66 The Flashback – The Arrival
I started looking for jobs all over the world. I had two jobs lined up, one in Australia and the other in South Korea. The job in Australia wanted me to wait for months before they could confirm anything but here, I was asked to join urgently. They even had an apartment for me on the ready. What more could I have asked for?
I was living in hell and wanted out and K&Q gave me that opportunity. I immediately said yes and started packing my bags.
I was surrounded by cardboard boxes, packing plastic, cello tape, scissors, and other packing materials. Almost all of my bags were packed and placed neatly in a corner. Finally, I was working my way through my books. I was immersed in my work when my phone rang.
I gasped and the book dropped from my hand. I thought he called me back again. I looked at the phone, it was a video call. The display read “headache”. I relaxed immediately.
I pressed the green button and a beautiful young girl appeared on my phone. I didn’t tell you, but my sister looks like a mirror image of mine, just years younger than me and her hair is shorter than mine. Being the younger kid, she is the pampered one and way naughtier than anyone I have ever met. And before you say anything, yes, she is naughtier than JJ.
“What is all that?” she screamed the moment she saw all my things packed in boxes and bags.
“What?” I asked innocently.
“Why are you packing, again?” she asked.
“You know why,” I replied.
.....
“You got the job?” she shouted excitedly.
“Yes,” I smiled. Apeksha beamed after seeing me smile. I know that she feels sorry for me. She even told me that it broke her heart to see me in that condition for months so now whenever I smile, it lights up her world.
“So, you are leaving India,” she asked, sadly.
“I am.”
“Where are you going?” she inquired.
“Out of India,” I replied sarcastically. This time I was dead serious. I was not going to tell anyone where I was.
“Now will you tell us where?” she asked urgently.
“Apeksha Rathod! Stop asking questions,” I shouted at her.
“Di! I will call mom,” threatened Apeksha.
“No need to threaten me, I will tell you once I get settled in,” I replied.
“So, you are running away, again,” Apeksha emphasised on “again”.
“What is that supposed to mean?” I knew she was right and that was exactly what I was doing. But hearing the obvious things from others makes you mad.
“You ran from Delhi to Bangalore to get rid of your problems. You are again running away,” said Apeksha. Suddenly she realised something. “Oh no! did he...?”
Before Apeksha could complete her sentence, I shouted, “enough!” I didn’t want anyone to talk about him. Talking about him would give him power over me, power over my life and I didn’t want that at any cost.
“But...” Apeksha looked visibly worried.
“I said, enough...” I shouted again.
“Why are you shouting, Apeksha?” I heard my mother’s voice in distance over the phone.
Apeksha looked away from the phone for a moment and then looked back. “But you need to tell mom and dad that you are leaving India. You just told us you were searching for a new job but never told us where.”
“No, I am not telling you guys anything. In fact, I am not telling anyone anything,” I raised my voice.
“You saw him, didn’t you?” Apeksha shouted as if she understood everything.
“No, as usual, he called me. How did he call me? Who gave him my number? I tell you guys everything and he finds me. So now you guys will know nothing,” I emphasised.
“Di!” protested Apeksha.
“I will call you once I reach my destination,” I announced.
“Wait, mom is comi...”
Before Apeksha could complete her sentence, I disconnected the phone and placed the phone back on the table. I had enough of her grilling. I didn’t want to talk to anyone anymore. I placed my phone on silent and went back to packing. I was fed up with my life. Even though I was constantly changing my living space, I still craved change, no, I was desperate for a change, a major change, away from everything.
For the past few years, I was living in hell, no matter how far I went my past kept following me. I had to give up my cosy house, I lived with my parents, then I shifted to Bangalore and was ready to uproot myself again. Fearing for my privacy, I didn’t tell anyone about my new job or where I was going.
I was on the kitchen floor after my last box was packed. I looked at all the luggage and exhaled heavily. I was tired after a whole day of packing. I was more tired of ducking his phone calls. I would always jump when my phone would ring thinking that he called from a new number. All the wait and mystery and suspense were making me thirsty, but I packed all the glasses and every other utensil. So, I cupped my hands and drank directly from the tap.
I waited for the movers and packers to come to my place to take my things. Some of the boxes were supposed to reach Delhi to my parent’s house and others were about to be shipped to Korea.
My flight was leaving in the morning, and I was ready, ready to leave everything behind and start a new chapter.
She exited the Incheon airport and looked above at the sky. It was a clear morning, the sun was shining brightly, the cold breeze welcomed me. I closed my eyes and exhaled with ease. I was finally free. No one knew where I was, but I made a mistake, and I would realise it later on.
I hailed a cab and gave him an address. He was a talkative person. He welcomed me to Korea with open arms.
“Tourist?” asked a cabby in a Korean accent.
“No, I am here for a job,” I replied in Korean.
“You speak Korean?” the cab driver was surprised.
“Learning languages is my hobby,” I replied with a smile. I could not stop smiling. I was ultimately free.
“How many languages do you know?”
“Um... I don’t know about 7 or 8,” I replied.
“Wow!” he exclaimed.
There was a moment of silence in the car. Then the cab driver asked again, “where are you starting your job?”
“Ohh... ah... Kings and Queens Media Company,” I replied. To my surprise, he was perplexed.
“What is that?” the cab driver was confused.
“You might know it as K&Q Company,” I replied.
“Ohh, that is a very big company,” the cab driver was impressed.
“Yeah,” I flashed an even bigger smile at him. I was not only happy to leave my past, regain my independence, my freedom but also proud that I got the job. It was a tough competition, and I cracked the interview. I think my knowing Korean was a plus point for me.
“So, you will work with idols?” asked the cab driver.
“Not with them directly, but I will work for them,” I replied. How wrong I was. I now not only work for you but also with you.
“Great. Can you get me an autograph of Kat? My daughter is obsessed with him,” he said sheepishly.
“Ha-ha,” laughed Nivritti. “If I ever meet with him, I will get you an autograph, but I doubt I will ever meet them.” I was so wrong. On the very first day, I met him, and he scolded me.
“You will meet them, I assure you,” said the cab driver. “Your office is so close to the place you are going,” he observed.
“Yeah, the company set up the place for me, I asked them for a nearby place,” I said.
“Yeah, it’s around 15 minutes by foot,” said the cab driver.
“That’s great.”
While talking, laughing all the way, finally he left me at my new home. I happily paid him, and he wished me all the luck in the world with my new job.
It was Saturday the day I arrived. My things would arrive the next day. I am so glad that the house, this house K&Q gave me was fully furnished. I had all the furniture I needed. I had a TV, a fridge, a washing machine and an old dusty vacuum cleaner that was kept in the utility closet.
It was time to make the house a habitable one. I tied up my braid in a bun and looked around. This apartment had a closet, but it was dusty. I tried starting the vacuum cleaner, but it refused to work.
I unlocked my phone and searched for a supermarket. It was around 2 km from this apartment. I grabbed my wallet and went shopping. I brought food, cooking and cleaning supplies. For the whole day, I was busy cleaning the apartment and making it habitable. I cleaned the closet and arranged my dresses, purses, and shoes in it.
After I was satisfied with the cleaning, I went to take a hot shower. The shower freshened me up. I looked at the food supplies that I brought with me and threw something together in half an hour. Due to all day working, I was famished. I gulped my food as fast as I could.
I burped loudly and looked around. There was no one I had to be embarrassed around, no one for miles who knew me. I laughed loudly and burped again. I was enjoying my freedom when suddenly, my phone rang, I gasped. My heart started beating faster. Did I celebrate my freedom too soon? Was he calling me again?
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