Sonia entered slowly and paused as the door chime sounded on her entry. She admitted to herself that she was a little nervous, even though this was just a tailor's appointment. But she had never been to a tailor's with an appointment before.
This was done by Mrs. Mittal for her. She said this guy was the best. Sonia had heard he was the best from other sources as well and he was the official tailor to most of the elite ladies in the city. She was apprehensive as to how he would look at her, she was just a secretary, not a rich, society wife of a multi-millionaire businessman.
She wouldn't even be here if Mrs. Mittal hadn't given her a dress as a gift for her party and told her specifically to get it done from this guy, her own tailor. She was flattered in a way but also a little ill at ease.
For all the fame Raj had as a tailor of the rich and famous, she had heard some wild rumours about him that made her a little guarded in her approach, she didn't know if they were true or not but well, where there's smoke...
She found herself in a big, well-lit reception area with no people in it. As she stood there undecided and wondering if anybody had really heard the door chime, she looked around and started to examine the art on the walls..
"Hi, can I help you?", the voice spoke behind her and made her jump. She turned abruptly to face Raj.
"Oh, hi!" she recovered quickly from the surprise, "I am here to see Mr. Raj. I have an appointment."
He smiled and she felt an immediate lessening of the tension in her gut, "Oh, you are Sonia. I know you. We met at the Mittal mansion."
She smiled with relief, "Yes. Exactly. I am here about the dress."
"Yes, of course. Please come with me."
He led her into a small room that looked like it was made for consultations with esteemed clients. There was a bright yellow sofa set with a red coffee table and a long orange side table along one wall with various drink implements on it. He sat her down on a sofa and sat opposite her.
Sonia started talking about the dress again but he stopped her with an upraised hand. He refused to talk business until he had made his client feel comfortable.
"You know this business of dressing an individual is not just mechanical, a lot more goes into a dress than just cloth and thread. I refuse to talk about the dress or anything else, until I am sure you are comfortable and relaxed." He looked around, "Now what would you have – coffee, juice, soft drink..." he lowered his voice to a conspirational level, "..hard drink?"
She laughed at his tone of false intrigue, "Can I just have some water please?"
She found herself liking this man, he was handsome but not vain, quite charming in fact. He was treating her just like a valued, rich client even though he knew she was just a secretary to Mrs. Mittal.
"If that be your wish, then of course!" He put water in front of her a with small plate of mints and lozenges.
"Now, let's hear what's on your mind." He said after she had taken a sip of her water. His tone was a blend of a therapist and friend rather than a tailor and she found herself talking more than she had intended to.
"Well, you see, Mrs. Mittal gave me this dress, unstitched of course" she looked at him and he nodded his ready understanding, "and she wants me to wear it to her next bridge party which is also her birthday. She referred me to you and said that I must get it done by you."
"That is very kind of her." He bowed slightly.
"Yes, she does admire your work greatly and frankly so do I," she smiled and her cheeks dimpled, "but I am not sure that I could afford your services. And...it's not something I can ask her, you know?"
He looked very understanding of her dilemma, "Not a problem. This is not something you ask. How about this, we'll do the dress and send the bill to her. Then the ball will be in her court. And I am sure she intended to gift you the whole dress which would include my services. Don't worry about a thing!"
She heaved a sigh of relief, "Wow! That would solve my dilemma. How clever!"
He smiled and bowed, "Could I ask you a favour in return, Sonia?"
"Yes, sure?" she looked confused.
"Please don't wear jeans when you come to me next time?" she looked surprised as he sounded hurt.
"Oh?"
"You have such beautiful, exquisite legs and you hide them in this ugly cloth, it hurts my sensitive nature."
She smiled, "Ok, deal! And thanks!"
He smiles back, "I love that dimple in your cheeks as you smile! You should smile more."
She blushed at his compliment.
"Now, let's see that fabric."
She placed it in front of him.
"Ah, sequin. Mrs. Mittal likes sequin, does she not?"
She nodded.
"Okay", he continued, "Tell me your vision for the dress."
"My what?"
"Your vision, my dear, what do you see the dress as?"
"Um, I don't know!" She felt like he was dragging her into deep waters.
"Okay, I'll help you. What kind of party is it going to be?"
"Well, it'll be a small party, about 30 of her female friends. An extension of her monthly bridge party. The full party will be at the country club in the evening."
He looked into her eyes, "I will be perfectly frank with you, may I?"
She nodded, puzzled why he looked so grave.
"Look, Sonia, we have to have a careful vision of this dress. You want to look good but you don't want to outshine your boss and her friends, check?"
"Check!", she nodded as that sounded sensible.
"But in your own right, you are a beautiful girl," she blushed again, "and you should look fit enough to inhabit that exalted company, I'd like to call it... Subdued Brilliance." He said with a flourish.
