Oh, Be My Dawn, Sweet Heart! (Only Sample)

8. The Shopping!

Imaya’s PoV

Days passed without seeing Indar mama. He never came home after that lunch, or at least he never came when I was in the home. It was kind of a relief that he disappeared. He was making me feel weird in the stomach all of a sudden. He just talked to me on the phone on the day when the application got through and my admission date came. I still have four more days for my college. I still have not bought any books or clothes. I am waiting for Gayathri to accompany me to go shopping but she is bailing out everyday.

“Imai, I have called Indar to take you shopping. Go with him and get everything that you need for college. Get a new pair of slippers too. He will come in the evening to pick you.” 

“Ahhh!” I dropped the knife that I was holding. Ammachi told me that when I was chopping vegetables for lunch and now I chopped my finger along with it.

“God, you have to be more careful, Imaya. Here, give it to me, I will chop the rest. You go wash your hand.” Ammachi got the vegetables and the chopping board from me. 

I went to tend to my bleeding finger. Ooh, it was a deep cut on my left pointer finger. It was all Ammachi’s fault. She was the one that told me the shocking news while I was working with the knife. He is something! I just thought of him and here he is going to come to take me shopping. Argh, Gayathri…!

‘Will you come shopping in the evening?’ I texted her.

‘Sorry, de. I have assignments to be completed this weekend. Very sorry, Imai!’ She replied almost immediately.

Alright, now there is no other way, I just have to go along with him. But I wonder why he agreed to take me shopping? He hates to be in the same room with me but he is very nice to me since the talk of the college. Oh my god, could it be this? Did he change his mind because I am going to have a degree? The very thing I feared for is going to happen even before I go to college?

Ah, Nah! Don't overthink! He had given his word to Thatha that he would take care of everything until I go to college. He is just doing the same to keep up to his word. I wound up my finger with a piece of cloth and went back to cooking. In the evening, I got myself ready with a peach half saree and blue blouse and skirt. I braided my long hair and left it in front. I streaked my eyes with kajal and put on a red small round bindi in the midst of my eyebrows. I took my purse where I have all my saved money and the money Appuchi gave me for shopping. 

“Imaya, Indar is here. Come soon!” Ammachi shouted from the front porch. She was talking to our neighbor granny sitting on the front porch. I heard his bike too. It made me feel a flip in my stomach realizing the fact that we are going to go together on his bike. This is the first time I am going to go on his bike after I became a big girl. 

“We will take leave, Ammachi.” I told her as I walked to his bike.

“Will bring her in another two hours, Appatha. Bye.” Indar mama told her.

“Mmm, hop on.” He told me as I was just standing there. 

I climbed on his bike and sat with my legs on the same side. I clutched my purse in one hand and the holder on the other hand.

“Shall we go?” He asked me for which I hummed in response.

He drove very carefully and slowly. He never spoke a word until we reached the dress shop. He dropped me near the door of the shop and went to park his bike. I stood there until he came and joined me. He walked fast into the shop and I ran behind him. I have come here for window shopping with Gayathri. She would buy salwars to wear to college. I usually shop in local shops for my half sarees. I will take material and will give it to stitching. 

“Go and take whatever you want.” He said after taking me to the second floor.

“Um… mama, there are no half sarees here.”

“I know. Buy salwars for college. You can wear your regular clothes when you are at home.” He said and sat on a stool, looking at his phone.

I don't know where to look, what to look at. I went to the sales woman there and asked for the price range. She helped me select some dresses. She asked me to try them on in the trial room. I don't know, but I think I can only take 3 or 4 dresses with the money I have. I still have to buy books, a pen and some hair clips. I think I should come back again with Gayathri. I took the four dresses I chose and walked to the trial room. 

“Akka (sister), can you please come and see if it fits me and looks good on me?” I asked her.

“Sure.” She said and walked with me. 

“It is good.” She told me when I came out with a purple color salwar. I looked at him and his eyes told me that it is not good on me. There is something in his eyes that always tells me what he thinks in his mind.

I went in again and changed to the other salwar and came out. His eyes were the same and it repeated for the rest of the dresses that I tried on. Exhausted, I locked the door and changed to my blouse and skirt. While I was draping my half saree, I heard a knock on the door. 

“Here try these clothes on.” He gave me a bunch of hangers with expensive clothes on it through the small gap in the door that I opened. 

“But mama…”

“Try it on.” He shoved the hangers in my hand and walked back to the same stool. The clothes hugged my curves perfectly and the colors and designs were so good. I liked myself in the clothes he gave me. Likewise, his eyes held appreciation when I came out with the clothes he gave me. 

“Mama, these are too expensive. I cannot buy anything else if I buy these clothes. We shall look for other clothes.” I told him for which he looked at me with anger.

“I have brought you shopping. I know to take care of the expenses.” He told me and gave all the clothes that he gave me for billing. It was ten sets of clothes. I have nothing to tell but felt guilty and indebted! I hate this feeling. It is like I am living my life with their help. I am fed up with this useless feeling. 

He then paid the bill and I got all the bags. He took me to the accessories shop and left me there with the same advice, look for the ones that I like and not look for the price. I am not  a girl who loves to dress up myself so I had only minimal necessity in that shop. He was on the phone while I was done in that shop and that gave me enough window to pay the bill. He just threw me a look of dissatisfaction and I was least bothered about it. I felt a little better when I paid for my stuff with my savings.

“Mama, can you stop at the second-hand book shop? I have a list of books that I will need for the first year.”

“Ok!” He never said a word against it. Thank god!

After all the shopping, we were ready to go back home. As he drove I saw him go in a different direction. I dared not to open my mouth for any questions as I had already tested his patience by paying for the books too. He is very angry right now. He stopped at a Dhaba restaurant. 

“Get down.” He said. Are we going to have dinner together? Alone? Why is my stomach doing weird dances? Is he going to talk to me? About what? Will he ask me to marry him? God!