"Hey you lady! May I know who you are speaking?" finally she said. At least she had to know the person who she was speaking so that she can lecture her about morals and asks her co- workers if they know her.
The other side again went silent.
She waited her to reply but that person didn't speak a word.
She thought that person called a wrong number and was preparing to say good bye.
"You B***h! How dare you to forget me?" she answered and started crying.
Weird! It was really weird. She really had to deal with those sorts of person other than her weekday.
"Mam! Who are you calling b*-"
Wait! Wait! It can't be right? There was only the one person who used to call her such vulgar names. She can't be right? After all they hadn't been in contact for long time.
"I am Tao Bao.", she answered "You hadn't forgotten me, right?" she asked her.
She really was.
She felt lumped in her throat. No words were coming out from her mouth. She felt chills all over her body. She was voiceless.
"How are you?" she answered slowly.
"How about you?" Bao asked her.
She replied, "I am doing fine."
"Oh…" she said and the phone line went silent for a long time.
Actually it was few seconds but if felt like eternity. It was full of awkwardness. She still couldn't gasp on what was happening.
That silence was suffocating her.
She broke the silence and asked her, "Why are you calling me?"
It was really rude question but at that moment that was the only thing that filled her mind. It was out of blue. Never in her conscious had she imagined to get a call from her.
"I miss you…" she replied softly. Her voice was very small but still she heard it clear. Her voice was trembling as if she was holding back her tears from not bursting.
Bao sighed deeply and said, "I am getting married on Tuesday. You had promised me right that you will come to my wedding anyhow even if you are in outer space."
She chuckled lightly.
"Congratulation!!!" she congratulated her and without any thought she started giving her reasons "I am really sorry but I couldn't attend your wedding. How about I send you the gift?"
Tao Bao didn't say anything instead she started crying; it was mix of her sobbing and muffled sound. May be she was trying to cover her mouth afraid that she will really cry harder.
"Can't you postponed your work?" she asked in nasal tone.
"No, actually right now I work as professor so… since the semester is coming end. I am quite busy with the things in our university. I won't even have a time to squeeze breathe in next 15 days since I will be occupied with lot of things." she answered her hoping she will be convinced by this answer.
If she won't be convinced she should at least feel the uneasiness in her voice.
But to her expectation she asked unlikely," After 15 days will you be free?"
She was at loss of words when she asked that.
She just answered hmm.
"Okay then I will arrange my wedding after 18 days. You must come. Will you attend right?" she asked fill with expectation.
She remained mum not knowing what to say.
Finally she replied only one word "mm".
After that she didn't know how the phone call was ended.
Even after hanging on the phone, she stood frozen on that same place for a long time.
****
Tao Bao…