I arrived at Mai's house at nearly 10:30am. I knocked on the door, a smile tugging on my lips.
I soon heard footsteps near the door, Mai's mom opened the door. I had texted her before I got on the bus that I'm coming.
"Esha!!", she exclaimed excitedly as soon as she saw me. Well, my actual name is Esha though.
"Hello aunty!! How are you??", I asked giving her a smile.
"I'm good. What about you??", she asked as she gave me a bright smile.
"I'm also good", I replied.
"Now, now, come inside", she quickly pulled me inside the house.
As I entered the living room, I saw Mai's dad sitting there, reading a newspaper. He looked up, as he realised that someone has came.
He looked at me and he was taken aback, most probably not expecting to see me.
"Oh my God!! Isn't it Esha!?", he asked looking at me in shock.
I let out a giggle when I heard that, he was very much shocked to see me all of a sudden.
"Yes, it's Esha", Mai's mom replied.
"Oh God!! It's has been a long time since I've last seen you.....how are you dear??", he asked as he smiled at me.
"I'm good uncle. What about you??", I asked looking at him.
"I'm good", he replied.
"Esha, don't just stand there, come and take a sit", Mai's dad said.
"Yeah", I said and moved over to the sofa to sit.
"Aunty, where's Mai??", I asked as soon as I sat down.
"Ah, she's in the bathroom, brushing her teeth", Mai's mom replied and left.
"So, how your work going on??", Mai's dad suddenly asked.
"The work is going great", I replied with a smile.
"Oh I see", he said.
"When did you return to India??", he added.
"It has been three days since I've returned", I replied.
"So, are you going to stay for a few more days??", he asked.
"Umm....no. Actually, I've lots of cases left and as I'm the chief of my department, I can't leave for so long", I replied, hiding my true reason for returning so soon.
"Department chief!?", he said looking a bit shocked.
"Ah, yes!", I said.
"It has only been a year since you went to Korea and now you're a department chief, that's really nice", he said giving me a smile.
I didn't reply and just gave a small smile.
Soon after that I saw Mai coming inside the living room.
"Mom what's for-", she paused as soon as she saw me.
"Yo!", I waved at her.
But, she stood there looking dumbfounded.
"W-what a-are you d-doing here!?", Mai's shuttered as she stood at same place, staring at me like she have seen a ghost or something.
"Why?? Can't I be here??", I asked raising my eyebrows.
She didn't reply and stood there.
"C'mon Mai, I haven't came back so far to see you staring at me whole day long", I said as I made my way towards her.
As soon as, I reached her, she gave me a bone crushing hug.
"You- what were you doing this whole time?? Don't you know how much I've missed you!", she said as she kept holding me tightly in her arms, I heard her sobbing.
"Hey, I'm back see.....and I've also missed you very much", I said patting her back softly.
We broke the hug and made our way to her room.
"So, how long are you going to stay here", she asked closing the door of her room.
"I'm gonna leave tomorrow only", I replied.
"What!?", she exclaimed.
"What do you mean tomorrow??", she added.
"Sorry, that I can't stay", I said looking down.
"But you've just came", she said.
"I know, but doctors can't take such long holidays", I said, as I looked at her sad eyes.
"Ok. But, you will come to my wedding right!?", she asked.
"About that", I hesitated a bit, but I realised that I've to tell her sooner or later though.
"I can't come, as I've an important conference at that time", I said, summoning up my whole courage to say it.
"How can you do that!", she shouted.
"Please Mai, understand! I also wanted to come, but this conference.....I can't miss it", I pleaded for her to understand.
"I can't accept, that on my wedding my best friend won't be there", she said and it seemed like she's gonna cry anytime soon.
"Mai please understand, if I don't attend, I may loose my job and I may also have to leave South Korea also", I said.
She didn't reply and I was getting more and more nervous as time passed by.
"Ok, I understand", she said finally.
"Thanks, Mai", I said giving her a bright smile.
She didn't reply, just gave me a smile.
Soon aunty brought us some snacks, we talked as we ate the snacks.
"Oh I forgot! I've brought a gift for you", I said, as I stretched out my hand to take the gift, I picked out for her.
"Here", I said and handed the plastic over to Mai.
I observed her, as she opened the plastic and took out the dress in it.
"Woah!!", she exclaimed, looking happy to see the bright red dress that I've brought.
"Did you like it??", I asked, as I took a sip from my orange juice.
"I love it!!", she exclaimed happily.
"I'm happy that you love it", I said looking at her smiling face.
"So, how's Rick doing??", I asked. Rick is her fiance. At first I didn't really liked him, but as time passed by, I started to like that guy, as I saw how nicely he treats Mai. I could feel that he loves Mai very much and I was happy with that.
"He's good", Mai replied a bit shyly.
"And what about your job!? How's it going".
"Well, me and Rick have got a job offer from US and we're planning to move there after our wedding", Mai said.
Mai and Rick were both astrophysicist though. And they both worked together.
"Did you tell your parents about it??", I asked.
"Yeah, I've. Both mine and Rick's parents are very happy with the news and they are looking forward to it", she replied.
"Woah!! That's awesome. Congratulations girl", I exclaimed and gave her a hug.
We talked until it was lunch time. Then, we made our way to the dinning table. I've promised Mai, that I'm gonna have lunch at her place. And to my surprise, aunty have prepared a wonderful lunch for me.
We talked happily, as we enjoyed the dishes.
After having such a wonderful meal, I had to leave, as I still have to visit Sreya also.
"So Mai, I'm leaving then", I said, as I headed towards the door.
"Yeah, take care of yourself. I'll see you off upto the door", she said and we started making our way to the door.
"So Esha, you're still.....", she asked and I knew what she was talking about.
I didn't say anything, just nodded my head slowly giving her a sad smile.
We reached the door.
"So, bride-to-be, I hope that you may have a wonderful wedding and may God bless you with lots of love and may you always stay happy in the future", I said.
"Thank you so much! I'll miss you so very much", Mai said, as she gave me one final hug.
"I'll miss you too and I'm again sorry that I can't come to your wedding", I said, as I hugged her back.
"It's ok", Mai replied breaking the hug.
With that, I waved her goodbye and left.
I was happy that she's going to marry the man whom she loved for such a long time. I could only wish that she may always remain happy like this.
Next it's Sreya, as I made my way to her house, I kept thinking how's her reaction gonna be when she will see, that I'm back.
I giggled at the thought of that.