Chapter Twenty Eight
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“HURRY up Sharuna, we are running late”, Dr Sujit shouted from the parking lot, he was standing beside his red MG sports car
“I’m coming!”, Sharuna replied
It was Saturday as usual, and they were going shopping
It had really been tough and difficult trying to convince Sharuna to spend time outside the mansion
All she did, was sleep, wake, bath, eat, and read.
Then most of the time, brood
Dr Sujit had forced her to join him go shopping today, and she had no option than to accept
Minutes later, Sharuna came down the stairs and walked towards the parking lot
She was putting on a black Hiltson mini fluffy gown, and a white sneakers.
She also had specks on, which had now become like part of her, to always put it on
“Sorry for the delay”, she said to Dr Sujit, opened the back door and slid in
Dr Sujit sighed and entered the driver’s side
And they zoomed off
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“Phew, what a long day!”, Sharuna exclaimed as soon as she came down from the car
What had they even gone to the mall to do?
Just to buy some jewelries and some other stuff
She hissed, cleaning off the sweat on her forehead with a face napkin
“How was it dear?”, Dr Sujit asked as he joined her to walk into the house
“Well, ok. Thanks”
He smiled
“You welcome”
They walked up the stairs, chatting and laughing, till they got into the sitting room
Dr Sujit walked up to his study and sat, while Sharuna walked into the room
“Drop whatever you want to, and come back here”, he called at her
She shrugged and went in
Minutes later, she was out
She walked towards his study and sat opposite him
“Yes?”, she said
He was going through a magazine
“Yeah”, he looked up from the magazine, “well, as regards to what I told you the other time”
Her face changed it’s colour instantly
“I…… I actually haven’t known yet”, she said
“Well, you can’t keep on staying at home all day, doing nothing, you know that. And you have refused the plan to put you in college, so what do you want to do?”, he asked with authority
She sighed
“I don’t know yet”
“Or do you want to undergo a vocation? Like sewing, fashion designing or making of hairs? Which?”
She looked at him and let out a mocking laugh “Vocation?”, she continued laughing
“I’m serious Sharuna, let’s talk this over once and for all”
Now she knew daddy was serious
“I don’t really know dad. Please get me”, she pleaded
He sighed, thinking for a while
“Okay, do you have any idea of any of these vocations? Like a talent?”, he asked
She nodded
“Yeah, sculpturing”
His eyes brightened in surprise “Sculpturing? You mean you can mould?”
She nodded
“Yeah”
Now, he was astonished
“Wait, do you mean you did that when you were blind?”
“Yes. I’m tired of answering yeah….. yes……yep”, she shouted
“Wow, that’s perfect. It’s no more a problem, a friend of mine runs an Arts, Crafts and Painting institution, I will have to put you there”, he said, picking up his phone and going through the contacts
Sharuna sighed
Put her there indeed, as if she would like to
Dr Sujit stopped, when he checked his wristwatch.
“Go get dressed, we are heading somewhere”, he said to her
Huh?
Her eyes popped out
Dressed?
Can’t this man understand for once that she doesn’t want to go anywhere? Moreover, they were just coming back from the shopping
She sat still, pretending she hadn’t heard him
He looked at her
“Didn’t you get me?”
She looked up
“But dad……”
He raised his right hand, shaking his head
“Don’t dad me. Do as I say now”, he got up and went into his room, to avoid her saying anything
Gosh!
The girl was so stubborn and difficult
Sharuna shrugged and went in
What was she dressing up for again?
Thank God she hadn’t pulled off the dress she wore for the shopping
She just repacked her hair, put on the sneakers, and sauntered out
She met Dr Sujit at the balcony, surfing the net with his phone
“Dad? I’m ready”, she announced, resting on the protector
Dr Sujit looked up from his phone
“Wasn’t that the dress you wore in the morning?”, he asked
Sharuna looked at him
“Yeah”
“Go change it”, he commanded
“What!”, Sharuna shouted
Dr Sujit looked at her
She realized she had shouted too much
“I’m sorry dad. I didn’t mean to shout on you. But there’s nothing wrong with the dress”, she complained
“Don’t argue with me. I said go change it”
She sighed, and with murmurings she went into the house
Minutes later, she was back again
This time, putting on a black jean trouser, black jean jacket and a white polo.
Dr Sujit looked up to look her properly He shook his head
“You can’t wear that”, he said
Now she was agitated
“Why? What’s wrong?”, she asked
“Everything is wrong. Go and change into the black turtle neck Versace gown”, he said
She sighed
“Well dad. With all due respect, I can’t go back into the house to change, let’s go please”
Stubborn??
Difficult??
But not that much for him
“Sharuna”, he called, “get back in there, and get dressed”, he talk with authority, his eyes sparkled
Sharuna knew instantly that he was angry, and she reluctantly ran in to change.
By the time she was back, he was on phone chatting
He turned to look at her and continued with the phone
She smiled and sticked out her tongue
Then, she heard steps coming up the stairs, she turned it was her mom
“Mummy!”, she screamed and ran to catch her in an embrace
“How are you dora?”, Vida asked pecking her on the hair
“I’m fine….”
“Oh my goodness! You look stunning”, Vida complimented
Sharuna laughed
“Thanks Mom. Though it was him, that ask me to wear this”, she pointed at Dr Sujit and they turned to look at him He was still on the phone
“We’re actually going out. You said you would be coming to see me tomorrow, not today”, Sharuna said
Vida nodded
“Yeah, I did. But you see, he invited me over, to accompany him somewhere”
Sharuna turned to look at Dr Sujit
“Hmm, hope it’s for something good. Because I’m going with you guys”, she said
Vida laughed
“I hope so too”
“Well, mom. Any news yet?”
Vida sighed
“We are still working on it daughter. Like I said the other time, he’s still in the hospital, though we don’t know which, and he hasn’t been pronounced dead. Don’t worry, he surely would come back”
Sharuna eyes fell
“I’m worried. I….. I don’t know, what if I tell Dr Sujit to help me out with it?”
Vida thought for a while
“I think you should. He would want to help”
Dr Sujit finished from the phone, and walked towards them
“Okay ladies, let’s go”, he walked past them, taking the lead
“Good afternoon doctor”, Vida greeted as they took the rear
“Yeah”, he replied without turning to look at her
They walked down the stairs to the parking lot.
Then Dr Sujit drove out the black Porsche, and they boarded
Sharuna as well as her mom wondered where they were heading to this time
The drive was alternated with chats flowing through Dr Sujit and Vida.
After what seemed like a long driving, he negotiated a bend towards a boutique by the road
Huh
But he just got her clothes last week, why going to the boutique again
She wanted to talk, but kept mute
He halted at the parking lot and they all alighted
The afternoon was hot
The boutique was really a classy one and loaded with clothes
Though they didn’t go in, but the glass covering enabled them to see the clothes inside
It was like they were doing window shopping
After taking them round the boutique and explaining things, he handed a bunch of key to Vida.
“It’s all yours”, he said
Vida gasped, shocked
What
“The boutique is yours”, Dr Sujit repeated.
Ndozi Nuellitta
To Be Continued
Love y’all
Married
Twice