Next day, Niya woke up around noon, with an imploding headache. She massaged her head and groaned as she sat up in the bed.

“Good morning” Mandy said as she offered her a glass of water

“Mornin’; what happened yesterday?” Niya asked with an annoyed expression

“You got drunk and passed out” Mandy said as she sat beside her

“I did?” Niya looked confused “That’s never happened before”

“I know, I was surprised too when Bhai said that you passed out because of the martinis” Mandy said “But I think it was more out of exhaustion; you know you have not been able to rest much for the last few days”

On the mention of Woo Bin, Niya slightly started to remember the events on the roof and muttered something under her breath.

“What?” Mandy asked

“Nothing; so did you carry me up on your own?” Niya said trying to change the subject

“No, I asked Bhai to do that, since he was already carrying you when I found you at the roof. What were you doing there?”

“I guess I went there to get some fresh air; but I can’t remember much” Niya lied

“It’s okay, but how is the headache, on the scale of 1-5” Mandy asked

“3 maybe” Niya said and drank water from the glass

“Which means 4½” Mandy said “Go, have a hot bath, and when you come out I’ll have breakfast ready”

“More like the brunch” Niya commented looking at the wall clock “What are we having?”

“I have already had my breakfast; you are going to have paranthas topped with butter. I think that’s why the drinks got to you; you had an empty stomach”

“Maybe, but I don’t want paranthas, they are too fatty” Niya said

“They will help you with the hangover; and two are not going to give you much fat”

“Fine” Niya said and dragged herself to the bathroom

She came out after 15 minutes dressed in a matching pair of sweatshirt and sweatpants. She settled down at the coffee table in the kitchen and stuffed herself with three paranthas instead of two.

“And you were refusing to have even two” Mandy said as Niya started gulping down her big cup of hot coffee.

“You make such yummy food, I had to eat more” Niya said

“Flattery will take you everywhere with me” Mandy laughed as she sat down at the table with another chair.

“You should know by now that I don’t indulge in flattery” Niya said and put down her cup after finishing it.

“Arasso arasso” Mandy said and cleared up the plate and cup

“What?” Niya asked “What does that mean?”

“It means, ok I understand; that sort of thing” Mandy explained

“Ji Hoo taught you that?” Niya asked

Mandy smiled and nodded

“So, how are you two doing?” Niya asked cautiously

“What do you mean?” Mandy looked at her

“You know, has your relationship gone further?” Niya continued in the same cautious tone

“You more than anybody else knows that there is no ‘relationship’ between me and Ji Hoo; we are just really good friends” Mandy said

“Just confirming” Niya said and put up her hands in the air in a form of surrender

“Trust me; if anything happens, you’ll be the first one to know” Mandy said.

“But tell me about you; any luck on finding a new boyfriend? And you didn’t even tell me completely why you broke up with the previous one; he was a sweet guy” Mandy said as they both settled into the bed

“He was too sweet for my taste; you know, I’m more of a dark chocolate kind of gal” Niya laughed off referring to a famous chocolate company advertisement. “And no I didn’t find anyone new either. All the men I meet are just insecure boys; what I need is a real man who can just sweep me off my feet; you know like that guy in the movie we were seeing that day”

“Ooh, I liked him, but how about a sprinkle of Christian Grey in that?” Mandy suggested teasingly

“You ; you are teasing me aren’t you, after I told you that it had been too long for me” Niya said and playfully hit her with a pillow.

“Pillow Fight!” Mandy shouted and the two girls hit each other all around the room and finally settled down after ten minutes with their bodies flat on the bed and their feet dangling in the air

“It has been so long since we did that” Mandy said breathlessly

“Yeah, more than 10 years” Niya stated

“Niya!” Mandy said turning in the direction of her best friend “Let’s dance”

“I think you did enough dancing yesterday; aren’t you tired”

“When am I ever tired of dancing? And I’m not talking about club dancing; I’m talking about the carefree dancing we used to do when we were kids”

“More like you danced and I watched” Niya said sarcastically

“Oh come on, cheer up” Mandy said and reached for her ipad “Ladies and gentlemen, and presenting the worst dancer of all times” she said in an announcer’s voice and started the quirky playlist she had made for just these times; to cheer up.

Mandy danced for about half an hour. She danced on the floor, on the bed, on the desk, in the bathroom, the living room, everywhere.

When they got back to the bedroom, Mandy just collapsed on the bed because of exhaustion.

“That was even more fun” Mandy said breathlessly

“I don’t know how your future husband is going to handle you” Niya said and laughed out loud. Mandy joined in her laughter

“I’m so happy you’re here; I haven’t had this much fun in years” Mandy said gratefully

“No worries; only a few months left and then you’ll be back home and you can have as much fun as you want” Niya said

“No, I’m not going to have fun when I get back. I’ll straight away join mom’s foundation and dad is seeing guys for me” Mandy moaned

“So soon? You haven’t even completed your studies yet” Niya said

“At the party, dad was saying that when I get back, he’ll start the process. I don’t want to go back” Mandy moaned

“Does didi know about this?”

“I think so, but I don’t think she would be of much help here”

“Just try talking to your dad; tell him you don’t want to get married yet”

“I said that; but he said that I don’t have to marry right away. I just have to look at some prospective guys and then decide on my own” Mandy said sadly “You are so lucky your parents are not talking marriage yet” Mandy said

“Yeah well, I think after hearing that you’re getting married, they’ll start the process too” Niya said and both the girls hugged each other and started crying silently

“Why are we crying?” Niya asked

“We are crying for our single days which seem to be coming to an end soon” Mandy said while sniffing lightly

Just then the doorbell rang

“Who could it be?” Niya asked wiping her tears

“Could be anybody from the gang” Mandy said and started towards the door and wiped her tears on the way

“Unnie!” Ga Eul said cheerfully but stopped when she saw Mandy with misty eyes and a red nose “Unnie, were you crying?” she asked

Mandy nodded lightly

“Why, what happened?” Jan Di asked as they entered the apartment

“I’m going to get married” Mandy wailed and hugged Ga Eul

Niya came out of the bedroom and Jan Di looked at her “Is this true?” Jan Di asked Niya

“She’s not getting married yet; her dad is looking at guys for her” Niya said

“But that’s the same thing!” Mandy wailed

“You are going to have an arranged marriage?” Jan Di asked and as the girls moved into the living room, Mandy and Niya explained to them how the system works.

“But what if you don’t like any of the guys your parents choose for you?” Ga Eul asked

“India has the second largest population in the world, I don’t think there is going to be a shortage of guys” Niya said “One goes, another two come”

“I don’t want to get married!” Mandy wailed

“Unnie, it’s not that bad” Jan Di said “You just have to choose the right guy”

“I know, but it’s just frustrating; what if the guy turns out to be douchebag after we get married?”

“There is thing called divorce that you can apply for” Niya said

“Yeah” Mandy heaved out a sigh and put her face in her hands but suddenly sat up straight and smiled “Then I have nothing to worry about!” and stood up and stretched her body. “I’m going to make some coffee, you two want some?” she asked Jan Di and Ga Eul

Both the girls nodded.

“Don’t drink too much coffee, you already had one cup in the morning” Niya reminded Mandy

“Okay, then I’ll only make for these two” and she further said “and let’s keep this wedding talk between us only ok?” Mandy said and walked to the kitchen.

“She is so confusing; one moment she’s crying and another she is bouncing up and down” Jan Di said

“It’s the meaning of my name but she is one who is one of a kind” Niya said fondly

Mandy returned with the coffee and sat down on the chaise lounge.

“So why did you two come?” Mandy asked

“We came to see how unnie was doing now” Jan Di said gesturing to Niya “and we came to invite you to my house for tomorrow” she added

“Why, what’s tomorrow?” Mandy asked

“Jun Pyo has taken to bed rest after you told him that he would have back ache for a few days. So he told me to invite everyone. If he can’t get out of bed to meet his friends, he’ll bring them to him.” Jan Di answered

“And Yi Jung Sunbae is busy with his upcoming exhibition so I decided to join her as I had nothing else to do” Ga Eul added

“Don’t you get tired of calling him sunbae?” Niya asked “You have known me for three days and you call me unnie, but you call your boyfriend sunbae” Niya said “Do you call him sunbae even when you’re alone?”

“Ani” Ga Eul said

“Then what?” Mandy prodded

“Yeabo” Ga Eul whispered and blushed scarlet

“What does that mean?” Niya asked

“Can be used like ‘honey’, right?” Mandy confirmed

Ga Eul nodded

“And what does he call you?” Niya prodded

“Oh I know that! He calls her Jagiya, which means sweetheart” Mandy said

“So what do you call Jun Pyo when you’re alone?” Niya moved to Jan Di

“Just by his name, Gu Jun Pyo and he calls me Guem Jan Di” she said

“You don’t have any other names?” Niya asked

“No, anything else would be …… creepy” Jan Di said after much thought

“Creepy?” Mandy and Niya said at the same time “You probably mean something else right?” Mandy inquired

“No, you heard me right” Jan Di said assuredly

“But how will it be creepy?”

“I don’t know; anything else for him just seems wrong and weird, and creepy” Jan Di explained and the girls laughed.

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