Page 48 of You Had Me At Annyeong!
Timira is used to tuning out when most club officials speak. They talk too much for folks that have mostly never struck a ball or set foot on the pitch, she has always complained. She is about to do the same this evening, but Chairman Ri ruins her plan.
Speaking in English, for Rodrigo’s benefit, he keeps his speech short and succinct.
‘We have a lot to do this season and next. Last year was tough with many injuries and unfair refereeing. But all that is in the past. We move ahead with conviction!’
Thunderous applause across the room.
‘We now have one of the best in the world with us. Rodrigo. What a stellar time he had in India, and he has promised to bring his A-game here!’
Turning towards Rodrigo, he adds in a serious voice, ‘Son, you have promised to win us the league. And I believe that promises must always be kept! So,fighting!’
Loud cheers from every corner.
Rodrigo beams with confidence and holds up both hands curled into fists. ‘Fighting, President Ri!’
All drama! Phatt rahi hogi isski andar.Timira rolls her eyes.
‘Of course, now that he is also the brand ambassador for BaekSeobang’s brand. Well, to-be Seobang …’
Wait, what?Timira’s heart has stopped. This is another Korean word that Timira knows the meaning of. It means ‘husband’ but in common Korean parlance refers to ‘son-in-law’.
Timira has tuned out of the rest of his speech. She breaks out of her daze only when people noisily request Chairman Ri for a group photo.
‘Come, Rod and Haneul. I hope this will be the start of a great partnership! Mina-ya, come join us!
Mina? Who is Mina? That must be the daughter!Timira’s heart is now racing. She can feel giant tidal waves rising and falling inside her chest as she watches the girl named Mina gleefully skip towards Haneul.
Have I got this right? This Ri uncleji wants to win the league and has hired Rodrigo for the job. And he wants him to pose and preen for Haneul, who is engaged to his daughter Mina, the gorgeous mystery girl who touched his hair and fixed his lapel, Timira thinks in disbelief.
Stung by the revelation, for a few minutes, Timira is unable to fathom how she feels. She has a maddening urge to laugh out maniacally at the sheer ridiculousness of it all. She feels as though the ground beneath her feet is shifting and she’s unable to breathe. The mic has been turned off and the sound of Chairman Ri’s voice has been replaced by the din of excited low chatter.
She lunges at a hostess passing by with a tray full of delicate flutes filled with sparkling, bubbling champers and grabs one. Drinking urgently, she downs the contents of the flute in a single shot, a little of which rolls down in thin streams from the corners of her small mouth which she doesn’t bother to wipe off.
Yummy water. Must be flavoured and sparkling. How is it sweet, though? Ingenious! Korea is really living in 2050!
She signals at the hostess to come over with a smile. ‘Excellent water,’ she says, beaming while picking up two flutes. She wastes absolutely no time in downing those as well.
She locks eyes with Hanee, who looks concerned and suggests that she might go over to where Timira is. But the latter puts up an okay sign and gestures at her to stay put.
Stay hydrated, even if your life is going down the drain. The body needs water to produce tears, after all. God, I’m so funny. Zindagi ki vatt lagi hai, but I’m still making jokes. Too good, Timmy, you are too good!
Feeling chuffed, Timira contemplates escape.
Nobody is going to notice. They’re all busy with Rod. I can’t take this nonsense anymore. What? Korean Adonis and that goddess are engaged? Well, good for them! Hah! This is like a classic South Bombay shaadi. Wah. Straight out of a drama! Rich weds rich. Poor weds poor. Nobody weds Timira!
Deep inside her thought bubble, Timira forgets where she is and bursts out laughing. Except it sounds more like a snort than a laugh because her nose is blocked and there are tears in themix, thanks to ‘hydration’. Loud enough for people to notice. A lot of people. People including Rodrigo, whose familiar voice booms, ‘It seems we have a piglet amidst us!’ Timira stiffens, mortified.
Oh, God. Why did I share my piglet story with him?! I really ought to learn to talk less … should I run? Will he run after me? Can I outrun him? Oh, my laces have come undone …
She bends to tie them but before she can, he has found her and is already tying her laces. She’s blinking back tears like she had the day she quit her job. But this time, they are tears of anger, not helplessness. She pushes him away with a light kick and says, ‘I can help myself, thank you.’
Everybody is staring at them with expressions of wonder and amazement. He waits for her to tie her laces. Once done, he wraps her in his arms and lifts her off the ground. She fights to wriggle out of his grasp. He finally relents, puts her down, taps her head lightly and says, ‘What’s up, clumsy clown?’
She doesn’t answer and looks visibly uncomfortable, borderline annoyed. Trying desperately to not meet the eye of anyone she knows, she bows low to no one in particular and excuses herself.
Rodrigo tries to follow her but Haneul stops him. He has put two and two together by now and figured that Rodrigo is Timira’s ex. The one who cheated on her, the one she cried about in Bali, the one who (she thinks) has followed her to Korea. Rodrigo twists his arm to free it, but Haneul holds on with an iron grip. Mina looks at them and wonders how deeply both men are involved with this Indian girl.
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