This is a tale and yet it is not a mere story. Itee is living abroad as was her fervent desire to live and be free to be herself. Once when Itee and I became friends she looked sad and said, “Itee means a sort of ending. Why did my parents give me such a name? I'm not ending, I haven't even begun to live yet!”

It came clearly to me... the answer. I said, “Itee means a new beginning. And, now that sort of thing, you know Itee... you are going to make all your dreams come true.”

And one fine day her family found an educated young man from amongst their loads of acquaintances and Itee was ecstatic!! To go abroad... marry a dashing young man...and live away from home... Gosh!! Her dreams were about to become real.

But life has other plans. Though Itee and her husband lived more or less happily she wasn't demanding. She was just glad to be living well. They had two adorable children. And then, the bottom fell out of her world! Her husband abandoned her.

Through her letters I got to know how Itee picked up the broken pieces of her life and worked herself to the bone to keep herself and her babies alive...I was aghast! Itee was cleaning offices, working in departmental stores and God knows how she managed. One very good piece of jewellery and one flat (as a sort of apology) from her husband and sound advice from an extremely decent bank manager helped Itee to set up a small morning store and then Itee's grit and sunny side up kind of nature got her going! She became successful gradually. My husband and I were so happy for her.

Itee and I had shared such crazy times when we were silly, young inexperienced things. I remember when one day we decided to dress up, see a movie and treat ourselves to a dinner. Half way through the meal at a perfectly good restaurant we discovered that we were being watched. That took the wind out of our sails and we left in a hurry. It was getting dark but as usual when Itee was afraid she got us into a fit of giggles and though we were petrified at being followed the giggles would not cease!