(Can't) Let You Go

Meet Me Soon

The car stopped outside a house. The house was big and pretty. I stepped out of the car. It was already evening and sun was about to set. I wiped my tears and took my luggage out. I was staring at that pretty house wondering whose this could be and why was I brought here. The sky changed it's color to red. Every thing was quite outside. No disturbing neighbors or barking dogs. It was peaceful yet felt like abandoned.

"Miss please come with us", said the guard. He took me towards the gate and left for the car. Soon, the car was gone. I was alone standing there outside the gate of the big house. I pushed the gate inwards.

The gate opened with crackling sound. As I stepped inside the house, Yoori came running to me and hugged tightly.

"Y/n!! Thank god you are safe", she said hugging me.

"Ye..yes", I replied.

"Come in! Its my house"

Unlike Yoori, her house wasn't looking cheerful at all. She took me in. I was sitting in the drawing room of her house. I was feeling safe. It was quite as if no one has ever stepped inside. Yoori served hot chocolate to me. I was feeling relaxed and kept on looking at the portrait hanging on the wall in front of me. The portrait was of a girl crying while hiding her face. She held her knees around her arms bend down just to cry. She hanged a crying girl in her drawing room.

"I bought that from an art exhibition", she said noticing me looking at the portrait.

"It looks....pretty! Like having some deep meaning hidden in it", I replied trying to figure out the portrait.

"Do you like art works?", she asked in a cold voice.

"Yes...but haven't been to much art exhibitions", I replied looking at her.

"Ohh!! fine!...just rest now", she said smiling at me.

I kept on drinking the hot chocolate that Yoori served me.

"Y/n...What's going on?", she asked sitting next to me. She held my hands in her.

"I don't know! I...I don't know what's going on!!", I replied.

"Y/n...I mean you and V."

"It's nothing!!! We are close. I am close to all the members...but....", and I told her my story.

After few minutes pause, Yoori spoke.

"So are you his girlfriend?"

"No", I replied because this is what I always knew. I did not know what I was to him. I did not know why he did so much for me. I knew nothing.

"Y/n..!"

"hmmmm"

"I don't know what's with you both but I had a talk with him earlier today....before the incident", she said.

"What did he say?"

"He asked me to tell you that for the time things are not good, you should leave back to India. He will contact you as soon as the matter sorts out. You are not safe here. He is trying his best to stop news from spreading. Tomorrow your tickets will come....till then stay here at my place", she said.

"Can...can I talk to him once?", I asked thinking maybe it will be the last time when we could meet.

"No!...it's not safe", she replied.

"okay...will you please tell him to meet me soon?", I asked Yoori to transfer my message to him. She nodded. 

The sun was set. I did not have dinner. I was already feeling my stomach full. I was resting in Yoori's guest room. A tear rolled down from my eyes. I wished nothing of this have had happened. I wanted to talk to him badly. My phone was also discharged. I left in haste that I forgot to pack my books and charger. I cried as I remembered his smell on my bedsheet. I cried a lot as I fell asleep.

Next morning I woke up late. It was already noon. I heard footsteps coming near my room.

"Y/n ....get ready and eat something. You have to leave within an hour. Take these.... your flight tickets!", Yoori spoke as she handed me the tickets.

I got dressed up and left the room. I saw Yoori's room which was next to the guest room. The door was ajar. I was about to push the door to open it when someone grabbed my hand. I turned around.

"Ohh!! Yoori....sorry I just thought you were inside", I said.

"I was waiting for you in drawing room", she replied in a cold voice.

Maybe she did not like anyone to sneak into her room. I left with her for the drawing room with my luggage packed.

" I hope we will meet again", I said.

"Ofcourse..", she replied with a broad smile. "The car is waiting for you outside....have a safe flight"

I thanked her for keeping me safe that night and soon I left.

My phone was dead. I was staring at my ticket thinking about the first time when I booked tickets to come to Seoul. Since then I have been living here with them....with him. I did not want to leave but it was urgent. For my safety and for his.

The car stopped outside the airport. For one last time I turned around to capture the beautiful city in my eyes.

"I will meet you again Seoul. Wait for me", I said while looking at the beautiful city.

 It took no time for me to get my seat in plane. Soon, the flight boarded.

"I wanted to see you badly...I wanted to hear your voice for one last time. Please meet me soon and stay safe", I kept talking to myself.

Hours passed. 

Finally, I landed on Mumbai airport again. I landed back in the city from where everything started. It felt like a time loop. I ended at the place where everything started. The cars were honking loud enough to break your eardrums. People were shouting equally at high pitch. It was nothing like Seoul. That time I felt safe. My face was covered with a broad smile. Even though things were not as pretty as where I was living before but still it felt like mine. I was no outsider here. I was back home. My home....My India.