What Dreams Are Made Of – Episode 16

#Episode_16

Next Monday at the shop Chrissy met Linda who was concerned with her tired look. When Chrissy told her she couldn’t sleep well last night, she wanted to know what was troubling her but Chrissy wasn’t sure if she could share her dilemma with Linda yet. Linda had become a very dear friend of hers but she felt it wasn’t right to discuss such personal details, especially since it involved someone other than herself. So she kept it to generally not feeling too well.

Linda told her she had been taking work too seriously and she should take a break to which she just nodded. She didn’t know if a break would solve her problems.

Mrs. Clark called her in the afternoon to express her delight. Henry had informed that her that the formalities would be completed in couple of days and that she would have her dream come true. She wanted to meet Chrissy and personally thank her in making it happen. Chrissy was worried to meet her but she was relieved to know that Henry had not told her anything about his proposal. Knowing she would have to meet Henry along with Mrs. Clark, she politely evaded the meeting saying that there was some urgent work at shop.

Following few days went like that. Chrissy didn’t meet Mrs. Clark, always mentioning some work or the other. She still didn’t tell anyone about Henry’s proposal. She wasn’t sure what he would do next but she was hoping that he would get the message in her silence. He had not approached her for a meeting but there have been messages from him which she has mostly ignored. She liked Henry, but

apart from being flattered by his proposal, she knew there was no future for them together. She didn’t love him and she hoped he would understand her feelings. But Mrs. Clark was not so easy to avoid.

She was much more direct than her son and one fine afternoon, she came to meet Chrissy unannounced. She hugged her tightly and thanked her. “I know you said you were busy but I couldn’t control myself.

I am so happy that the dancing queen is mine now”, she said beaming brightly. She was quite energetic as usual and success of her long found dream had fuelled far more energies into her. She has fully recovered from her illness and she was planning to throw a party to celebrate her happiness.

“I have personally come to invite you to the party and you have to come for it. You are practically the star of the party!”, she exclaimed happily.

Chrissy was immediately worried. She couldn’t go to the party. She did not want to meet Henry. And she certainly didn’t want Nikloi to think she was after Mrs. Clark or her son. Now that her job of finding the statue was over, she wanted to stay away from all of them. She knew Nikloi is going imagine disgusting things about her once he comes to know of Henry’s proposal. Worse, he may think she is a gold digger trying to influence both Henry and Mrs. Clark. She had to be away from this party.

“I am genuinely very happy for you, Mrs. Clark and feel honoured that you are inviting to your party. However, I won’t be able to join the party”, she politely tried to decline the invitation.

“Is this because of Henry?” asked Mrs. Clark.

Chrissy didn’t know how to respond to that direct question. She was silent.

“Oh dear, Henry has told me about his proposal to you. And I must confess, I am absolutely thrilled with his decision. I like you a lot and you are perfect for Henry. But, let none of that affect you. Whatever you decide is your decision, between the two of you and I will not try to influence you in anyway. Similarly, I wouldn’t let

that affect our sweet relationship as well. You are a wonderful person who has made my dream come true and I would want to share my happiness with you.

Please don’t say so. I am not leaving until you agree to honour the celebrations with your presence”, she added pleadingly.

Chrissy was touched by her revelation and her love. She didn’t know that the old lady had grown so affectionate to her. She still didn’t want to join the party but she didn’t want to brea

k her heart as well. Her first party experience had turned her completely off towards parties. They were definitely not her cup of tea. But nothing she could say to convince Mrs. Clark to let her off the hook. Finally considering her numerous requests, Chrissy agreed to come to the party.

Just then Linda joined the two of them at the shop. When she came to know about the successful mission of finding brassy and its celebration party, she got really excited. “You really are a rock star, Chrissy! I never thought you would actually find it”, she said elatedly. She had seen Chrissy get all worked up while working on the search.

Chrissy smiled at her friend’s appreciation. Mrs. Clark joined in, “Yes, she really is a star. And she should come dressed like one for the party”.

“Oh that means we need a dress for the party! Yes, I am so excited!”, Linda exclaimed.

“No, I already have a dress. I don’t need another one”, Chrissy said quickly.

“Of course, you need a new dress, dear. You must let me buy you one for the occasion”, Mrs Clark was all set already.

“What are you saying, Mrs. Clark? I can’t let you buy me a dress. Besides, I don’t need one!” Chrissy said much more emphatically but none of the ladies were listening to her. They both were already discussing where they should shop the dress from without paying any attention to her rejection of the whole new dress idea.

Before Chrissy knew, Linda had shared quick download of Chrissy’s wardrobe with Mrs. Clark adding what style she feels Chrissy should be trying as a new dress. “Would you please stop, Linda!”, Chrissy said exasperatedly.

“You have got a very good friend, dear and she is only trying to help me. So please don’t be mad at her”, said Mrs. Clark laughingly. She added, “I have got a wonderful idea. We are already at your closing time, so why don’t we go for shopping right now”.

Before Chrissy could reply or deny, she said to Linda, “Would you please join us, Linda. I think you can certainly help Chrissy to choose her dress”. and Linda readily agreed. “Oh I would love to. Shopping is my favourite time pass activity and Chrissy is my most dear friend. But please give me some time. I will just wrap up some things in my office and also let them know I am pushing off. I will catch up with you guys at the reception lounge”.

With that she was quickly out of the shop. Chrissy was aghast at the quick turn of things. She didn’t want to go for shopping. She didn’t need a dress! And she definitely cannot be splurging money on dresses when there were far more important issues that needed that money. But how does she tell this to Mrs. Clark.

Struggling with words, she decided to be direct with Mrs. Clark. She told her, “Mrs. Clark, I understand your feelings and really appreciate your friendship but I can’t accept this. It is a sheer waste of money as I don’t attend parties, etc and such dresses are absolutely no use for me. Besides I already have one wonderful dress that I can always wear since I have agreed to attend your party”.

Mrs. Clark was silent for few minutes. Chrissy was worried if she had said too much. But Mrs. Clark surprised her. “You know, any other girl would have jumped with this with this offer, but not you. You indeed are special, Chrissy”, she paused, looking at her with admiration. But there was something else as well that Chrissy couldn’t understand completely. She was already turning red in the face of her open appreciation.

“But Chrissy I would really love to get this dress for you. Think of it as a gift from me, as a token of my appreciation for all the hard work you did for my search. You

have anyways not accepted your share in the deal. At least let me do this”. Mrs. Clark’s words were quite emotional to Chrissy. She could see it in Mrs. Clark’s eyes that her feelings were genuine and that she really wanted Chrissy to accept her gift. In that emotional moment, Chrissy agreed to take the dress.

The three ladies met at the reception and left together in Mrs. Clark’s car. If Chrissy had a feeling that she was being watched, there was no way t

o check it. She was quickly ushered out by Linda but a pair of eyes of tall man kept following her.

Mrs. Clark’s took them to the shop she regularly shop from. Chrissy thought she had she had seen the designer wear stuff last time with Linda but this place was sophisticated, posh and high society. The gowns on display were of splendidly beautiful. Chrissy couldn’t close her mouth when she saw the dresses. Mrs. Clark quickly had a word with the sales girl and she started showing them beautiful dresses one after another.

Linda was floored by each gown but the next gown always made her want the next one. There were dresses were in silk, chiffon, velvet, delicate net with exquisite work in crystals, sequins, pearls, beads, etc. They asked her to try some of them but she was afraid of even holding those dresses, fearing she may spoil them.

She was also not comfortable with the amount of skin that would be on display in these dresses. Half the dresses had practically no back or all extremely exposing cuts, almost all had slits as high as the thigh or even higher, some had very low necklines or no shoulders.

She was embarrassed by even trying these dresses, forget wearing them at a party. After looking at various exposing dresses, finally her eyes landed on an emerald green velvet gown with silver sequins work around the neckline. On trying, it fitted her perfectly with its colour matching her green eyes. Seeing herself in the gown, she fell in love with the gorgeous delicate work on the gown. The only part it slightly exposed was her shoulders since it was an off-shoulder but the neckline was still high enough, extended around upper arms. The full length, body hugging dress flaring slightly below her bump in a fish cut style. Though it was a little too tight for her preference, displaying her shapely figure, it covered the body nicely.

The sequins work around the neckline, running diagonally from left shoulder upto her waist made it appear delicate yet uniquely styled.

Mrs. Clark also loved the dress and immediately brought it for her. It was gift packed and handed to Chrissy without she could even realize the price. She knew it was definitely not something she could afford, but Mrs. Clark didn’t let her discuss it any further. Shopping done, ladies stepped out of the shop and after grabbing a cup of tea, they went on their ways. Chrissy declined Mrs. Clark’s offer to drop her home saying she had some work before she went home.

Linda had been giving her a different look all through their evening out but she didn’t get any opportunity to ask her in front of Mrs. Clark. Once Mrs. Clark left, Linda immediately took both her hands in her hands and squeezed them tightly. “That old lady has it bad for you, Chrissy. What have you done to her! she exclaimed questioningly. Chrissy didn’t know what to tell her friend. She tried to evade, “What are you taking about?”

“It looks much more than a case of professional liking. I saw her looking at you with so much love and there was almost a plea in her eyes from time to time when she looked at you. I don’t know what it is but I can bet my money on it”, Linda added thoughtfully.

“What are you suggesting, Linda? Should I be avoiding her?”

Chrissy asked her, wondering if Linda could guess this how much time it would take for her to know about Henry’s proposal. But Linda was still in her thoughts. She said, “No, that is not what I am suggesting. But leave it, whatever it is, you deserve to be happy. Now, go home. We’ll see around”, with those words, she left for her place.

Chrissy reached her home in sometime. But she knew she was not going to find her sleep tonight as well. Mrs. Clark and her obvious affections for her had further complicated the situation. And if that was not sufficient, she had accepted to be at the party. In that gown. Is she doing the right thing? Will she be able to even carry herself in that gown?

The night went by, as expected, without much sleep.

▶To_be_Continued