‘What do you think?’ a voice – sounding equal parts nervous and excited – asked.
I turned towards a back room.Oh my God. I couldn’t believe I was meeting her again, not that she would remember me. It was Meera Kumar, the lead designer of House of Advani’s bridal line. I had attended one of her workshops years ago. While it made me realise that bridal designs weren’t for me, I had enjoyed the class and thought that she was brilliant at her craft. She had only gotten better since then, if these outfits were any proof.
Jai remained silent until he finished studying every design. ‘There are still lots of things to be considered from a business standpoint.’
‘I’m sure you’ll take care of it,’ Meera said, waving her hand. ‘What’s important is if you like them.’
Jai smiled. ‘I do. Good work, Meera.’
‘Thank you.’ Her smile brightened.
‘But you didn’t call me here urgently to see them,’ he said. ‘What’s the problem?’
‘It’s the beadwork on the peacock,’ Meera said, the concern evident on her face. ‘The Hyderabad workshop can’t do it. A few of our bestkarigarshave left the team. Rumour is that Lehenga Bazaar made them an offer they couldn’t refuse.’
Jai pressed his lips together. ‘Kavita.’
‘I’ll get right on it,’ she said. ‘Stay with him,’ she mouthed to me and then left the studio.
‘Did you check with Delhi?’ he asked.
Meera shook her head. ‘They’re already swamped with the festive line.’
‘Jaipur?’
‘They can’t handle this kind of bridal-level micro work.’ She looked deflated. ‘Neither can Lucknow. This was supposed to be the main piece of our line.If we don’t find a replacement, I’ll have to change it or scrap it altogether.’
That would be a shame. This was the best one of them all.
‘Why not hire new people?’ I suggested.
‘It’s not that simple,’ Jai replied. ‘There’s a selection process, training and other checks to be done. It would take months.’
So we needed a quick alternative.
A memory surfaced. ‘There is an independent workshop in Bhuj,’ I said. ‘They specialise in beadwork that is a lot like the one on this peacock. I saw it in their pop-up store at last year’s Mumbai expo.’
He didn’t even look at me. ‘No.’
‘But if you just ask for a sample or—’
‘I amnotoutsourcing bridal couture to some workshop youstumbled upon,’ he said sharply. ‘It would be best if you just do what you’re hired to do instead of my job. Now please, let me think.’
I’d spent an hour at their stall. Studied their technique. The precision of their beadwork, the way they layered colours, the durability of their finishes –
I remembered it being exceptional work. Work that could solve Meera’s problem.
But Jai had already decided I had nothing valuable to contribute. That I wasn’t serious. That I didn’t know what I was talking about. Heat rushed to my face.
‘We should consider it,’ Meera interjected, surprising both of us. ‘My team and I have spent countless hours perfecting these outfits. This lehenga is everyone’s favourite. I don’t want to delay the line or modify my design. If there’s even a ten per cent chance thatshe’s right, and that company is a good fit, it’s worth
a shot.’
The muscle in his jaw ticked. Once. Twice. ‘Ask them to send a sample,’ he said stiffly. ‘I want it here in forty-eight hours.’
I wanted to call him out for snapping at me without giving my idea a single thought. To gloat. Instead, I did something that would get under his skin. I gave him a sugar-dipped smile. ‘Of course.’
Jai turned sharply to Meera. ‘Was that all?’
