To Be or Not To Be A Family - Chapter 98

The morning came, birds chirped, the sun rose, the weather slightly started changing. It was getting slightly hotter day by day. Both Ashma and Vidhi were lying on the bed staring at the roof. No one moved, no one said a single word. They were even breathing quietly not to wake the other person up.

They knew that everyone would be waiting for them at the breakfast table but they were not in the mood. Vidhi was still crying and Ashma knew that Vidhi was still crying. Whatever she wanted to say, she said last night. Now, she had no words except to let her mother cry and lessen the burden of her heart.

And by now, Young-Soo must have told Eun-Kyung everything. How will both the woman face each other? One was trying to snatch the other’s husband after the first one married the other’s lover. How will anyone cope in such a situation? Moreover, he had kids with both women.

No one scolds the man in such a situation. The circumstances entangled three lives together with the guarantee of a broken heart. Moreover, the women are pitched against each other. Who was he to choose one of them? But in this case, women were at a disadvantage. It was absolutely Young-Soo’s decision whom he wanted to stay with.

“Are you awake, mom?” said Ashma, sweetly.

Vidhi didn’t speak, she just turned to the other side and closed her eyes. Two drops of tears fell on her pillow. Her pillow was already wet with all the crying.

“Mom! Mom! Please wake up,” pleaded Ashma.

“I am awake,” sobbed Vidhi.

“Please get up. You need to eat something,” said Ashma.

“No. You were right. I need to return to India,” sniffled Vidhi.

“You won’t get a ticket at this time of the day,” said Ashma.

“I want to leave,” protested Vidhi.

“I know mom, I will get your ticket as soon as one is available,” said Ashma.

“I want to go now,” cried Vidhi still lying on the bed.

“Mom!” Ashma went near her mother.

“Ashu! I can’t take it anymore,” sobbed Vidhi.

“Come here, mom,” Ashma made her sit up and hugged her tightly. Vidhi kept her head on Ashma’s shoulder and kept crying. “And you are my mom, strong, independent, kind and sweet. You have high endurance. You have been enduring what society has been throwing at you and you came out victorious. Then what is this crying and all? Please don’t cry. If you cry I too will start crying. Mom! Please forget about him.”

Vidhi sobbed and kept hugging Ashma.

“You need to take a bath and eat something. Come on!” Ashma pulled her mother and forced her to stand up. She took her mother near the bathroom and pushed her inside.

“I will get out your dress,” offered Ashma.

After almost an hour, Vidhi came out of the bathroom. Her eyes were red, her face was swollen. It was clear that she kept crying in the shower. She was only in a towel and Ashma had laid her clothes out on the bed. It was a pink and white salwar suit with a net dupatta. While Vidhi dressed herself, Ashma went and brushed her teeth. She didn’t take a shower as she knew her mother would need her.

Ashma dragged her mother to the breakfast table where all were sitting in the kitchen having breakfast. Young-Soo avoided looking at Vidhi and Ashma. Eun-Kyung looked at Vidhi’s swollen face and felt bad for her. Young-Soo told her everything that happened. Young-Jae just looked at both of them and without any expression continued eating his food.

Four people in the house didn’t sleep at the night, Ashma, Vidhi, Eun-Kyung and Young-Soo. Eun-Kyung and Young-Soo kept discussing what happened at the night. They were happy that Ashma were on their side and allowed Young-Soo to call her, his daughter. But on the other hand, they were feeling sorry for Vidhi. She was heartbroken, again.

Eun-Kyung knew that she was planning and plotting to snatch her husband, even Young-Soo knew that Vidhi was lying to all including her own daughter but still, they felt bad for Vidhi. The whole night, Young-Soo explained what happened on the terrace and Eun-Kyung kept hearing his story with all kinds of expressions change.

In-Ho placed the food plates in front of Ashma and Vidhi. Ashma thanked him with gratitude as always. Vidhi looked at everyone, children were busy in eating, oblivious to what happened yesterday. She looked at Eun-Kyung, she was looking at her with pity but when their eyes met, Eun-Kyung immediately lowered her gaze. She then looked at Young-Soo, asking for one last look but he never looked at her. He concentrated on his plate. Ashma was noticing her mother.

Suddenly, Vidhi cleared her throat and said, “I am sorry to disturb your morning, but I have something to tell you all.”

“What?” chirped Bong-Cha.

“I will be going back tomorrow or at the earliest availability of the ticket,” announced Vidhi.

“Noo… what? So soon?” screamed Bong-Cha.

“Ashma told you that I will be leaving,” said Vidhi.

“Yes, but so soon,” pouted Bong-Cha.

“What? Why don’t I know about this?” asked Baek-Hyeon, surprised.

“Because you are a moron,” teased Bong-Cha.

“Bongie!” scolded Eun-Kyung.

“Sorry, Uhmma.”

“And I don’t think I will be able to come back in September. My students have mid-semester exams in September/October. I am sorry,” proclaimed Vidhi.

“No,” screamed Baek-Hyeon. “Uhmma, say something.”

“Please come to the wedding,” requested Eun-Kyung.

Vidhi didn’t have the courage to address Vidhi as she said to Bong-Cha, “I am sorry Bong-Cha, that will not be possible. I have to leave.”

“But what about your health?” asked Baek-Hyeon. Young-Soo was silently listening in on the conversation. He was too sorry for treating Vidhi, badly.

“I am fine. And before flying I will get a clean bill of health,” said Vidhi.

“But aunty!” protested Bong-Cha.

“It’s okay Bong-Cha, Ashma will be here. Remember, she has work to do.”

“But we will miss you,” said Bong-Cha.

“I will miss every one of you more,” stated Vidhi.

“I am sorry again for calling you under pretences,” apologised Bong-Cha.

“Does not matter, dear. It’s all okay,” said Vidhi.

“But, why are your eyes red?” suddenly Bong-Cha noticed.

Everyone went quiet after her query. Half the family knew what happened yesterday and half the family had no idea. Eun-Kyung, Young-Soo and Ashma knew why her eyes were red whereas Bong-Cha, Young-Jae and Baek-Hyeon had no idea.

“Oh, that. Soap went into my eyes. I took almost an hour to take a bath today,” lied Vidhi with ease.

“Are you okay?” asked Baek-Hyeon.

“I am okay now.”

“If you can’t attend my marriage, attend my engagement ceremony,” proposed Baek-Hyeon.

“You are not yet engaged?” asked Ashma, surprised.

“We are but there is a small ceremony where we will exchange rings,” said Baek-Hyeon.

“Yeah, we will go to our ancestral house and media and all the big names of Korea will be present there,” said Bong-Cha.

“Oh no, that will be a big affair, I would like to avoid that,” fibbed Vidhi.

Eun-Kyung felt sorry for her as she kept avoiding staying and attending more parties. So, she said, “nonsense, Baek-Hyeon is right. Attend the engagement ceremony before leaving. After that ceremony, we won’t stop you.”

“But, Eun-Kyung,” protested Vidhi.

“I know Vidhi, I know everything. Please stay,” emphasised Eun-Kyung.

“I am sorry,” Vidhi lowered her head with shame.

“Why are you sorry, aunty?” asked Bong-Cha, surprised.

“She is sorry because she couldn’t attend the wedding,” interrupted Young-Soo.

“Please stay till my engagement ceremony,” pressured Baek-Hyeon.

“When is it?” asked Vidhi, politely.

“Next Saturday,” informed Baek-Hyeon.

“But it’s too far away,” protested Vidhi.

“Oh, that day will appear just like that.” Baek-Hyeon snapped his fingers.

Young-Jae rolled his eyes after hearing the conversation. He was so happy that Vidhi was going back but his stupid family stopped her.

“What work do you have here, Ashma?” asked Bong-Cha.

“Um… that’s a surprise, but what the hell?” said Ashma.

Bong-Cha dragged her chair near Ashma while sitting on it. Ashma rolled her eyes at her.

“What is the surprise?” asked Bong-Cha.

“This a surprise for Baek-Hyeon and Junior Park,” announced Ashma.

“What?” screamed Baek-Hyeon and Young-Soo in unison.

“I had a chat with Yong-Sun. We are going to collaborate on the new design and this design will appear in London fashion week,” proclaimed Ashma.

“Oh my god! Really?” shouted Baek-Hyeon. Young-Soo was too perplexed to speak.

“Yes, really,” said Ashma with a big smile.

“Oh thank you, thank you, thank you,” Baek-Hyeon ran to her and hugged her with all the emotions he was feeling.

“Okay, calm down!” shouted Ashma and tried to move him away from him but he clung to her like a magnet.

“But how is this a surprise for Soona?” asked Eun-Kyung, confused.

“Um… the dress of models will be in accordance with his handicrafts and they will walk on the ramp with the handicrafts,” stated Ashma.

“What?” shouted Young-Soo, shocked.

“Yes, I am sorry for what I said that night. I want to take your brand and make it international,” apologised Ashma.

“You will do that for me?” Young-Soo was puzzled.

“Yes, of course,” said Ashma,s wetly and kindly.

“How did you get this idea?” asked Young-Soo.

“I was trying to think how to say sorry to you and this came to my mind. Then I talked with Yong-Sun and he was on board,” chirped Ashma.

“Of course, he would be on board. Do you have any idea how long we have tried to contact your office for a collaboration?” asked Baek-Hyeon.

“I know.”

“Why now? Are you not busy?” mocked Baek-Hyeon.

“Do you want me to cancel?” Ashma teased back.

“Oh, no, sorry, sorry,” cried Baek-Hyeon.

“I am teasing.”

“I would love to kiss you right now,” Baek-Hyeon moved her lips towards her cheeks. She moved her head away from him.

“Please don’t do that and get away from me,” said Ashma.

“Oh my god, wait till Chin-Sun hears that. She will jump from her roof with happiness,” shouted Baek-Hyeon.

“Ha-ha.” Everyone started laughing.. The tense environment became light immediately.