“You’re actually good at your job. I thought all women had to do to succeed was look pretty. You proved me wrong Miss Priya.” Jae Hyun said with a crooked smile.

“The picture is good but it’s not that great.” Hayan complained. She looked prettier in a yellow short dress, yellow heels and Bulgari jewellery.

“Stop being so petty Hayan. This picture is the perfect one for the magazine cover and you know it.” Jae Hyun said.

It had been two weeks since Tae Min left Seoul and though we spoke every day, on the phone I missed him. Before he left, Tae Min connected me to a good number of influencers, editors and stylists, who kept me busy with job offers on photography and content creation.

Photography was more than just a hobby I loved. With Tae Min’s help, it became a job I was obsessed it and one that paid well. My photos got better and better until they were called pieces of art by the thousands of followers I had in an account I created solely for my work. The account was under the name ‘pictures_by_pree’ which was different from the account my parents knew.

It took a while but ‘pictures_by_pree’ became a household name known by magazines, fashion houses and entertainment companies.

I did my best to satisfy my customers and I loved working with all of them. I was thankful for my photography skills and smiled while I worked until Hayan’s manager offered me a job.

I would have rejected the offer but Tae Min advised me not to act unprofessional. So I swallowed my pride and accepted the job.

Hayan’s editorial photo shoot was a train wreck.

She made her jealousy more obvious than she did when we met at the Club Octagon. She complained after every photo was taken. She yelled at me when I told her how to pose and she disagreed with every concept I came up with. Jae Hyun did help since she only listened to him, but having him around did not make me less uncomfortable.

I was about to take my leave when Jae Hyun called me. I would have walked away but the eyes around me kept my feet stuck to the ground.
From the minute the rumours of Tae Min and I started, my life was on display and I had to be careful with every move I made. I appreciated celebrities more than I did before. Unlike what the world thought, it was not an ‘easy-peasy’ life.

“I want to apologize on behalf of Hayan. It’s quite hard to believe you’re both the same age. She’s so immature.” He said.

“It’s fine.”

“Hey, it’s been two weeks since Tae Min left right?” Jae Hyun asked. I smelt trouble.

“Yes. Why do you ask?”

“It’s just…He should be back by now. Did he say when he’d be back?”

“No.” I said bitterly. Earlier that week, Tae Min told me an issue came up at Singapore and he would have to stay for another week. I was sure Jae Hyun knew about it. The jerk obviously asked out of spite.

“That’s so sad. The first snow will be here anytime soon you know. Some people think it’ll be here today or tomorrow or the next.”

“So?”

“Well, I don’t know if you’ve heard this but in South Korea, we have this belief that on the first day of snow, wishes come true and if you see the first snow with a loved one, your love will last forever. That’s why a lot of couples go to Namsan on that day.” Jae Hyun said.

Of course, I knew about that saying. It was often used in Korean dramas. Tae Min and I actually planned to see the first snow together but the universe threw bad luck our way.

“I see.” I said and started to walk away.

“I could fill in his shoes now that he’s away. How about I pick you up when it snows?” Jae Hyun said. Women in the studio thought him a gentleman. They blushed and whispers echoed.

My fists tightened. I wanted to throw a punch at Jae Hyun but the eyes on me kept me still like the Han River on a day with no wind.

I turned back to Jae Hyun and smiled “No but thanks for the offer.”

I turned and hurried towards the exit.

“Call me if you change your mind. You can get my phone number from the agency!” Jae Hyun yelled like an idiot but I ignored him.

If bad luck was a talent, then I was on a roll.

It was a day after Hayan’s photo shoot. The evening was calm but my heart was troubled. For it was the day Rajesh’s parents and mine scheduled a video call for the both of us.

“You look really different now Pree. I remember calling you ‘ugly’ when we were kids. Now I take it back.” Rajesh smiled.

The face on the screen was appealing. His caramel skin glowed and his beard was finely carved. He was handsome. He looked sharp in the Armani suit he wore. The video call reminded me of the reason Rajesh was a hot cake to ladies.

He looked like one dressed for an interview while I sat comfortably in a pair of sweat pants and one of Tae Min’s sweat shirts. The situation was laughable but knowing Rajesh’s parents, it was understandable.

“You look different too. I remember calling you ‘fatty’ as well when we were kids. I take that back too.” I said. We both laughed but the air felt heavy and awkwardness settled between us for a while.

“Priya I’m sorry for disappointing you. I know we’ve known about our engagement since we were kids but some things have come up and I…”

“I know Rajesh. I know you and Melissa are a thing.” I said with the widest smile.

“You know?”

“Yes. I do.”

“Then why haven’t you said anything to your parents?” He asked. I was startled.

“Me? Why haven’t YOU said anything to YOUR parents? I thought you’d have said something by now but I was shocked when our parents insisted on this video call.”

“Priya I can’t.”

“Why? You’re in love with Melissa right?”

“I am but nothing will change until you say something to your parents Priya.” Rajesh said while he struggled with the tie on his neck.

“Why me?”

“Priya, my father has three sons from three different women. My brothers are displeased at the fact that I’ll inherit seventy per cent of my father’s wealth when he dies being the first son. My father also promised to make me the C.E.O of his company on my wedding day. It’s a wedding gift. Priya, I’m really sorry but if I call off the marriage between you and I, I’d give my brothers  a reason to smile. My father might make someone else heir to his company. You and I both know he’s capable of such a thing. My father would rather see me suffer on the streets than embarrass our family name.” Rajesh explained. His eyes looked like mine at the start of the year. They were the eyes of someone who lived for others. The eyes of a bound soul.

“Rajesh I understand where you’re coming from but my parents are no different from yours. The only reason we’re talking right now is because my father insisted I do so. He’s also asked me not to embarrass our family and I don’t want to. He has no first sons and decided to build my life in such a way that his peers wouldn’t have the guts to mock him for not having a male heir. I can’t let him down Rajesh.”

“Then should we just get married?”

“What?!” I choked on saliva.

Rajesh took in a deep breath and let out a loud sigh. He was miles away but I felt the frustration that eluded him.

“Priya, we’re both adults and adults should be able to make decisions on whom they choose to be with. Sadly, the case is different for both of us. We don’t have a choice. One of us has to take the fall for the other or we’ll both end up tying the knot. Sure we were close friends as kids and with someone as amazing as you I can survive the marriage but can you?”

I stared at the screen of my laptop. I thought of Tae Min and the beautiful moments we had together. I smiled and tears hung lazily on the corners of my eyes.

“No Rajesh. I won’t be able to live happily if I married you.”

“I’m sure you won’t. It’s obvious you’re in love with someone else.” Rajesh said with a smirk.

“What?!” I blushed.

“There are rumours that you’ve fallen for a South Korean guy. They’re just rumours but your eyes tell me they’re true. Don’t worry, our families’ influence have killed any doubts. No one can say such out loud. Priya, these rumours are the reason our parents insist on our marriage. This might come as a shocker but my father expects us to tie the knot on the third month of the New Year.”

“The third month?! That’s literally three months from now!”

“I know. One of us has to talk to our parents or you’ll have to be home by Christmas. I’m sorry Priya but as much as I love Melissa, I can’t call off our wedding. I’m a coward.”

“That makes two of us Rajesh. That makes two of us.” I said.

“I’ll talk to you in three weeks. If I gain courage before then, I’ll talk to our parents and call off the wedding. I doubt I’ll be brave for any reason. I can’t afford to be a penniless Indian roaming the streets of America Priya. I’ve made so many sacrifices to be where I am now. I sacrificed my happiness as well but when you’re a Singh heir, true joy is the only luxury you can’t afford. You should also think about it. You might be braver than I.”

“I’m not sure Rajesh but I’ll do my best.”

“My father’s company is mine irrespective of whom I marry. She just has to be Indian and of age. To my family, a man or woman is only truly responsible and fulfilled when they’re married. Talk about annoying stereotypical bullshit.” It was the first time I heard Rajesh Singh swear. It was hilarious but quite sad.

“If you call off the wedding, I’d marry Melissa who is Indian and also from a family my father knows. My inheritance will be safe and you’ll be happy as well.” He said.

“If one of us does this, we’ll be free. We need to be free. We have to.” I said.

“I agree. Well, I’ll leave you to your thoughts Priya. I’ll contact you in three weeks or before then if a miracle happens. It was really good to see you and I hope we meet physically under better circumstances ‘ugly’.”

“Hey! You said you take that back!”

“I’m also a liar. Deal with it. I’ll talk to you soon Priya Kapoor. Bye.”

The video call with Rajesh Singh was friendlier than I expected. He was a spoilt brat but he was still kind with his words. Rajesh and I were childhood friends but we grew up. In the real world, sometimes growing up means growing apart.

As children, Rajesh and I knew everything about each other. We’d share secrets and do voice impressions of our family members after fancy dinners which we both hated. Now everything I knew about Rajesh, I heard from rumours or my parents.

Sure if we got married we’d survive but I’ll live in despair if I entered a marriage while being madly in love with Kim Tae Min.

I drew a warm bath with rose scented bath liquid and bath salts. I let worries soak in the bubbles while I had a glass of wine. I deserved it.

I wore a bath robe and walked to the living room. The weather was cold but the heater at Tae Min’s house kept me warm, still my bones shivered and I had to dress up.

I was about to run to my room when my eyes caught little white dots falling from a dark sky. I walked to the glass paned slide doors and gazed at the beauty of snow fall. It was the first day of snow in Seoul.

Thoughts of Jae Hyun’s rant about couples seeing the first snow at Namsan filled my mind. I missed Tae Min.

Thoughts of Rajesh’s refusal to call off our wedding echoed within the pink tissues in my skull. I missed Tae Min.

“Wishes come true on the first day of snow right? Then I wish to be happy. I wish to be free.” I whispered to the dark skies above. Tears trickled down my cheeks like a waterfall. I held my chest. It hurt. I missed Tae Min.

I heard a knock at the door and with pain in my chest, I walked towards the door. I was too tired to ask who it was or look through the peep hole.

With sadness weighing me down, I flung the door wide open and the human before me played a game with my heart. A cruel game.

“Hey you! Surprise! Did you really think I’d break our promise about seeing the first snow together? I’m sorry I lied about staying at Singapore for another week. I just wanted to surprise you. By the look on your face, I overdid it.” The human at the door said.

I stared at the six feet, two inches tall embodiment of perfection. The white turtle neck and white pants he wore went well with the beauty of his pale skin. Brown Chelsea boots decorated his feet and a brown trench coat sat on his shoulders. Platinum blonde hair made sheen by melted snow was secured in a short ponytail. His face quite feminine calmed the heart and the smile formed by his pretty pink lips brought peace to the soul. He held a bouquet of red roses.

Tears left my eyes again and like a child I whimpered. I hugged Tae Min tightly and kissed his pretty lips.

I was a coward and I could not bring myself to talk to my parents but love built the foundation of the bravery in my soul.

A marriage with Rajesh could be manageable. Rajesh was handsome, funny, kind and filthy rich. Being his wife was a dream of a hundred and one girls back at Boston. He was a good choice for a life partner but one thing was missing. He was not Kim Tae Min.

Word Count; 2464