Chapter 44

Nandani, you have a visitor," her mother called out one morning.

Walking downstairs toward the door felt a bit like "Déjà Vu." Mukti was standing there stiffly but far less upset than she had been in New York.

"Nandani. Hi."

"Hi." It was not clear what Mukti wanted.

"How was your Christmas?" Mukti asked her.

"Shitty," Nandani replied.

They stood in silence for a moment. Nandani decided to extend an olive branch. "Crystal said I could repitch the plan. If you still want me to," Nandani told her.

Mukti's face cockled up. "Nandani, of course, I do. I should not have exploded the way I did in New York. I just felt so betrayed. What Manik did hurt, and then you had been with him and trying to cover up..."

Nandani felt something in her chest loosen. She took advantage of the slight opening Mukti had just given her.

"I get it. Believe me. That is why I did not tell you. This is a poor reason, I know, but still. I never meant for it to happen, any of it. I am so sorry. Can we just talk? Figure this out?" Nandani asked.

Mukti nodded and they hugged, tears running down their cheeks. Mukti then looked around like she had only just realized where they were.

"What the hell are you doing here? You have never spent time at home over break. I almost did not believe it when your sister Sarah told me you were here."

"I guess I just needed somewhere to go, Mukti. Mom has been trying to be good about it."

Mukti looked unbelieving, as she was not a big fan of Nandani's mother. "Still. Come home. We will catch up and eat ice cream."

Nandani summoned a smile. "That would be great," she said.

**************

The new school semester provided an additional distraction. Classes felt easier than they had in the fall term. But it could also be due to the renewed vigor and single-mindedness with which Nandani approached them.

She spent more time with Mukti, their roommates, and her other friends.

Nandani was glad to be back in a good place with Mukti and did not want to upset it by asking about Manik, so she waited to see if Mukti would volunteer anything. But she did not.

The last week of January involved Nandani skipping two classes. It was a rare occasion but entirely justified; that was when Crystal had rescheduled the meeting.

Nandani shared the business plan on Skype with Crystal plus four other well-dressed New Yorkers that ranged in age from about thirty to sixty. The complete presentation, which had taken her months to assemble and squeeze, was over in about ten minutes.

Then there were a few questions, after which they hung up.

The longest wait of her life followed. For fifteen minutes, she paced the room. Mukti was not a pacer, so she settled for chewing her fingernails. They exchanged nervous glances but no words, watching as the clock moved at a snail's pace. They both jumped when Crystal rang again on Skype.

"Here is the verdict. Everyone thought you did a great job. Leena and Jack are excited about the line. And I want to help too," Crystal said. Leena Haydon was an investor who could actually help get them off the ground. Jack Brown was an editor at the top U.S. major fashion magazine.

"I think we could make this work and even move up the timing you suggested. Launch this year with a fall collection," Nandani said. Her head was spinning. It was really happening.

"You should continue at the magazine after you graduate this summer, but only part-time," Crystal was continuing. "I will have you working more closely with other brand managers to see what they do."

"I do not know what to say." Nandani was dumbfounded. "Thank you," she said to Crystal.

"But there are a few things you need to do. If you want to be on the shelves in Los Angeles in eight months, you need to start meeting with retailers. The fall collection has to be ready to go by March with samples. I will send you a list of manufacturers that might work with a new label. Call them now," Crystal said.

Mukti was bouncing on the bed like a five-year-old. Thankfully, she was not in the video frame.

"I will also send you Leena Haydon's email and you can discuss with her an initial investment. The numbers we spoke about should be fine. At the start, if you keep things bare minimum most of your cost will be production and marketing," Crystal advised her.

Once Nandani hung up with Crystal the hugging and screaming followed. It felt unrealistic. Their dream, cooked up years before by two eighteen-year-old girls lying by the pool at midnight, was going to come true.

Nandani wanted to tell the world. shout it out from the rooftops, tell her mom, her dad wherever he might be. Tell everyone who did not believe in her.

Most of all she wanted to tell Manik. But she could not, and realizing that made a piece of her heartbreak all over again. It was the best day of her life. But it was bittersweet.

************

They had the green light to start working on distribution for the 'Dream Girl' label for barely a month, and her Fridays and weekends were filled with visiting boutiques in Los Angeles. Mukti and Nandani tried to go together, but sometimes only one of them could. So far it had been harder than Nandani had imagined and her enthusiasm was decreasing. The lone upside was that it had given her a crash course in marketing. She had learned more than one could ever wish to about consignment, wholesaling, and pricing the product.

Browsing through the wares at one store while Nandani was waiting for the manager, an idea hit her. She pulled out her cell phone. Had the number even made it into her contact list?

It had, and a minute later she was dialing.

"Hello?" A man's voice on the other end answered after two rings. "Blake Evans! It is Nandani Singhania. We met at 'The Fall Fashion Show' of our college in San Francisco, and you had offered me a modeling contract. I am not sure if you remember me." Suddenly this seemed like a reckless idea. But it was worth a shot if it could help them in any way, Nandani thought. Pride was not something new entrepreneurs had the luxury of enjoying.

"Nandani. Of course. How are you?"

"Great. Listen, I told you we were launching a new business. Can I get your advice on a couple of things?" Nandani asked him.

"No problem. How is tomorrow?" the famous designer Blake Evans, asked Nandani.

They then set up a time to meet the next day.