Chapter 37: The Meeting In The Flower Shop

Eun-Kyung's touch did wonders for her. She suddenly calmed down. She took a deep breath as always and said, "fine, I will wait outside for you."

Baek-Hyeon looked sadly at Ashma who walked away from him. "Why is she so angry, I just called her Nuna. What is wrong with calling your sister, sister. Should I call her brother? What does she want? We all are so welcoming, why is she so shut down? She even keeps sabotaging her relationship with harabuhji. Why she doesn't want any relationships? Does she think we are beneath her? No, then she would not have talked to us. She talks to us, even laughs with us and the way she apologised to everyone yesterday was overwhelming. She just doesn't want any relationships. I need to talk to Hyung. He can guide me better," said Baek-Hyeon loudly.

He stood at the kitchen doorway for long staring at the main door from which Ashma exited a few minutes ago. Eun Kyung approached him with two coats and a purse in her hands. She placed her hand on his shoulder and asked, "are you okay?" her voice brought him back from his thoughts.

"No, but I will be," he said with sad eyes.

"Adeul! She has known just a handful of relations all her life, you cannot expect her to be as excited as us for a new relationship. People who live with small families love their personal space more than anything else. All her life she has been alone, an only child. Give her time. Try to understand her."

"How come she listens to you? She is ready for a relationship with you, but not with us. How do you understand her so much?"

"I am her mumma. I know everything," she smiled at him caressed his cheeks. "She was the first child I got attached to. I know her before since you guys were born. So in a sense, she is my firstborn too," explained Eun-Kyung.

"So, she is the eldest among us?"

"No, eldest is Yongsuna, then Ashma was born one year after him, then you were born two years after her. In the same year, three months after you, Chin-Sun was born. And you know Bong-Cha is five years younger than you," she explained.

"Hyung is the eldest, yet Nuna, I mean Ashma, you love her as your first-born. Ha-ha, I again got a chance to tease him," chuckled Baek-Hyeon.

She smiled at his mischievousness and pulled his ears with love, "you, naughty boy."

"Uhmma! Ah! Ah!" cried Baek-Hyeon.

She let go of his ears and kissed him on his cheeks. "Go to the office and don't think much. She will come around just give her time." She started walking away when Baek-Hyeon suddenly stopped her.

"Uhmma!" said Beak-Hyeon. Eung-Kyung halted in her path and turned towards him. "Why are Bong-Cha and I so excited to accept her but not her? In fact, every one of us is eager to know more about her but she is so indifferent and cold."

She came back towards him, took his face in her palms and answered, "we have been living surrounded by such a big family consisting of relatives and friends, our friends are our family, she has no such experience. That's the difference. She can easily accept friendships but relationships are difficult for her to accept."

"That's why she asked me to be her friend," reminisced Baek-Hyeon. "How much time should we give her?"

"As much as she needs," said Eun-Kyung.

"Will you inform me when she gets ready?" pleaded Baek-Hyeon.

"You yourself will find out."

"Thank you, Uhmma!" he hugged her.

"You are welcome, my love." She hugged him back and kissed him again on his cheeks. After giving instructions to Pyo In-Ho, she came outside.

She gave a white coat to Ashma who was standing outside the house, "wear it, it's cold today. After we see your mother, we will go shopping for winter dresses."

"I am sorry." She came back to the land of the living as the coat landed over her.

"All you wear are summer dresses, it may be spring in India, it is still cold in Korea. You and your mother need winter clothing," explained Eun-Kyung.

"Oh, that." Now Ashma understood everything. "I brought those but forgot to take them out. Your house has a central thermostat which we don't have in India so I tend to forget the outside temperature."

"Don't worry I will be there to remind you every day," said Eun-Kyung kindly.

Ashma smiled amiably at Eun-Kyung but that smile didn't reach her eyes. The adorable twinkle every time she smiled was missing.

The whole way in the car Ashma said nothing, she kept staring outside the window. She clenched her white coat closer to her chest. The window was closed and the heater was on inside the car. Today was colder than yesterday or maybe all the stupid emotions were making her ice queen.

Eun-Kyung understood that she needed her peace so she didn't disturb her. She played a piece of mild music in the car and drove the car in silence. They reached the hospital after a short time. They got down the car and Ashma took out the bag she brought for her mother.

Suddenly Ashma saw something and halted in her path and announced, "Mumma, you go, I will be there in a minute."

Eun-Kyun thought something was wrong so she asked with concern, "are you okay?"

"Yes. I am fine," she reassured her.

"Then, where are you going?"

She pointed at a small shop and said, "there. I need to get flowers for her."

"Okay, fine. Come soon." She smiled at her and walked inside the hospital.

"She is in room 584," Ashma shouted after her.

"I know," Eun-Kyung shouted back. Ashma laughed and this time twinkle in her eyes shone brightly.

Next to the hospital was a small, sweet, homegrown flower shop. Colourful, gorgeous bouquets were placed outside the shop. The green walls and vibrant flowers visible from the glass windows were creating an exquisite look. She entered inside and picked up a bouquet of colourful hydrangea. There were pink flowers, violet flowers, light blue, dark blue flowers, there were even green hydrangeas. It was a very attractive bouquet.

She spent a few more minutes looking at all the soothing colours and kept noting the colour combination for her future use. Many ideas and inspirations came to her mind for her future creations. A sweet smile was playing on her lips.

Suddenly the silent, tranquil atmosphere was filled with voices. A woman was talking with the florist in Korean. She thought that those two were in distress so she went to help them. She turned a corner and the woman became visible. The chubby florist was talking to a tall, slim, gorgeous woman dressed in a pristine white pantsuit. Even though she was old, she was extremely beautiful. The fine lines around her face and neck only enhanced her beauty. She was one who people call old wine. The older the wine, the greater they taste, she was exactly like that. The older she grew, the more beautiful she became.

"Um… Do you guys speak English?" she asked them.

Both said in unison, "yes."

She smiled at them and inquired, "sorry to bother you, but are you guys alright?"

"Yes, we are fine, thank you for asking," said the beautiful woman, politely.

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"No, we are not fine," interrupted the florist, shouting.

"I am sorry," said Ashma with surprise. The woman in white kept staring at the florist with shock.

"Whatever I suggest her, she says no, I have no more options to give her," complained the florist.

"Um… may I ask what help do you need?"

She hesitated and then spoke, "I think there is no harm in telling you."

"Please try me, maybe I can help you," requested Ashma.

"I am going to meet a person for the very first time and I need a gift."

"Don't mind my asking but is that person, a friend?" inquired Ashma.

"You can say, acquaintance," answered the beautiful woman.

"Okay."

"So, I want something that would be meaningful and gracious," she gave her point of view.

"And that person is in the hospital?"

"Yes."

"Hmm, and you want to gift her a bouquet?"

"Yes, that seemed to be the best choice," responded the woman.

"Have you seen every one of the bouquets around here?" asked Ashma.

"Yes," she replied with disappointment.

"You liked none of it?" Ashma was surprised. There were so many beautiful options, one could get confused but there was no way that people won't like them.

"As I don't know that person's favourite flower, it is difficult for me to decide."

"Then that's very easy."

"What?" asked the woman in surprise.

"When in doubt get a bunch of white roses," suggested Ashma.

"White roses?"

"Yes, they are known for loyalty, love and new beginnings and you said this is your first meeting."

She smiled at Ashma. "You are very intelligent."

"I try not to be, but I can't help it," joked Ashma.

"Ha-ha," she laughed out loud. "And possess a sense of humour. I like you."

"I like you too, you are so nice," complimented Ashma.

"Aw… thank you. By the way, why are you here?" she thanked and then inquired.

"My mom is admitted in this hospital. I came to buy flowers for her," said Ashma with slight sadness in her voice.

"Oh, I am so sorry. I will wish for a speedy recovery for her."

"Thank you so much," said Ashma with gratitude.

They both walked together and went to the checkout area. The woman in white gave the florist a black credit card and requested, "I would like a bunch of white roses made into a beautiful bouquet please." She then smiled at Ashma as it was her suggestion.

"Yes ma'am," said the florist, happily. She swiped the card but the machine beeped and the display said 'declined'. She again swiped the card but the card machine kept beeping and rejecting her card.

After a few more tries on the woman's insistence, Ashma offered a solution.

"Here take this," she presented her card.

"No, I can't let you," yelled the woman in white.

"Do you like me?" inquired Ashma.

"Yes," said the beautiful woman sceptically.

"Then please let me."

"You are a naughty daughter of your mother, aren't you?" she said with kindness and love in her voice.

"Little bit." Ashma raised her thumb and forefinger, gestured for little things and spoke. She gave her credit card to the florist and paid for both of the bouquets.

"Thank you," said the beautiful woman in white. Ashma started walking out when suddenly the beautiful woman asked, "have we met before?"

"I don't think so, if I would have met you, I would have remembered you," replied Ashma and walked away leaving the woman grinning from ear to ear.

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