I was starting to get a little annoyed at this back and forth. Obviously, there was something on Karisha’s mind and the fact that she did not trust me enough to tell me what was happening hurt more than I would have wanted it to.
“I don’t remember exactly what I said, but yes, I invited him to dance. Probably not as formal as you put it, I might have said something about dragging his ass to the dance floor. Though, I don’t really understand why the words matter, since their effect worked, didn’t it? Dahr dancing?” I blinked at her a few times, observing how her mouth opened and shut, to only open again, swallowing whatever words she wanted to say.
“I just… didn't think…” Karisha shook her head. “But of course, it makes perfect sense now.”
“What makes perfect sense?” I pressed, hopeful that I had provided enough information to merit an explanation.
“All ready, tribe lady,” Mira’s voice arrived through the tent just then, slicing the thread of conversation I had weaved with Karisha.
“Come,” my friend urged, her features rejuvenated with new excitement. “You will die when you see this!” she giggled and, just like I had done with Dahr the night before, she grabbed my hand and started pulling me away from the table.
Having no choice but to follow, I walked by her side and out of the tent, with Mira following us. Both women shared the excitement, and they kept looking over at me, as if to see if I felt the same. I was sorry to disappoint, but all I was capable of displaying were wide eyes and arched brows. I didn’t understand why we were all suddenly so excited to go back to Dahr’s tent, but the marching of giggles sprouted by both Karisha and Mira were incentive enough to follow them with a building curiosity.
“You go first,” Karisha said with excitement, motioning me with her hand to open the tent flaps. I looked at her again, to see that she was so excited that she started skipping slowly, urging me to move.
So I did.
I opened the tent flaps to reveal the same lavish and artistic paintings and sculptures I had seen before, the wide bed on the side of the room and the large table that started to hold more and more dishes of food since my arrival.
And…
A wardrobe.
And a copper bathtub, just like the one Karisha had.
And a mirror.
Basically, my entire side of the tent, if I could even call it mine, had been replaced with a bedroom of necessities. The same metal bar that had kept me prisoner for days had nowbecome the space jewellery and baskets of serums and soaps hung from; the bathtub situated right underneath. To the side, I had an extendable dressing panel, just like Karisha’s, and a small wooden wardrobe, very similar in design to hers.
“What is this?” I looked at her first, to see a wide smile on her face and then turned to Mira, who looked equally happy.
“Open it!” Karisha clapped with excitement, although something told me that she already knew.
Dresses.
Lots of them.
Long, beautiful, orange, organza and silk dresses.
“Dahr picked the colour, so you have to take it up with him,” Karisha immediately said, as if expecting me to start complaining about the fact that the entire wardrobe contained different shades of orange fabrics.
“To match his flames,” I said more to myself, the realisation hitting me. “But why?” I turned to question as I grabbed a dress to study the masterful crochet design.
“Again, you have to take it up with Dahr,” Karisha responded as both her and Mira started opening drawers and showing me where everything was. “All I know is that he came to my tent one morning and asked for a replica of everything I hold dear as a woman, but in orange.”
“And underwear!” I squealed with excitement when I opened the bottom drawer to find orange sets of panties and bras.
“I knew you would like that one,” the tribe lady giggled. “Took me a while to put that together.”
“Karisha… this is…” I sighed, barely able to contain my tears. I turned on my heels and walked back to my friend to trap her in a hug, which she immediately reciprocated.
“Mira will get some hot water ready for you, there’s lots of soaps and a couple of hours till dinner. I suggest you makethem count, Grannicus will probably expect a thank you,” she snickered, looking at me with a playful grin.
“Oh, I know just the thing,” I giggled as well, thinking of all the ways I would thank this man for giving me a sense of normalcy.
Mira looked me up and down at the same time I turned to see the results of her hard work in the tall mirror that portrayed the new me. And I must admit, she was right.
I was never the kind of person to care much about what best suited me, always choosing the practical over the beautiful. Jeans and shirts, or hoodies in winter, trainers and long dresses with minimal jewellery in summer. I never spent more than ten minutes getting ready to go out or for an event, except for when I had my university presentations or thesis exposals. And even then, I always asked for help.
