Once the rings were exchanged, Mrs. Xie got off and hurried towards the three of them. She enveloped Jia Li in a tight hug.
"I am very upset with you. Is this the time to reach for your closest friend's important day?" she scolded all of them gently.
"We are very sorry, aunty. I caused the delay, so don't be angry with these two. There was something unavoidable, which had cropped up at my end last minute. But we are here now", smiled Jia Li.
"Yes aunty, and we have something special planned for Tang. For that we are going to need your help", said Li Jie, with a wink.
It was becoming increasingly difficult for Tang to concentrate on his immediate surroundings. Mr. Liang was apparently intent on introducing him to the entire population who was in attendance. Perhaps some of his discomfort showed on his face because his father walked up to Mr. Liang and whisked him away smoothly. Tang scanned the crowd for a sign of his friends but could not see even one of them.
"Looking for someone in particular?" asked Mei Zhen, a touch too casually.
"I am trying to find my friends. I saw them today after a really long time", he replied, matching her tone.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, can we have your attention please", beckoned the DJ who had been flown in especially from New York for the party.
Tang didn't pay heed as the guy went on prattling about the plan for the evening.
"Where the hell is she? Why can't I see her anywhere? They couldn't have left this place already", he despaired.
Suddenly he heard her voice, "Mei Zhen, many congratulations and best wishes from the three of us. Now what I am going to share with you, please accept it as our engagement gift to you. It is a secret about your fiancé, one that I am sure he hasn't shared with you yet. And I can say it with confidence because I know the reason for it – he is too modest, always has been. The truth is that you are going to get married to a closet Rockstar."
Jia Li continued speaking even when a collective laugh went up at her announcement.
"Did you know that your serious looking and well-groomed beau once sported dreadlocks and only wore the shabbiest clothes. Oh, not to forgot the love for his guitar, which accompanied him even to the washroom", she confided via the microphone.
"And Jia Li forgot to give you the most important piece of information. He was the lead guitarist and singer with us as hangers-on. We called ourselves the 'Aspirants'," added Chung amidst hooting from the guests who had gathered around the dance floor by now.
Mei Zhen crooked her arm possessively through Tang's and brought him to the forefront as Jia Li took the microphone back from Chung. Not only had the three of them found a guitar and a drum set along with the keyboard, they had also managed to change their clothes. In tight fitting denims and vest, Li Jie took over the keyboard just like old times. Chung was sporting a similar look and started testing the drums.
But Tang registered all this dimly, somewhere at the back of his head. His attention was focused on the girl sporting a bright orange bandana over her gorgeous hair. Skinny jeans and long boots were making her look taller than her measly 5'2 height. Metal bangles dangled in her wrists and Jim Morrison adorned her t-shirt. He didn't even realize that a huge grin was stuck on his face. He was immersed in the moment completely.
The only thought in his head was, "which song is she going to sing for me?"