"It seems that Auntie and Uncle are here again." Jaya said.
I looked up while I was trying to fix my earrings and while welcoming the guests inside the house.
It was a full occasion where all the relatives that were around (even some that weren't) came as well. Bua ji was talking peacefully with mama, one of the few rare occasions, while fufa ji was at it again haggling about the cost of everything that he used to spend in setting up for the ceremony.
"You see those chairs that you bought, I know someone who could have provide you the very same just 75 percent of...and ahhh what was the need in getting all these caterers? You could just hire at least two or three people and you are set. Wasting all this money for all these people? What was the need in hiring these drummers when..."
I shook my head as fufa ji trailed on and papa was trying his very best in trying to ignore him but was disturbed once again from the loud noises of people arguing.
I shook my head as true to Jaya's words, Malika's parents were walking in towards the foyer area, arguing among one another.
I sighed and tried to prop a fake smile and signaled for Jaya to flank on towards Uncle side, separating the two and she actually followed through with something for once.
"Hello, Auntie and Uncle ji." I said smiling in greeting.
Auntie was dressed over the top in a gorgeous black and pink saree in which she was adorned with jewelry throughout her body while uncle was just dressed in a plain black suit.
"And you are..." She looked at me, measuring me up and down as if there was something wrong with me.
"My mother can be a tad bit of a handful and a little stand-off-ish at times..." Malika said.
I see what you mean Malika...I see what you mean.
But I propped up a fake smile and extended my hand in greeting.
"I'm Malika's nanad, Shraddha." I said while still having my hand still outstretched.
Once I said that the scorn that she had on her face disappeared and instead a smile came on her lips.
She immediately wrapped her arms around me and I looked back at her husband, or ex-husband who smiled at me before he turned to Jaya to shake her hand and say hello to her.
Malika's mother finally unraveled her arms around me as I stared back at her in confusion.
"So sorry dear...but Malika told me so much about you, especially since about what happened in your past. I cannot believe you endured so many hardships but you still face the world with so much positivity." She said.
"Another thing...she is really involved in the whole feminism thingy so please..please...please if she goes on about your past just stop her...if you let her continue she will start bringing up stuff about work. She is a prosecutor so it will not be best to let her continue." Malika warned.
"Umm...thank you...auntie ji, its...nice...but all of that is in the past." I said staring at her in apprehension.
"Past? Malika told me you guys paid him off? Paid him off? Why on Earth would you do that?! He could come back and demand for more?! This is proof that could be used against you showing that you guys pressured him and were threatening him and tried to pay him off. That was a horrible decision. Do you know he could come back and threaten you guys for more money? Sheesh! There are women everyday who's abandoned by their husband and have nowhere to go. Worse yet they are abused and left stranded on the streets and sometimes forced into prostitution..."
She continued on her rant and there were more people entering and Jaya quickly pounced on greeting them and leaving me here with Malika's mother.
"...that is why its very important for women to seek an education and stop relying on a man for them to support themselves. See if you never eloped you could have finished college..." she said.
"Technically I finished college. I earned by bachelors in commerce and business management..." I tried interrupting but she continued onward until luckily Uncle came back and interrupted her rant.
"That is enough, Shraddha doesn't need you to give her advice when you are one to not follow it." He said.
I looked at Uncle and silently wanted to thank him with my whole heart.
"Excuse me?" she said to uncle and before she could finish onward with her rant, uncle quickly escorted further into the house and I silently signaled him my sign of appreciation and he nodded.
I heaved a deep sigh and greeted more of the guests and was about to greet the next batch until mama came at my side.
"Shraddha can you please tell everyone to come downstairs as everything is about to begin?" she said.
I smiled and nodded.
"Thank you dear and by the way..." She stopped as she smiled and kissed my forehead and drew away before she cupped my right cheek.
"You are looking beautiful today. I can't say enough on how much of a joy its been having you back home for the past two days." She said while smiling.
I blushed at the compliments and smiled.
"Thank you mama." I said while smiling even more and she nodded and soon papa's voice could be heard from the crowd as he was calling her.
"Sorry Shraddha but your father is trying to escape your uncle..." she said while chuckling.
I laughed and she smiled before she went to rescue dad and I headed upstairs to pull everyone downstairs until I saw Ishaan and Ashish busily laughing as Ishaan had his son securely in his arms.
They were both looking sharp and handsome as both were dressed in a kurta's; one a dark navy blue the other in a black and silver one.
I smiled when both noticed me.
"Wow...didi, you are looking beautiful."Ishaan said while smiling.
I shook my head.
"I think something is wrong with you, you have been paying me a lot of compliments as of late." I said while smiling.
Ishaan eyes bulged and he looked embarrassed.
"No...no...no I was being serious..." Ishaan said.
"Its true though, you are looking beautiful." Ashish said while grinning.
I stared at him and smiled.
"You guys are being too nice to me as of late." I said while looking at them skeptically.
Ashish scrunched up his eyes in confusion.
"You guys are heading down? Where is Anand?" I asked changing the conversation.
"He said he had to get Mithra and that he will be after us." Ashish said.
"Okay...thanks...where is Malika?" I asked Ishaan.
"She is still getting ready." He said.
I nodded.
"I meet you guys downstairs, I'm just going to round up everyone." I said while turning around to find the three missing people in action.
I went by Kittu's and Anand's room and saw both, with Anand holding onto Mithra who was busy suckling on her thumb as she stared at her mother and father.
"There you two...we have..."
Before I could finish my statement Anand pulled Kittu into a kiss and I felt my whole face turn red as I quickly exited the room.
I held onto my cheeks mortified.
I didn't need to see that...
I sighed.
I can always just get Malika, I bet eventually Kittu and bhaiyaa will come downstairs so no need for me to worry.
No need to worry...
Unless they decide...
UGH!!!!! NO!!!!!
Get that image out of my head!
No NEED FOR THAT IMAGE!!!!
I shook my head fervently and headed towards Ishaan's and Malika's room and knocked on the door this time around before I entered.
"Malika sorry for disturbing you but everyone has to come downstairs, the ceremony is about to start..."
I trailed off as I saw Malika staring at herself through the mirror while she mindlessly was putting on bracelet after bracelet on her wrist not noticing that she was piling on way too much that was already reaching her arms.
Her hair was still hanging loose and she didn't have any makeup on at all.
I sighed and entered the room, closing the door behind me, and even then she still didn't notice my presence.
I sighed.
I walked over towards and grabbed the bracelet she was about to put on her wrist.
She quickly turned around and I smiled as I dangled the bracelet in my hand.
"I think that is more than enough bracelets." I said while pointing at her arm.
She looked at me confused and then looked down at her arm and her eyes bulged out in alarm.
"What the heck!" she quickly started taking the excess bracelets off as I laughed and helped her put them back in place.
"What the heck was I doing..."she mumbled.
I smiled softly but it turned into a frown.
"I'm sorry Shraddha, everyone is probably waiting for me downstairs and I'm not even ready. I can't do anything right as of late..." Malika started saying while struggling to take the last set of bracelets from her wrist.
I took her hand in mine and she looked at me.
"If you remove your bracelets like that you will wound yourself." I said as I carefully took off the last set.
I placed them together and showed her other sets of bracelets that were gold and other that was green gold.
"Which one?" I asked.
She stared at me and it looked like she was going to say something yet instead just pointed at the green bracelets.
"Great choice...especially since it matches your eyes." I said while smiling and even though it was small and its been seen in a long time, she gave a brief smile before she edged it away back into a thin line.
I placed them on either of her wrists.
"I'm going to do your hair and makeup." I said while getting up.
She nodded.
"Some of my stuff is in the closet." Malika said.
I looked at her confused.
"I had too much stuff that wouldn't fit in the drawers, so I kind of just left it there." She said with another soft smile.
I shook my head and for the next 30 minutes I completely finished fixing her makeup and was midway working on using the curling iron to curl her hair until she finally spoke.
"Why didn't you say anything earlier?" Malika asked.
I carefully unraveled the lock of hair from the heat of the iron, causing the locks to fall down in a small mass of a locked curl.
I carefully glided my hands through it to separate it and picked up another set of hair before I raveled it back in the curling iron.
"I already know Malika why you weren't ready. Plus I don't want to make you any more anxious than you already are." I said carefully as I gather another set to pass through the iron.
I continued until her hair was in a mass of curls and I carefully picked up her large mass of her and carefully styled her hair into a bun using some pins into her hair until it would stay upright while I left some tendrils in front of her face.
"There now! You look gorgeous. I know I know I know, before you jump all at once at my creative skills. I sometimes wonder if I should have bumped college and just went into cosmetology.
"I...I...I don't know if I can..." Malika started and I placed my hand on her shoulder.
"Malika..." I said.
She looked up at me and there was once again fear in her eyes.
"This is a big day for you and your child. I can't say anything that will help you but I will say this, if you are scared and if you are at the tipping point just reach out for me and I will help you. Do you understand?" I said while staring down at her and she looked at me startled and she gave a soft smile.
"Thank you Shraddha." She said softly.
"No need for thanks...it's no fun...I miss the cheerful Malika who always defend me against Jaya and who would whine all day that I don't like her or love her as much as everyone else." I said while pouting.
Malika looked at me shocked and for the first time in a long time I heard her laugh.
It was soft and it didn't last as long as compared to the other times she would edge on towards her fits of laughter.
"It seems that Jaya even noticed...she hasn't been pissing me off as she usually do." Malika said while smiling.
I smiled and Malika suddenly got up and I looked at her surprised.
"Malika?" I asked confused.
She looked at me and for the first time there wasn't worry or fear in them.
"I'm pretty sure this will wear off after you leave, but even then today is a special day for everyone so I will keep my worries tampered down...for now. I have to be normal at least for mama and papa ji's sake as well for Ishaan's...so I will try really hard to just pretend as if everything is okay. I will bear this for now." She said with her hands clenched into a tight fist but the fire and determination didn't reach her eyes.
I stared at her with a worried expression and placed my hand on her shoulder.
"Don't push yourself Malika." I said giving her smiled.
She nodded and she tried to give a smile but it still didn't reach her eyes.
"I guess since you are still this worried you won't even care that I made your favorite." I said while folding my hands together.
"Favorite?" she questioned.
I turned to look at her and there was interest in her eyes.
I smiled and nodded.
"But if you insist on staying up here, who knows who might take it first...but then again..." I trailed on.
I heard her shuffle and heard as she got up and came towards me.
"That is not funny...I'm really hungry." She said showing a pout.
I smiled and swung my arm around her neck and smiled at her.
"Then let's get some." I said and she smiled and nodded and we left the room.
*******************
The clicking of my heels could be heard as I walked down the hall towards my study.
There were two maids with their eyes peered on the floor and when they caught wind of my presence they gripped the handles of the door that lead inside.
"Ms. Hwang." They both announced to alert the visitor that was waiting inside.
The guest immediately got up and his pair of rusted brown eyes quickly connected with mine.
"Ms. Hwang." A deep scratchy voice announced.
I picked up a quick smile and gave him a curt nod.
"Director Nam, no need to be so formal, just Yoona is fine." I said while greeting him.
He was an older man with a large frame that was gaining support from the cane that he had on left his side.
His once black hair was a heavy set of white and gray hairs that were centered on the large bald spot that was in front of his head.
"You are looking more gorgeous each and every single day." He said.
At that I smiled and motioned for him to sit down.
"Thank you ma'am." He said and I followed suit in sitting down in my own chair.
I snapped my fingers and soon two maids came out to place a tea set in front of us and began preparing tea and I took my time to focus on Director Nam, giving him a false smile.
"Thank you Director Nam, you are complimenting too much." I said while smiling at him.
"No ma'am you are. You single handedly was able to control everyone earlier yesterday, especially Director Pil Chung." He said annoyed.
I smiled and one of the maids handed me a cup of tea and the director one.
"He likes his with sugar." I said while motioning to the maid and she nodded and quickly began to mix some sugar inside and once they were finished they quickly excused themselves after they headed out the door.
"You don't like sugar?" he asked.
I smiled.
"I'm already sweet as it is, why would I need to add in anything else?"
He chuckled and began to drink his tea and I stared at him as I blew on my tea carefully and soon took a sip.
He completely finished his glass of tea.
"Do you want some more..."
He nodded and I called someone and they came back to pour him more tea and stir in more sugar.
"I understand that some of your activities as of late has been questionable and that we were just as shock as everyone when your father announced you as the CEO, but still we should be working collectively for the company." He said suddenly.
I looked at him from the rim of my cup.
"I do admit that this has been a big responsibility on my part since I have taken over my father's company, but I promise that I will expand it past my father's original intentions." I said and resumed to take another sip of my tea.
The director smiled and I couldn't help but catch the quick change in his expression as he drank the tea and I smiled even more and placed my saucer and tea cup back on the table.
"Let's cut to the chase, why are you here Director?" I said while folding my legs together causing my skirt to hike even higher along my thigh causing the Director to stare and I would have felt flattered and amused if I wasn't more so annoyed.
I coughed and his expression changed into one looking that was troubled and calculating but he quickly smoothed it over with a smile.
"Because I think that madam should at least have someone working for her as a partner." He said.
"Partner? Why would I need a partner?" I said.
"Because there are still some things that you still don't understand about business. I mean the deal you made with the jewelry company from India was a dead giveaway. We are losing more than gaining from this partnership the same with the countless others that you have made." He said.
At that I smirked.
"It seems Director as you are getting older; you are forgetting parts of history. The company is doing even better than ever due to all the contracts that I have garnered. All our sponsors and current partners that is under our belt is all due to this "unfair" contract deal on our part."
"That is only because they have pulled back..." he tried to argue..
"No, it's because I gave them an inch and then I cut them where they stand. So Director, I'm sorry but I will be declining your proposition of becoming partners..."
I tried to finish but he slammed his hands on the arm of the couch and his face flushed a deep red making him look like a fat roll of sausage.
"This wasn't a proposition this was an order!" he barked.
I arched my eyebrow.
"An order? How is it possible that the CEO is receiving orders from her employees?" I said cocking my head to the side.
"Not when the CEO has the chance of being tossed out from her position!" he screamed.
"How is that possible? My father owns the company and he have left me in command? How is it possible for me to be thrown out?" I said.
"Because all the board members have voted to throw you out...all of us have! We don't know why the Chairman thought you would be suitable for the position." He said.
At that I smiled and picked up my cup of tea and while bringing it towards my lips as I stared at him.
"Director...do you always wonder as to why my father chose me to run his company?"
He just stared at me and said nothing.
"No suggestions? Very well then, I will continue. You guys that voted against me may see that smarts is the only key in succeeding, especially in this business world."
"Some people would say that it is sufficient, yet I don't think so. I think you don't need all that high and mighty certification. All you really need is this." I said while pointing at my head.
His blank expression twisted and contorted into one in pain.
His eyes bulged out from his head and he began coughing and was gripping onto the arm of the couch, causing his knuckles to become pale.
He began coughing even more until he spit out blood.
"Some say calculation is tiring and is for fools, but the reality is more than just calculating...you have to be willing to get yourself just as dirty and ready to toss out all your morals to take what you want." I said while staring at him.
He fell down on the ground and more blood started to come out.
I leaned forward in the edge of my seat.
"A minute of hesitation will cause your opponent to attack before you get the chance. You see this is why you cannot be my partner and importantly as to why you and the rest of the idiots can never throw me out of my company. You all don't want to get involved in your own dirt. See how you and everyone are hiding behind one another to out me? It's really sad...here I thought I could avoid all of this but you are not giving me much of a choice." I said.
He landed more so on the floor and clutched his stomach and sputtered even more blood onto the rug and causing his cane to fall against him as it landed on the floor.
"Come now...I really love the rug, it was part of an exclusive collection from Italy...really hard to find you know." I said annoyed.
He kept on sputtering...but he finally turned to look at me and mumbled something.
"What was that...I didn't catch it?" I said smiling at him.
"What...did...you...give...me?" he croaked out causing more blood to come out.
"Oh just a little something that will cause a lot of discomfort. But don't worry it's not toxic or anything and won't kill you but I always wonder what would happen if someone younger tries it." I said while staring at him.
He just looked at me confused.
"How are your two little girls? If I remember last time they were 7 and 12?" I said.
He looked at me sharply.
"Don't...do..."
"I know...I know...I was just asking...but I think you should understand that if you and the rest don't change your decision I will test out on whether it can cause the same amount of discomfort or rather it can actually kill someone..." I said while smiling.
"You...you..."
"I know, I know, you are going to say how beautiful and wickedly brilliant I must be, but just to make sure you understand how serious I am..."
Simultaneously someone knocked on the door and entered the room.
It was Ae Jung who came in carrying an envelope and she handed it to me.
She bowed before she left out the room.
I opened the envelope and pulled out the pictures and tossed it towards him and his eyes widened as he recognized the pictures of his children as they were leaving from school, out with their nannies, mother, and with their friends.
He looked at me and the smile I had on my face disappeared and I could see fear in his eyes.
"Don't let me act on my curiosity; I hope by the time next week's meeting begins that all the board members will be under one conscious agreement that I'm the leader and CEO of the company and no more talks of over throwing me. I'm not interested in visiting every member but I have already dealt with Director Pil Chung and he is on board. I hope you will be so as well." I said.
He continued to stare at me and I got up from my seat and picked up the bowl filled with sugar and walked over to him.
I stood in front of his face, my heels almost coming close to the pool of blood that didn't land on the rug.
I opened the lid of the sugar bowl and slowly poured the sugar onto the photos of his children.
I leaned down near him as he was slowly settling down and he tried to move away from me.
"This is the only warning I will give you and whether you tell anyone else...its always up to you...I don't mind. But there is one thing I hate. Repeating myself." I said and soon fear came into his eyes.
"Please, Director Nam don't test me. Once you cross me, I will deliver on the threat." I said while staring at his children's picture and I slowly began patting his head and made sure his head slipped into a pool of his own blood.
"Don't worry I will send you the bill for the rug and for the cleaning expenses. Other than this, I had a very lovely afternoon but I have other matters to attend to today." I said and I dusted my hands off and got up and left the room, signaling for Ae Jung to follow me.
"Have someone throw him out and did Doo Hyun call?" I said to her.
"Yes, the job has been taken care of Miss Yoona and he will be quiet from now on." She said.
At that I smiled and stretched out my hands.
"Here I was worried that I would have to delay my trip back to India but it seems everything solved itself, don't you think?" I said to her.
"Yes it has." She said.
I smiled.
"This time around you are coming along, I don't trust anyone else other than you and Doo Hyun." I said while staring at her.
She smiled and nodded.
I suddenly stopped and stared at her and she had her eyes lowered to the floor.
I sighed.
"Now everything is as it should be and I hate if I have to take a more serious course of action but oh well."
She looked up and I nodded at her.
"You're still going forth with it." She said.
"Director Nam has become a nuisance. Out of the two he is a little bit more resistant." I said.
She nodded and I looked back at her and she met my gaze.
"Don't kill them...don't want to deal with an unnecessary mess, just enough where they are close to it and he remains permanently obedient." I said.
"Yes Miss Yoona." She said and her eyes lowered and we carried on walking down the corridor.
*******************
I placed the incense sticks into the holder, kneeled down and bowed.
I waited for a few seconds before I got back up, bowed once more, and kneeled back down and bowed one final time.
I clasped my hands together into a silent prayer and soon images started to tear into my head once again and it took everything in me to silence them.
I did a final bow and prayer before I place a pile of pink hibiscuses for my mother who loved to plant them and then I placed some sakura for my brothers and father.
I then looked to my right which was another bouquet of flowers that were a pale crme color or white color of camellia flowers that my sister loved.
I placed it on the mound of soil and grass that was represented what was left of my family home.
It was nothing but a wide field of grass and dirt for a small farm that was running nearby.
I said a few prayers before I finished and got up from where I was kneeling.
I dusted off the dirt that was in front of the black hanbok that I was wearing and wasn't shocked when I heard a voice behind me.
"You're still doing this?" a soft male voice said.
"Yes." I said staring at the small blades of grass that was flickering past the flowers that I just laid down on the ground.
I heard shifting and I saw him come closer towards me and I looked up to see him looking at me but his expression was unreadable.
"This is useless...you know." He said.
I ignored him and continue what I was doing until I heard some shuffling and him to grumble.
After I finished I opened my eyes and was shocked to see him kneeling next to me and I smiled at him.
"Don't overthink it, my legs were getting tired from waiting for you to finish." He said.
I looked at him and he wore a blank expression and I couldn't read into his mind to see if what he was saying was a truth or a bluff.
"I'm leaving now...I have other business to attend to." I said after finishing up.
He remained silent so I got up and was going to go back and change.
"Where are you going this time?" he said.
I turned to him before I disappeared and gave him a smile.
"You already know yourself so why ask." I said.
He chuckled.
"That's true but remember not a word or..." he said with a serious expression and I raised my hand to stop him.
"No need to remind me, but she is making a move, a serious one and I can't keep playing around. If she is getting serious Shraddha has to as well." I said with a serious expression.
He stared at me and I could feel his mental probing in my head, to discover if I was telling the truth.
He nodded, seemingly pleased with whatever he found in my head.
"Be careful." He said with a sigh.
"Aren't I always?" I said giving him a wink.
He shook his head and gave me a serious expression.
"Not this time around, everything you have done so far...it's beyond what I thought you were capable in doing." He said.
"So you thought you were the only rule breaker? You should have known better if you were always reading my mind, you would have known that I have always broke the rules." I said with a smile to lighten up his serious expression.
His lips quirked up but he still maintained a serious expression.
"Don't ask for my help when things turn south." He said ignoring my earlier taunt.
"I won't need it." I said and before he could he respond I just as quickly disappeared from there.
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
Geet - Hui Sabse Parayee
Cricket
