OK, here is part I
"Sajana hain mujhe...sajana ke liye..." Sai crooned at the top of her voice, trying to colour-coordinate her jewellery with her attire for the day. A tough job, given the fact that she had never given her attire that much importance so far. Indeed, clothes were the bare essentials, and the preferred ones were those that could be located after the laundry with the maximum ease. Most of the times, it was the Khaki uniform. So where was the space for so much fuss?
"Sai...are you in pain or something? Shall I get you some pudin-hara?" Shivani banged down her book that she had been unsuccessfully trying to read since the past hour or so, "If no, then please stop that yodelling!"
"Why? Am I that bad?" Sai had finally found a matching shade of lipstick.
"Not just bad, Sai. You are random! No connection between one note and the next!"
Shivani braced himself for a verbal rebuke. But surprisingly Sai chose to ignore the taunt.
"Really?" She pouted and unpouted trying to normalize the spread of her lipstick, and then delved in her jewellery box in search of a matching dangler.
"Is this good? Does it go with the saree?" She poised the piece to her ear. Shivani rolled her eyes.
"You are impossible! And don't tell me that..." Her eyes finally took in Sai’s attire, "You are going to wear a saree to office? Maushi...!"
Usha Maushi came out of the kitchen wiping her hands on a kitchen apron and stood still.
Sai in a saree? What a surprise! Was something special today? She searched her memory database but couldn't get a single hit. Shivani nudged her.
“Maushi, is something wrong with her today? Did she bang her head somewhere? Or is she running a fever?”
Usha Maushi reached out to feel Sai’s forehead. “I don’t know, Shivani. Maybe some function at the HQ, or some undercover assignment. You know better!”
Shivani nodded wisely. Quite possible. Must be a top secret assignment. She herself had no idea.
“Whatever…but don’t forget to take your ID. Otherwise nobody will recognize you, forget letting you in the HQ!”
Usha Maushi went back to whatever she was doing.
Something was wrong. For someone who never cared for what she wore, or her appearance, Sai had spent a clear hour in grooming herself. And that saree…
Her lips curled in a smile at the fond remembrance at the persuasion that went along with its purchase.
“Usha Maushi, No! I am not buying a saree!”
"But beta, you need to have these also in your wardrobe...what if you get an alliance from an orthodox family...?
“What do you mean? I am supposed to wear this? And how?” Sai’s eyes narrowed, her hands gesturing wildly as she draped the saree on her shoulder. “And serenade in front of the family?”
Usha maushi looked upwards for some divine intervention. Bappa! Please drill some sense into this stubborn girl. Given a choice, she will certainly march into the room and brandish her police baton at the groom. Please Bappa..
Bappa decided to grant that one to Usha Maushi. Sai relented finally.
"OK Maushi. Go and pay for it. But let me tell you one thing. I am NOT going to wear it anytime!"
And today was unusual. Sai had worn it on her own and then spent most of her morning in front of the mirror, trying out different combinations of bracelets, hair clips and ear danglers. And not to say anything about the makeup: she had tried about 6 different shades of lipsticks before settling for a cherry red one. And this was unusual for someone who thought that makeup was a waste of time.
Yes, something was wrong. Or was it going right after a long time?
-----
Across the city, Virat had walked in a famous mall of the city, early in the morning and had been accosted by a pretty sales assistant in no time.
"Good morning! How may I help you, Mr Chavan?"
"Good Morning. I want to buy an outfit for a lady...Please help me out!"
"Sure Sir. What sort would you prefer to buy? Western or Indian?"
Virat looked lost. This was an uncharted area, he had never dared to infringe in. Darn it. He looked around and his gaze encountered a mannequin.
"Something like that..."
"But that is unstitched material, Sir..."
"Ohhh.." Virat's face fell. “You mean..this is not yet ready to wear?” He fingered it. The material, the shade, the feel was perfect. The salesgirl smiled indulgently.
"No problem, Sir. If you could get us the lady's dimensions, we can get it tailored for you..."
"Sure. I will get the dimensions for you. Which all do you need?
The salesgirl beckoned to her assistant who quickly explained the need.
"Fine, I will get these by today evening. In the meanwhile, can you please reserve the material for me?"
"Sure, Sir. But surely get the dimensions by today evening, otherwise we wont be able to hold on to the material beyond that!"
Virat nodded his consent and stepped out.
The salesgirl was beaming from ear to ear as she signalled the helper to remove the material and keep it aside. This was the first customer and such a prominent one, it certainly heralded good business for the day.
Virat in the meanwhile was lost in thought. He had no clue how to go about. The day had begun well. But now he was having second thoughts about it. What seemed like an easy job now looked like an impossible one.
How to get Sai's dimensions without her knowledge?
The police tailor would help, but that would also activate the grapevine. Better avoided at any cost..
Members Lounge
CID
