Chapter 34: The Graceful Gem

Ashma came inside while rubbing her arms to heat them because of the cold. Pyo In-Ho locked the main door after her. She noticed Baek-Hyeon smiling at her like a fool.

"What?" inquired Ashma and raised an eyebrow at him.

"Nothing!" exclaimed Baek-Hyeon with a huge smile on his face. His mind was busy making plans to tease Yong-Sun.

"Why are you smiling like an idiot?" asked Ashma, again.

"Yeah, I want to know that too," interjected Bong-Cha. She folded her arms over her chest and slightly titled her head and demanded an answer.

"No reason," he said in a sing-song voice. And went inside his room on the ground floor, still grinning.

Ashma shook her head in disbelief and ran upstairs. She closed the door and took a minute to reminisce over the day. She never had such a day in her entire life. The day was filled with emotions and feelings that wore her out. She was inside a strangers' house. She hugged and rebuked strangers today. Hell! she even kissed a stranger today. Her mind went back to the kiss. A chill ran all over her body thinking about the feeling of his tongue inside her mouth. She shook her head to get rid of that image.

The next image before her eyes was of her mother. Her mother lying on a hospital bed hooked up to all the tubes and wires. The beeping sound of the machine was resonating in her ears. Her face of her nanaji flashed before her eyes the next instant. She had to tell him about her mother. How was she going to tell him? What will be his reaction? She needed to tell him with all the calmness and poise she could muster.

She took a deep breath after a hectic day and changed into her pyjamas. She then came downstairs and went inside the kitchen. Baek-Hyeon was already sitting at the coffee table in his pyjamas and having his dinner. Bong-Cha and Eun-Kyung were waiting for Ashma to arrive.

Little did anyone know that Young-Jae followed Ashma and hid behind the kitchen wall. He wanted to keep an eye on Ashma. He wanted to listen if she was again going to talk harshly with his family. Though he promised Bong-Cha to never scold her again, he wanted to protect his family.

"You guys go to sleep, I can eat on my own," said Ashma from the doorway.

"Shut up and sit down," ordered Eun-Kyung, lovingly.

"Okay."

"What are you doing here? At least you can go and sleep," Ashma addressed Bong-Cha.

"She scolded my sonnyuh and now she is showing concern, huh," said Young-Jae to himself.

"I can't sleep, I have so many questions." Bong-Cha placed her fists under her chin and placed her head on the table directly staring at Ashma.

"What kind of questions?" asked Ashma.

"How are you so beautiful?" Bong-Cha batted her eyes at Ashma. Young-Jae closed his eyes in annoyance and shook his head in disbelief.

"What?" yelled Ashma. Baek-Hyeon snickered at the question and at Ashma's reaction.

"First, let her eat, then ask stupid questions," interrupted Eun-Kyung.

"Uhmma!" protested Bong-Cha but listened to her and stopped her line of questioning.

Pyo In-Ho and Iseul helped Eun-Kyung in serving the food to Ashma.

"Indian food! You prepared it for me?" asked Ashma excited.

"Indian food," said Young-Jae in a mocking voice.

"Who else I will prepare it for?"

"I love you," exclaimed Ashma.

"Why is she so attached to ehgiya (daughter-in-law)?" thought Young-Jae.

"Okay, eat!" Eun-Kyung slightly patted her head with love.

"Have you guys eaten?" she asked Eun-Kyung.

"We ate after arriving from the hospital."

"Have you guys eaten?" she asked Pyo In-Ho and Iseul.

"Yes ma'am. Everyone in the house has eaten," replied In-Ho.

"You have no idea how shiahbuhji can get. He wants everything on routine," said Eun-Kyung.

Young-Jae smiled at the compliment, well he thought it was a compliment. Ashma rolled her eyes, hard.

"Ashu!" yelled Eun-Kyung. Baek-Hyeon and Bong-Cha stifled their laughter.

"What did she say? Why are they laughing? Oh, this girl!" said Young-Jae.

"Sorry Mumma," said Ashma.

"This, this is what I wanted to ask," screamed Bong-Cha.

"Yeah, yeah, start annoying her," laughed Baek-Hyeon.

"Hey! I don't annoy people," complained Bong-Cha.

"Yes, you only manipulate them," stated Ashma.

"What?" whispered Young-Jae.

"Excuse me!" exclaimed Bong-Cha.

"You have no idea, do you?"

"About what?"

"You are a master manipulator. You make people do what you want," explained Ashma. Young-Jae was listening carefully.

"What? No," said Bong-Cha.

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"I came here because you tricked me, your grandfather will do anything you want him to. Your family says yes to your every demand even though they don't want to. You somehow make them dance to your tune," illuminated Ashma.

"They just love me so much, that's why listen to me," differed Bong-Cha.

"Oh yeah, so true," said Ashma sarcastically. Young-Jae was left with food for thought. Was Ashma's observation correct? Was his granddaughter a manipulator? She manipulated his feelings for her and made him say yes to Ashma's arrival.

"Leave, that. So answer me."

"Okay fine, ask away."

"Ashu! eat first," said Eun-Kyung.

"I can eat and talk at the same time, Mumma," replied Ashma.

"Fine!" said Eun-Kyung, defeated.

"So you want to know why I call her Mumma, right?"

"Right," said Bong-Cha.

"Yes, yes," exclaimed Young-Jae, excitedly.

Ashma began her story, once again. "She has been corresponding with my mom since my birth."

"What?" shouted Baek-Hyeon.

"Keep quiet," said Bong-Cha.

"What?" whispered Young-Jae.

"Keep quiet! Keep quiet! Why are you not shouting? OMG! You already know," shouted Baek-Hyeon.

"Yeah, I found it in the morning," explained Bong-Cha.

"What?" shouted Baek-Hyeon again in amazement.

"Ohh, leave him, you continue, said Bong-Cha to Ashma.

"So, when I grew up and was around 5 or 6 years, you know when I learned to read and write in broken English I used to draw drawings for her. At first, she was introduced to me as my godmother named 'Grace Fuller Gemma'."

"What? That's the meaning of Uhmma's name, graceful gem," exclaimed Bong-Cha. Young-Jae was too immersed in the story to give any expression.

"Yeah. So I used to call her 'GG'. After a few years of correspondence, she asked me to call her Mumma and I have been saying that since."

"Wow!" exclaimed Bong-Cha.

"You cheated, Uhmma," yelled Baek-Hyeon.

"What? What did I do?" questioned Eun-Kyung.

"Why didn't you tell us before?"

"We were ordered not to contact her. But I hid everything from your grandfather and contacted her. If he would have found out, you have no idea what he would have done." Young-Jae was fuming with anger. How dare she disobey him? How dare she sorted her out and make contact with her? "Maybe he would have gotten another heart attack," said Eun-Kyung.

"Like he had before we were born," stated Baek-Hyeon.

"Yes, exactly like that."

"Heart attack! Does he even have a heart? I thought it must be a stone in his chest," laughed Ashma.

"Ashu!"

"This girl! How dare she?" fumed Young-Jae and clenched his fists.

"I am not apologising for that," said Ashma.

"Fine, but why are you not eating your food? Is it not good?" Eun-Kyung noticed that Ashma had not touched a single morsel from her plate.

"It is good, very delicious. I can tell from the smell alone." Her face became sad.

"You are thinking about Vidhi?"

"Yes, she is all alone in the hospital. She has not eaten anything, how can I eat?" explained Ashma. Suddenly Young-Jae felt a rush of emotions. He unclenched his fists.

"She is being taken care of by the best doctors and nurses. Don't worry she is fine and we will go and meet her in the morning, okay?" Eun-Kyung came and hugged her tightly. She kissed her on her forehead to calm her down.

"Okay," said Ashma.

"Have you informed Mr Dewan about her?" asked Eun-Kyung.

"No, I don't know how to."

"I understand that. But you need to inform him."

"I will, I just need to calm myself down. If he hears anxiety and stress in my voice he will be stressed too and I don't want that for him," explained Ashma.

"Always thinking about others, my sweet child." Eun-Kyung placed Ashma's head on her bosom.

"You never shower your love on us like this," complained Baek-Hyeon.

"Shut up, eat your food," commanded Eun-Kyung. Everyone smiled with happiness over his cute complaint.

Young-Jae listened to the conversation and went upstairs with a heavy heart. He scolded himself for feeling emotions for the rude girl. "So what her mother fell sick? Bongie just wanted to meet her sister. I am never going to forgive her. I am never going to forgive Adeul. His one action will destroy our family name. And why is she not eating her food? Will her mother get well if she doesn't eat? Idiot girl! Why am I getting so worked up? I don't care if she eats or not. She can do whatever she wants, I really don't care.. I need to sleep I have to go to the hospital tomorrow, what? No, office, I have to go to the office tomorrow. What is happening to me?"

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