“I don’t care what they or anybody else wants.” Tani’s lips firmed. “I want this one.”
Shikha sighed. She glanced at the designer who was listening to all this with a tiny smirk. “Could you give us a moment?” she asked.
The man nodded and left with his entire retinue. Tani and Shikha were left alone in the space, their images reflected back at them in the mirror panelling of the walls. It made it really hard not to meet her mother’s eyes.
“This is what you want?” her mother asked, coming to stand behind her, her hands resting on Tani’s shoulders.
Tani nodded.
“Then go for it, Tan Tan. Life is way too small for settling.”
Tani knew her mother was talking about more than an outfit. But her mother also didn’t know everything…
“Have we made a decision?” The smirky designer was back, his long black hair with blue highlights gleamed in the overhead lights, making Tani want to yank it out of his head.
The phone pinged again. Once, twice, and then a flurry of pings. Tani and Shikha glanced down at it, Tani’s thumb swiping the screen open.
“Is that Kabir?” Shikha’s eyes widened at the new pictures Rehan had posted.
Tani didn’t answer. She couldn’t. It felt like the bottom had fallen out of her world, sending her heart plummeting into the abyss.
On her phone screen, Kabir kissed the woman in his arms, her arms wound around his neck, her eyes closed in blissful joy. She couldn’t see his face, only the back of his head but she would know the back of that head anywhere.
She had no right to be jealous, she told herself. Kabir could kiss whoever he wanted. He wasn’t hers for her to get worked up over. He had been very clear that he would never be hers.
And this was hardly the first woman Tani had seen him with. Ever since she’s turned sixteen and her infatuation with him had first manifested, Tani had had the painful privilege of watching a bevy of beautiful women parade through Kabir’s life.
So why did this one matter?
Her lips trembled as she firmed them, her gaze on her pale face in the mirror. She ripped the material off of her, tossing it to the assistant who stood waiting patiently.
“I’ll take the maroon brocade,” she said, her choice suddenly perfectly clear.
Shikha’s lips tightened but she didn’t argue. She just stepped aside to discuss the details with the designer leaving Tani to her feverish, tangled thoughts.
“Could you drape the maroon brocade once more please?” she asked the assistant who hurried to do her bidding. The assistant made quick work of getting the outfit in place around Tani’s slim frame. This was clearly muscle memory for her at this point.
A few minutes later, Tani took her reflection in. She looked like she was ready to step off the cover of a bridal magazine. She watched as the gauzy, gold dupatta was draped over her headand arranged to fall artistically over her shoulders. She looked regal, elegant…a bride. She looked like Jay’s bride.
She waited patiently as the assistant took measurements, her mother took pictures, and the designer took stock of the annoying bride who couldn’t make up her mind.
Her mother sent her the pictures a second later. “In case you wanted to send it to Jay,” Shikha said briefly. “He was quite insistent that he wanted to match with you at every function.”
Tani nodded, but when her fingers moved, they didn’t send the picture to Jay. They sent it to The Shit Stirrers instead.
The group chat which had been dissecting Kabir’s smooch until that moment exploded with comments.
Kim: You’re so beautiful Tan Tan! I love it!!!!
Vedu: I agree. It’s gorgeous but then everything looks gorgeous on you.
Reh: You look like an overripe tomato.
Advik: Don’t listen to him. It’s very nice.
Kim: Very nice is a comfortable pair of underwear. It is stunning.
Vik: The most comfortable pair of underwear is not very nice. It’s a religious experience. But yes, Tani the Tomato looks stunning.
