Like a dream

CHAPTER-6. NOW

          November 20, 2018, that is today's date. November 20. A day etched on my mind forever. Right now, all I have in my head is to beat all the odds of this day and get past it. I am not sure if I can do it, but I promise myself that I'll try hard.
       Mark O'Connor's Appalachia Waltz is playing as I am sketching a bateau necked and sheer back white lace sheath wedding gown with a trailing beaded lace veil. I rise up from my seat and stretch my arms high up as I complete the sketch and let out a deep breath. So far, the day has been good. I've been holding my emotions really well. Now, it's time for a break. I pick my car keys and my beige trench coat, lock my room and make my way to the garage. I get in my car, power the beast and as it comes to life, I drive down the street. I make my first stop at Tim's café. It is half past eight in the morning and the shop doesn't have many customers. I sit at my usual place as Mandy approaches me. She is a sweet 20-year-old, who has moved from her hometown of Holmes Chapel to attend college in London and works her weekend and holidays as a waitress at Tim's. I'm not much of a cook, so this has become my daily breakfast spot for the past eight months.
    'Good morning Ms.Leila!' Mandy greets with a warm smile plastered to her face.
    'Good morning Mandy!'
'Shall I bring your usual?' she offers and I nod my head yes. In a few minutes, Mandy arrives with my usual plate of truffled egg toast and roasted cod along with a cup of coffee. As I have my breakfast, I check my phone for mails from fabric dealers and send responses to the ones needing immediate attention. Work. Work. Work. The only thing that doesn't let you grieve is work. This is what I learnt in the past year.
      The next stop is at my showroom - The New House Leila in Sloane Street, Chelsea. Each time, I stand in front of this building, my eyes glint with pride. With little financial backing from my parents, launching my own signature collection at an upscale town was an uphill struggle. Initially, I started with couture bridal apparel and in four months, I was ready to start a less expensive ready to wear collection.
    I push open the glass door and walk into my store. It is a two storey building built over 3500 square feet, and the interior decor made contemporary. Chloe, my store manager and six other employees including two new interns greet me as I walk in. I greet them back and make my way to my cabin. If it had been another regular day, I would have had a nice conversation with them. But it wasn't a regular day. It was a hard one. Really hard one. I drop my coat on the couch and my keys on the table before I sit at my desk. Ava, my studio assistant enters the room.
      'Ms. Nova is here' she announces and soon two elegant, poised English ladies enter my cabin. The older of the two wears a short black bodycon and over the knee burgundy boots and she looks pretty damn good. No doubt, even at thirty-eight, she stands number two in the list of top fifty hottest British celebrities. The shorter lady by her side, Lara, is Ms.Nova's personal assistant and I wouldn't have been able to meet this goddess if it weren't for Lara. I smile at them and take them to the couch.
    'I'm pleased to meet you' I tell Nova Callahan as she makes herself comfortable on the couch.
    'I'm also happy that we get to meet in person' she smiles.
      It was two weeks back, I received a call from Lara stating that Ms Nova wanted me to design a dress for her. Lara told me that Nova spotted two of her nieces wearing me at their family get-together and fell in love with my work. I was overwhelmed when I heard those words. I haven't spoken to Nova before this morning and this meeting is really special.
     'So can I see it?' Nova asks me.
I turn to Ava who is sitting by my side. 'Help me with it.'
     She quickly rises up from her seat and moves the mannequin from the far corner of the room and brings it closer. Nova looks at the mannequin dressed in a gauzy blue strapless dress. She gets up and moves closer to the mannequin and I follow her.
     'This is just a toile to see how it will fit. We can make changes, once you try this on' I tell her. 'Would you like to have some coffee?'
     'Oh yes! That would be nice!' Nova says and I motion Ava to get us the drinks. In the meantime, Nova tries her dress in the dressing room and I mark the changes to be made on the toile.
     As we have our coffee, I show her the fabric swatch once again- a midnight blue silk piece sprinkled with star like silver sparkles.
    'This will certainly make a pretty dress!' she says. She then walks through the showroom looking at the various clothes organized on the dress stands and the mannequins before she takes leave.
     Now I'm going to make a quick trip to the stitching unit at Akton, where the cut patterns arrive and our tailors are on fire to create finished garments. I take a look at the new packages consisting of hand-embroidered fabric from India and lace fabric from France. I spend the rest of the day checking the progress of the design.
      Finally, it's time. It's five in the evening. I drive to the nearest floral shop. I stare at the flowers for a full minute, not knowing what to buy.  I clutch at the half heart crystal locket hanging around my neck. Of course, Nick would love any flower or plant. I still remember vividly, the moment he popped the question. "Will you be my Sedum?" he asked me. All I did was stare at him blankly and ask back, "Will I be your what?" That was the best moment of my life even though I felt like a dumbass.
     Today I need to get Nick something. But I don't even know what each plant symbolizes. And today it would be appropriate to give him flowers. I let out a sigh and pick white roses and freesia with looped grass for the bouquet. I place it on the backseat of my car and drive to Nick's mansion. In ten minutes, I am pulling into the circular driveway of the Khanna home.