Esperance of V

2. Coincidence or destiny?

Arya Mehta
           Can you imagine having seven pairs of gorgeous eyes on you? The eyes you've seen a million times through the screen, the eyes you have always dreamed about and at this very moment seven pairs of those gorgeous but curious eyes were on me. Guess who's? Yes, the BTS. Impossible isn't it? What are the odds? I came to South Korea to see them once in my lifetime. And now I'm getting a chance to see them up close? Like one on one interaction? Wowza!! How did this happen? It all started with a lunch.

Yesterday
I navigate through the busy street of Seoul to reach the restaurant. Mmmmmm smells like lots of spices. I was already hungry, I'm hungrier now! I get a table for two in hope that bhai will join me. I was completely in my thoughts as I ordered food and a cold beverage.
The entire day consisted of a lot travelling but it's nothing new to me. I've lived hippie life for the past five years and I don't mind it at all. At the present moment I want a shower, some shorts and a bed. I'm so damn tired, yet I can't stop smiling. I met BTS. The BTS. It has been a wish for so long.
          I keep repeating all the moments that happened today in my head. Especially the V zoom in. Such a gorgeous male specimen. it's hot. Seoul in august is hot. I knew it, but I didn't have many options. My tour begins next month. I roll my eyes. I really don't think it's necessary for a writer to do tours and also only handful people comes anyway. But my agent insists on it. Personally I've met many writers by now and every time I meet them, they are different from the personalities I've perceived them to be. When I think about it, my readers would feel the same about me. They must think they were going to meet someone who is like a character from one of my books. Surprisingly I'm not like any of the characters of my books. The characters I create are the ones I imagine myself to be. Happy, sheltered, hopeful, colourful, content and whole. I hope I could be like that. May be in some years, or a life time or in next incarnation. My new book (number#13) is coming out next month and I'll be busy after that. This one month is my vacation. I want to see everything South Korea has to offer. Meet as many new people as possible. Especially teenagers. They are the source of my inspiration. The stuff humans go through when they are in teenage is just amazing(SARCASM). A lot of them remain fucked up for a long time even after teenage years. I learn something new and refreshing from every teenage story. I also have a small gathering planned at the end of the month, two days before I leave, at a book shop here in Seoul. A group of readers reached out to me on my Instagram account when I posted about coming to South Korea . And of course I said yes.
Omg, RM read one of my books. Shit! That's so damn cool. I mean I know my books are popular in India also a bit in U.S but I didn't think I had much hold in Korea. I'm always surprised when a celeb says that they've read my book. I just can't wait to share that with my friends. Especially army friends. I look at my phone chiming. A few texts asking me if I've reached safely. I reply positively without giving any details. I hate texting. I mean they can't hear my voice and they can't know my level excitement through a text. I will tell them when I meet them or talk over a video call. All my near and dear ones knows that I'm a poor texter. It amazes them that I don't like texting when I'm a writer. Well my profession has nothing to do with me not liking texting.
I post a few stories about my arrival in Seoul and short video of the sign book from fan sign. A few seconds after the stories were posted I receive a lot of messages. As my food arrives a message tone chimes that I absolutely can't ignore otherwise it will be a call that I don't generally like to answer. It's my annoying agent. He's asking me, no ordering me to do a live on ig. He's an irritating piece of shit, but surprisingly good at his job. Hey! No one likes to be told what they should do and what they should not. And this agent of mine never fails to dictate my moves. Most of the time I listen to him, begrudgingly. I start a live video and show them the street I'm in through the glass wall then the restaurant. It's a cool place with a homey Indian vibe. Indoor plants and smell of spices. I arrange my phone on the table and answer the questions of my fans and friends while eating. They are eager to know about the fansign with BTS. I give them a short version of meet and inform them about uploading a detailed video on fansign later. Then I end the live video. Wooof, It lasted 25 mins.
My phone chimes again. It's my brother asking me my whereabouts. I text him the name of the restaurant. In 10 mins he enters with a man in his 30's. He looks familiar but I'm unable to place him. Bhai immediately spots me and walks towards me. They take the seats opposite to me. Bhai introduces him as Sejin, manager of BTS. And now I know exactly where I've seen him. I tell him about my experience with BTS and he listens with a smile. Cute guy. Cute married guy. Someone once said correctly all nice guys are either married, gay or dead. The world is a cruel place for girls/women these days.
"Your brother tells me that you're a writer" he says.
"Yes. And RM has read my book. I think I'm going to repeat that like a parrot every time", I answer with humour in my voice.
"Aahh, jinjja? Really? That's great. RV has worked with us for a long time now. I have heard a lot about you from him. You travel a lot, don't you?"
"Yes I do, but I don't understand where's this going?", I question. In all this my brother sits silently and listens to us.
"I want to ask you for a favor, if possible I'd like you to help us with a situation."
"I'm listening" , This sounds like business. I really don't have any idea what he might ask me for.
"You know that we're going to India for nearly a week next month. I'd like them to be prepared before that. Would you interview them? Ask some questions that Indian army might wanna know about. At the same time give them some lessons on Indian etiquette."
I am stunned. Ask them questions. Talk to them. Again? Look at them and teach them? My face went blank for a few seconds.
Sejin immediately added, "of course we'd pay you for that. If you're worried about that. I'd have asked your brother but he hasn't been in India for a long time now."
"Sorry. No I'm not worried about getting paid. It just took me by surprise. You know I'm a fan right? Why would you ask me?"
"But you are a celebrity too so you'd understand the situation better than anyone we have here. We need to air the interview soon. So I'm using the fact that you're a fan for my benefit" he smiles. This guy must be crazy. He thinks it's his benefit? Does he know how many women/girls (let's just say general population) would race to be in my place right now? Out of the blue a few lyrics come to my mind, 'Imagine your face say hello to me. Then all the bad days, they're nothing to me. With you.' They are lines from winter bear, a solo by V. That's a bit surprising because I'm more excited to see him than others. He's the first one that came to my mind when Sejin asked me to interview them. I don't have a bias. That's not right. I love them equally. I push it to the back of my mind for now. Sejin and bro are looking at me expectantly. And for the second time that day I say, "Do I really need to answer that? It's an obvious yes. I was sold the moment you said I can meet them again."
Seoul is making my dreams come true. I think I should wish for a few more things before today ends. An unbelievable thought crosses my mind. It's so impossible that I dismiss it immediately.
My brother has a huge grin plastered on his face. "See I can be useful sometimes", he says.
"That's an understatement dearest brother."