Chapter 35
“Child! What are you doing here?” Deepika’s voice still held the gravely sound of sleep. Esmie tried to get there as fast as she could, but the route was long and she hadn’t made it to Deepika’s across Andloor downtown until midnight.
“I’m sorry to disturb you, but I need your help.
Again.” Esmie’s eyes pleaded with the older woman, who stepped aside, pulling her robe tighter around her neck to avoid the draft coming in.
Esmie stepped into the warm living room, instantly feeling at home.
Deepika closed the door, her dark eyebrows, speckled with lots of gray, rose in expectancy.
“Is everything alright? Did you have trouble finding the apartment?” Worry lines creased Deepika’s forehead.
“No, not at all. In fact, it’s perfect for what I need right now.
” Esmie reassured her. Deepika’s forehead smoothed then transitioned to quizzically wait for Esmie’s explanation.
“While I walked to the apartment the other night, I overheard workers in the Genetronetics parking garage discussing a masquerade party tomorrow night, well at this hour technically tonight. It’s to celebrate their contract with Andloor Capitol, but they will also be discussing sensitive information, I need access to. ”
“And you want to go?”
“Yes, but I don’t have a dress or a mask, and I need both, especially the mask, to gain access.
It’s essential I get into that party.” Esmie eyes pleaded with Deepika.
This dangerous plan went against everything Deepika had told her to do.
Stay low and safe. Esmie hoped her desperate move to come back across downtown would convey the importance of this mission.
Deepika contemplated Esmie for a moment.
Her eyes clouded over in thought then flickered to Esmie’s face, specifically scanning over the purple area.
Esmie held her breath. Would Deepika want to know the details of why she needed information from Genetronetics?
After several silent moments, when Esmie was sure Deepika would deny her request, the older woman’s eyes brightened, and a smile tugged at the corner of her lips.
“Would this have anything to do with going against Andloor Capitol as well?”
“Yes. It certainly would.”
“Good.” Deepika gave a nod, ending the conversation and walking away. She bustled toward the kitchen, putting on a kettle mumbling something about needing tea, then she opened the door leading to her shop and disappeared. Esmie followed her.
“It doesn’t have to be fancy. We don’t have enough time.
I just need something simple so I can blend in.
” Esmie halted, almost running into Deepika who was rushing back through the door with an arm full of items, glasses balanced at the end of her nose, and an energy in her step that wasn’t there before.
“Now, come stand on this step stool. I can’t bend down like I used to.
You’re right, you don’t have enough time for me to make you a show stopping dress, but I will still have you looking stunning.
” Deepika set down a step stool which Esmie stood upon.
The older women went to work taking measurements and writing them down in a small notebook.
Her brow furrowed in concentration, she sketched out a floor length sheath dress, with a little bit of extra fabric ruching in the front, then draped it over one shoulder.
It had a saree appeal to it, Esmie loved.
“Are you sure that isn’t too complicated? Like I said, it doesn’t have to be very fancy.” Esmie noted while peeking at Deepika’s sketch.
“Nonsense. This is my signature design. I’ve done it so many times, I can create it in my sleep, which I might have to in this late hour,” Deepika chuckled while peering over her glasses at Esmie.
“Now wait right here.” She turned around and disappeared back in the shop, then returned a moment later with two reams of fabric.
A silky, deep purple one and a soft gold one, slightly translucent and shimmery.
Esmie gulped. “I will pay you back, I promise.”
Deepika shot her a stern look. “I never asked you to. This is a favor.”
“Then I will be sure to return the favor.” Esmie promised.
Deepika draped the purple fabric around Esmie, pinning it in different spots and taking notes.
The fabric was soft and smooth to the touch, gliding along her body.
Then Deepika positioned the gold fabric, over one shoulder, pinning it in certain places.
Esmie watched in awe while Deepika worked her magic.
Once she was done, she pulled it off, gathering her supplies again, she bounced off toward the shop a twinkle in her eye.
“Drink some tea then go get some rest. I’ll call you when I need you,” she said over her shoulder.
“What about you? You need rest too.”
“I’ll get rest when I’m done. You, on the other hand, need to rest up so you can be sharp and alert while at the party. We can’t have any mishaps.” Deepika threw her a pointed look before closing the door behind her.
Not knowing what else to do, Esmie found the teacups and poured herself and Deepika some tea.
She set it on the table behind Deepika, who sat at the sewing machine, the whir of the thread and squeak of the pedal already sounding all around.
Deepika thanked her without looking up from her work.
Not wanting to be a distraction, Esmie went back inside the apartment settling on the couch while she finished her tea.
After she finished, she found a throw blanket, then laid down, staring at the ceiling, grateful yet anxious at the same time.
Pulling Deepika into another one of her problems wasn’t the plan, but she didn’t have another option.
Yet again, she put another person’s life at risk who agreed to help her try to fix the mistake she made.
Would she ever be able to repay all of them?
Esmie sighed, thinking sleep would be the last thing she could do, but the low pulse of the whirring sewing machine sounded like a lullaby, making her eyelids heavy. She fell into a deep sleep.
Esmie woke to Deepika bending over her, measuring her face. The light outside the windows brightened the space. It must have been mid-morning. When Deepika finished, Esmie sat up glancing around the small apartment.
“Food is on the table. Sorry, there isn’t more, I rushed. I’m almost done, so freshen up and we can try this on.” Deepika disappeared again through the shop door before Esmie could answer.
A toothbrush sat on the coffee table along with a towel.
Esmie grabbed them and went to the upstairs bathroom to freshen up.
When she descended, the quiet space only echoed the muffled whirring of the sewing machine behind the closed door to Deepika’s shop.
The meager food Deepika mentioned, wasn’t meager at all.
Warm scrambled eggs with sausage, toast, and orange juice.
Esmie practically inhaled the breakfast, grateful there wasn’t someone present to see her be so greedy.
Not long after washing her dishes and cleaning up the space, Deepika entered again with a gown draped over her arm, step stool in the other hand.
“Thank you for the delicious food. And thank you again for all of your help,” Esmie said with as much sincerity as she could muster. Deepika waved her free hand, then set the step stool down.
“Sorry child but you’ll have to strip down so we can try this on properly. Hope you’re not shy.” Deepika smirked but turned around all the same and waited.
Esmie pulled off the jeans and long sleeve shirt she had borrowed at the apartment from Deepika.
Then she stood on the step stool and waited.
Deepika turned back around and helped Esmie pull the dress over her head.
The fabric flowed along her body until it settled into place with Deepika’s help.
The dress hugged Esmie’s curves. The gold, translucent material ruched in the front to soften the purple.
Deepika turned her around to face the full-length mirror hanging on the outside of the closet set into the stairs.
Esmie’s mouth dropped open. She looked like someone going to a ball.
“Deepika, this is gorgeous!” Esmie exclaimed, not bothering to hide the emotion from her voice. It was more than she could have asked for.
“It fits you exactly like I wanted. You look beautiful, so grown up yet still elegant.” Deepika cooed over her. Then she handed Esmie a mask. Esmie gasped.
The mask was made from the same purple fabric as the dress with golden threadwork around the eyes, and thick satin strings on the sides she used to tie at the back. It hid the purple around and at the sides of her eyes perfectly.
“How did you do this? It’s perfect and it hides everything better than I could have imagined.” Esmie moved her head from side to side, watching the fabric shimmer in the light.
“The purple suits you well, and I figured it was best to play with the color than try to just cover it.” Deepika sighed in satisfaction. Another amazing creation by the talented woman. Esmie hopped off the stool and wrapped Deepika in a tight hug.
“Thank you, a million times over. You are surely blessed by Elohim to create something so incredible.” Esmie’s voice cracked. When she pulled away, Deepika swiped the tears from her own eyes.
“I’m glad to help, even in my old age. Now go, before it gets late.
I’ll wrap that up for you good, so it doesn’t wrinkle on the way back to the apartment.
Makeup will be inside too. Don’t go down the alley with the parking garage when you get to The Plaza.
Take the next street down. It will take longer but at this time of day it is much safer since it won’t be nearly as dark to hide you.
” Esmie nodded, rushing to remove the beautiful dress and hand it back to Deepika who walked away with it.
After changing and grabbing her things again, Deepika handed her a shopping bag with the dress inside wrapped up in cream paper.
The mask, also wrapped in cream paper, nestled at the top.
They walked to the door together for another farewell.
Esmie feared this would be their last farewell.
Tears clung to her lashes as she stooped to hug the woman one last time.
“I can never thank you enough or even know where to start to repay you,” Esmie whispered in the older woman’s ear.
Deepika pulled away first. “Being able to use my gifts again and seeing how beautiful it looked on you is all the thanks I need. Bless you, child. May He keep you safe on your journey. I will be worried over you until I hear something. Please message me somehow to let me know you’re safe.
” Deepika handed her a piece of paper with a phone number and email address on it. Esmie tucked it in her jeans pocket.
“I will.” Esmie gave her another quick hug before, peeking out the door, then she slipped out into the alley.
It was much lighter than the first time she left.
It would be a challenge to stay low, but she knew Elohim would keep her safe.
Esmie chanced one more glance back at Deepika’s house.
The old woman waved from the window. Esmie waved, then turned away before she went back into the warmth and safety of the apartment.
Determination laced her footsteps. She needed to succeed in her plans for tonight to prove Deepika’s risk to help her wasn’t in vain.