To Be or Not To Be A Family - Chapter 81

Ashma was lying on the bed with her eyes lowered, not looking at anyone. She would move her hand over her temple to ease her pain. Yong-Sun kept glancing at her every now and then and noticed that she was in pain. He felt pity for her. All others were surrounding Ashma with concern.

“Are you sure you guys didn’t fight?” muttered Seung.

“I said shut up,” Yong-Sun murmured back. Ashma looked at Eun-Kyung and gestured to take everyone out. Eun-Kyung nodded and assured her with her eyes.

“Okay everyone let her rest,” announced Eun-Kyung. She then looked at Yong-Sun and Seung and said, “you two, murmur outside.”

“Sorry,” said Yong-Sun and Seung in unison.

All left Ashma alone and went outside. She sighed with relief. To avoid crying she closed her eyes and exhaled big puffs of air through her mouth. She was hurting Yong-Sun but the one feeling the pain was she herself.

Seung looked at Yong-Sun’s disheartened face and shouted stealthily, “just tell me what happened.”

Yong-Sun was on the verge of crying. “Nothing happened and nothing will happen,” he answered.

“What do you mean?” Seung was surprised.

“She wants nothing to do with me,” said Yong-Sun, sadly.

“What? Is she stupid?” Seung got angry.

“Don’t say a single word about her,” reprimanded Yong-Sun.

“Ohh, so protective.”

“No, it’s my fault. She warned me at the beginning itself, she said she was not here for a new relationship and I chose to not pay that any heed. I was wrong, I should have listened to her. She is right. Her whole life is in India, my whole life is in Korea. We have nothing in common,” explained Yong-Sun and hung his head, defeated.

Seung placed his hand on his shoulder with concern and said, “I am sorry, man. We all know how much you like her.”

“You don’t have to be sorry. It’s my kismet. If she is supposed to end up with me she will say love you to me, if not, no issues. Both ways she is free to make her decisions. It’s her life,” said Yong-Sun, depressed.

“You are a good man, Yongsuna,” complimented Seung.

“Thank you, friend,” smiled Yong-Sun and hugged Seung.

“Well, I should leave. I will come back after 3-4 hours,” announced Seung.

“See you then,” said Yong-Sun.

The whole day Ashma was not allowed to get up from her bed. She was fed on the bed, she drank on the bed. The whole house kept surrounding her to take care of her except Yong-Sun. Not once, did he enter her room.

By the evening, she was feeling like herself. Seung came after a few hours and removed her IV. She was not queasy, there was no pain, no tiredness. Her headache was gone. Her hangover was cured. She was feeling better but the pain in her heart persisted. There was no cure for that and she would feel like that all her life until and unless she would accept Yong-Sun.

The decorations were done, the food was ready, the drinks were ready to be opened. All were waiting for the guests. One by one the whole Seo, Man and Park family started getting ready. The yellow, the pink, the lilac, the grey, the lavender, the blue, the green pastel-cloured hanboks were adding vibrancy to the decoration.

The Pastel-cloured balloons were wrapped all around the columns. The stairs of the house were decorated with lavender and silver net cloth. Silver and Golden frills were hanging from the roof. A big banner saying “HAPPY BIRTHDAY” was hung on the wall. It seemed as if it was a birthday of a child and, not an old man.

It was known that Young-Jae was every fond of his birthday. He had a grand surprise party every year but this year he knew everyone was angry at him. No one was talking to him properly then how will they throw a birthday party for him. He knew everyone was angry at him for treating Ashma badly. Everyone was angry at him for making her drink. Everyone was angry at him for making her faint. In short, he was sure that this year he was not going to get his party.

All the house members, all the guests were wearing traditional dresses except Ashma, who was in a blue pantsuit. She looked business-like even though she was attending a party. She had no interest in wishing him, good wishes. She didn’t even want to talk to Young-Jae.

Introductions after introductions were made with Ashma. She was getting tired after meeting with so many guests of Eun-Kyung. Her cheeks started hurting after constantly smiling at her guests.

“How many more, Mumma?” complained Ashma.

“Just a few more, dear.”

“Why me? My cheeks are hurting.”

“Drama Queen!” teased Eun-Kyung. “Everyone wants to thank you for what you did for Hae-won and Korea. You represented Korea in your fashion show.”

“That was nothing,” said Ashma.

“It is a big deal.”

“Fine. Let us carry with the introductions,” said Ashma, defeated.

People were chatting and laughing and everyone was happy. Before Eun-Kyung could make any more introductions, a car engine’s sound made everyone attentive.

“He is here, everyone quiet,” shouted Bong-Cha. “Ashma! Get the lights.” Ashma looked at the switch, Yong-Sun was closer to them. She looked at Bong-Cha and raised her eyes brow. “Please for me,” mouthed Bong-Cha.

“Fine, I will get the lights,” said Ashma. Yong-Sun looked at her. Even the pantsuit looked good on her. Ashma moved towards the lights and switched them off. The whole room turned dark. Everyone was silent.

The next instant, Young-Jae moved in in darkness. “What happened to the light? Pyo-ssi!” shouted Young-Jae. He was disheartened to see that no one was there to wish him. No one wished him the whole day, not even a single person. He thought that he would be welcomed with a party but to his dismay, there were not even lights to welcome with, let alone a party.

Everyone shouted in unison, “SURPRISE” and there was light. Ashma’s mouth fell open. She moved to get the lights but someone switched them on before her. An electric current was running all over her body as she was touching Yong-Sun. His hand was touching the switch and her hand was touching his.

They both looked at each other. They both gulped simultaneously. They both were looking into each other’s eyes. The time stopped, the earth stopped spinning. There was no one else around them. Even though she wanted nothing to do with him, even though she rejected his advances, she was sure of the chemistry between them.

Everyone else shouted, “HAPPY BIRTHDAY” and wished Young-Jae. He was on the verge of crying but he controlled himself. He was too happy with the surprise and the decorations and the guests and the food and the drinks.

But Ashma and Yong-Sun were in their own world. They didn’t hear any shouting, they just kept looking into each other’s eyes. Ashma’s fingers were touching Yong-Sun’s fingers. He just wanted to grab her and kiss her. She too wanted him to kiss her but no one moved.

“Ashma! Come here,” said Eun-Kyung.

Her voice brought them back to the land of the living. They became aware of their surroundings. Ashma gulped again and removed her hand from his. He looked at her moving away from him.

Eun-Kyung introduced Ashma to a few more guests.

“How did you like the surprise, harabuhji?” asked Bong-Cha.

“I am so happy, sonnyuh,” smiled Young-Jae and hugged Bong-Cha.

“Okay, now go and change, I selected your dress by myself,” said Bong-Cha with a sweet smile on her face.

“Thank you, dear.”

He looked around at all the guests. His eyes fell on Ashma. All were in traditional dress except her. He understood that she was angry at him, that’s why avoided participating in his birthday. He was not even blaming her. But he was a little disappointed that someone was not celebrating his birthday.

He went upstairs and for a minute cried with happiness. He thought his family forgot about his birthday but not only did they remember it but they also threw him a surprise party.

Meanwhile, Eun-Kyung was almost done with her introductions.

“Finally!” exclaimed Ashma.

Eun-Kyung playfully hit her on her head. Ashma smiled at her. Vidhi’s blood was boiling after looking at their transactions. Ashma and Eun-Kyung were playful, happy with each other and she hated it.

“Not yet!”

“Mumma!” cried Ashma

“Just one more,” said Eun-Kyung, pleading.

“Fine,” murmured Ashma.

They moved towards a couple and Eun-Kyung said, “this is Ryan Jong-Ho, and his wife, Ryan Jin-Su, our friend.

“Nice to meet you,” Ashma bowed down.

Both were very happy to see that she was greeting them the Korean way. “Oh, it’s a pleasure. My wife is a fan of yours, she always follows Hae-Won and…” started Jong-Ho.

But his wife interrupted, “I am a big fan. I have two of your dresses.”

“Just two?” Ashma asked, disappointed.

“Do you have any idea how hard it is to get your dress?”

“No, I had no idea,” said Ashma.

“Make more, make one for me too,” chimed Jin-Su.

“Ryan-ssi!” shouted Eun-Kyung.

“Sorry Park-ssi, I couldn’t resist,” said JIn-Su. All laughed together and Ashma was done with the introductions.

All were roaming around the party talking and chatting with each other when Ashma choked on her drink. She ran towards the rugged faced, average height man and said through gritted teeth, “How dare you enter this house?”