Arthit develops a feeling towards him – a romantic feeling – but he never dared to tell his boss about it out of respect. Besides, Exeter already has his Snobby.

When they are out of the airport, they see Lee Buphet standing by the sliding door of the van. Lee is one of their institute’s drivers, and he has been working as such since he finished his vocational course in pottery. According to him, when he was fifteen, it was his dad who taught him how to drive. Now at thirty, he has handled all kinds of light and mid-level vehicles from sedans to SUVs. However, he avoids driving big buses and trucks primarily because of the different feel in the steering wheel – especially during a turn. Another reason he never touches those types of vehicles is their gearing mechanism: because of their size, the speed that you need to reach before you can switch gears is different from those mid- and small-sized vehicles.

“Sawadee krap sirs!” Lee greeted as soon as the triumvirate reach him. He opens the sliding door for them and helps them with their luggage.

“Sawadee krap K’Lee. You really are punctual,” greeted Arthit back.

“It’s part of the job P’Arthit – being on time,” replied Lee. He addresses Arthit with “P’” out of respect despite being older than him.

Drs. Helman and Neenga pat their driver on the shoulder. Over time while working at the institute, the two doctors rarely greet Lee verbally and with a Wai. Rather, they give him a light pat or two on his shoulder.

With his three passengers and their belongings tucked inside the van, Lee quickly makes his way to the driver’s seat.

“How have you been N’Lee?” asked Dr. Neenga as soon as Lee takes his seat.

“I’m doing good, Doctor Neenga. Thank you for asking. How was the conference?”

The three at the back did not answer but exchange smiles and happy looks. Lee knows about the conference they attended, or at least what it was about. As for its details, however, it is beyond his league.

“No way,” he said, looking at the three with the same level of joy. “You did it, didn’t you Doctor Helman?” he continued.

Exeter nods instead of answering, still wearing a smile in his face while the other two men cheer in delight.

“Nice!” Lee shouted. He reaches out his hand to his three passengers for a handshake. “Congratulations, gentlemen. This is great news for Pharm,” he continued.

“Thank you nong,” said Dr. Helman, and then, lets go of Lee’s hand. “Now that we have been officially funded, we can start with the production. This is the start of our action against world hunger, gentlemen.”

“Where to?” asked Lee gleefully, as he knows that everybody in their institution will surely benefit from this success. He starts to maneuver his way out to the road.

“Have you already had breakfast Lee?” asked Arthit.

“Yes I did, P’. I had them back at the office before leaving to fetch your team.”

“Let’s get back to the institute then,” suggested Doc P.

“Roger that, P’Mho.”

Once out of the airport premises, there is an excitement in Dr. Helman, and its root cause is the result of the conference in Morocco – a success. After his presentation to Dr. Seb, the next one he will present the results to is his Snobby: he will try and do it in layman’s term. As they navigate the freeway, he opens his hand-carry bag and takes out a small box, lightly foamed on all sides. “This is for you, Snobby,” he said, rubbing his thumb on the top side of the box. He returns the item inside afterwards, and looks at the view outside the window to imagine how happy his boyfriend would be when he gives that present to him. Though elated, he never fails to follow his boyfriend’s command – to rest as they make their way to their lab. A little while after closing his eyes, he falls asleep, as did Doc P and Arthit.

Lee, in control of the pedals and the steering wheel, is careful not to speed too much in the freeway towards their destination – Pharm Botanical Research Institute.