The Farewell
After finishing a quick hot shower, Riya stepped out of the bathroom and walked into her room, wiping her thick long golden brown hair with a towel. As she entered her room, her big, dreamy eyes with long thick eyelashes caught the sight of a pretty dress lay on top of her bed. She immediately looked around to see if it is indeed her room. Yes it was her room; there was no mistake to that. It was her room and it was her bed where the dress was laying and looking at her eagerly, as if asking ‘when are you going to put me on?’
It was a off white ankle length dress with light baby pink shade and tiny rose pink flower print on it. She quickly put the towel around her wet hair and had her hair tied properly, so the water trickling from the hair did not ruin the pretty dress she was about to pick up. With her gleaming eyes with delight she picked it up, held in front and stared at it for few seconds then she put it against her body and looked at the mirror. It matched her fair skin and gave her an astonishing look. She felt, she already looked pretty in it. She dried her hair quickly, humming and smiling that illustrated how thrilled she was. Then she applied light makeup and finally put on the dress. The dress was beautifully designed and it fitted her perfectly. It was like; it was sewed on her body only. It showed all the curves of her beautiful body and that undoubtedly gave her an exclusive look.
It was her last day at the university, completion of Bachelors degree. Henceforth they were having a farewell party. She was going to wear a party dress that she kept for such occasions. She did not have many therefore, for such special occasions and parties she would always wear this particular party dress. Her mother had noticed that and quietly made this eye-catching dress for her. Her mother had magic in her hands where making dresses and handcrafted goods were concerned. She was a very creative woman.
Riya’s father was a pilot who died in a plane crash when Riya was in her final year at the school. She still remembers the day when a peon was sent to her class to bring her to the Principal’s office at once. She was presumptuous, as usual some silly girl must have complained about her for no reason and there she will end up with a good scolding from the principal and a note for her mother to be present at Principal’s office on so and so day. Murmuring she had entered the office to find her uncle sitting in front of the Principal’s desk. How lovingly Principal had asked her to sit on the chair. She could not believe when she heard that tone. Usually he was callous and stringent, but that day she could not figure out, from where he brought that loving tone. When her uncle told her that he had come to take her home because her father was no more, she could not believe her ears. She did not believe until she reached home and saw her mother in tears and surrounded by the relatives and neighbor ladies. Both had hugged each other securely as if they were afraid somebody will part them away from each other.
Her father’s death however provided them with a good amount of compensation from the Airline Company and the money from insurance gave them a three bed room flat, a scooter for Riya and a small scale business to her mom Tara.
Tara was a good cook and she made lip-smacking pickles. Therefore, after the death of her husband she started making pickles and sale it in the market. She hired a few women whose husband had died or husband had left them and they were to raise their kids on their own. In the beginning, she worked in her flat but the demand started to increase hence she had to rent a big room like a hall near her apartment where they made pickles and bottled. First few months it did not go well but after six to seven months the pickle business started thriving. Now after five years their products have earned a good name and there is great demand in the market. Tara has nearly fifty women working for her who are earning from this business.
During free time which is very seldom, Tara designs dresses for a boutique.This is her passion. She never had a training or course on designing clothes; it just came from inside her. Whenever she designed a dress, that dress made it to the market and sold in no time. Riya asked her many a times to switch her career from pickle making to dress designing but she stayed firm with pickle making business as it gave employment to many other women who were working there.
Riya came out of her room, went to ask her mother Tara, how she looked. Tara kept gazing at her for a while, and then hugging her said,
“You just look amazing.” While saying Tara’s eyes were filled with warm tears. Most probably she thought of her deceased husband.
Riya kissed her mother on her cheek and said lovingly,
“When did you make this beautiful dress mom? I never saw you making it!” There was surprise in her tone.
“I wanted it to be a surprise for you; consequently, I made it while you were at the university or sleeping.” Tara said with a big loving smile.
“You are an amazing mom and a woman. I love you so much and thank you so very much for this gorgeous dress.” Riya said being obliged.
“Oh, it’s nothing dear. I wanted to make it since a long time. I know you have only one nice dress for such special occasion. You won’t buy a new one thinking it would burden me. So I made this for you, especially for this occasion. I see you like it!”
Tara said turning Riya around and examining how the dress fitted her daughter’s gorgeous body.
“Like it? I love it or say I adore it. You have magic in your hands mom. I am sure my friends will envy me as I would be the only one with such unique dress. They would be wearing the dresses bought from the stores and boutiques.” Riya said winking at her mother.
Both giggled and Tara said giving a last glance at her daughter,
“Go now or else you will be late. Have a nice time sweetie”.
Riya hugged her mother again and said,
“Bye mom, I will try to be back as soon as possible.”
Then she came out of the apartment and headed towards the parking lot where her scooter was parked.
Around six in the evening Riya reached the university compound, parked her scooter and went inside the hall. The hall was already half packed. She looked around for her best friend Luna but she was nowhere to be seen. She saw Matt and Rinku, so she went to them and started talking to them.
Riya was looking like a model in that gorgeous dress. With that light make up she applied that day which she usually did not, and her wavy long golden brown hair, added an extra spot to her beauty, making her look like a Greek goddess.
Slowly the hall became packed but still Luna was nowhere to be seen. Riya however was talking to Matt, Rinku and other friends who had joined them but her eyes were somewhat fixed at the entrance door and time and again, searching around for her best friend Luna who had not turned up yet. Music started blasting and they all got on the floor dancing and screaming. Riya also came down to the dancing floor and danced for a while but kept looking at the entrance door for Luna.
What happened to Luna? Did she not come for the farewell party? Did her parents not allow her to come? But why would they not? Before Riya had gone for the shower they had spoken on the phone and Luna had distinctly told her, she would be at the university by six. This is why Riya also left home calculating the time, so to be there at around six when Luna also would arrive. But where is she? What happened? Why is she not there? These questions were killing Riya.
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