There were more ways to express gratitude than simply asking what someone wanted, I’d realized.
And so I’d been working hard during my spare time to show Nadir my appreciation.
Hopefully, I’d be done within the week. The weather had turned chilly lately; winter truly was upon us. I wanted to finish it before the cold really set in.
I’d sacrificed sleep in the name of my endeavors, and it hadn’t escaped Nadir’s notice. “You have dark circles under your eyes,” he told me. “Have you not been sleeping well?”
“Um, I-I’ve been sleeping just fine,” I stammered.
“Those dark circles, though.”
“It’s been quite cold, which has made it harder to fall asleep. Perhaps that’s it.”
Nadir didn’t seem entirely convinced, but he didn’t press further, thank goodness. I let out a sigh, relieved. See, I wanted to keep it a secret until it was done.
I worked hard that night too. In fact, it was almost complete. I should’ve been able to finish it. Just a bit longer, I thought.
And then came a knock on my door. “Brianna? Are you in there?”
It was Nadir. No one else would’ve come knocking on my door in the middle of the night.
“Oh! J-Just a moment, please!” I said in a panic, hiding the fruits of my labor under a pillow. After confirming it was safely out of sight, I called out to Nadir. “C-Come in.”
He pushed open the door and walked in. “You looked unwell, so I came to check on you.”
“But I wasn’t unwell.”
“Liar,” he said, reaching out to rub the circles under my eyes. “You clearly haven’t been sleeping.”
I flinched at the sudden touch. Don’t do that!
As I struggled to come up with an excuse, seeing Nadir’s genuine concern made guilt bubble up in my chest. What was the point of trying to do something for him if I was causing him worry in the process?
Resigned, I pulled out the near-complete item from underneath the pillow and handed it to Nadir.
“What’s this?” he asked.
“A scarf.”
I’d made it with the incoming cold in mind. I knew it wasn’t suited for use on formal occasions or at work, but I’d figured he could wear it during his occasional outings to town, or when out in the garden. I took pride in my knitting skills, so I knew the finish was quite decent.
“And you’re giving this to someone?” Nadir asked with a trembling hand. Huh. Was something about it funny to him?
“Yes. To you,” I said. I’d wanted to surprise him with it, honestly, but this would have to do. “I wanted to express my gratitude. It’s handmade, so it’s not quite high quality, but I think I did fairly well. Don’t you?”
I looked to Nadir, hoping for a compliment, but he just stood there frozen, scarf in hand.
“F-For me?” he stammered.
“Well, the other day I said I’d do anything you asked of me and you turned me down,” I explained. “So I figured I’d make you something myself. Do you not like it?”
I thought I’d done a good job, but perhaps to Nadir, who’d grown up in the lap of luxury, it looked crude.
Noticing my anxiety, he spoke. “Quite the contrary! It’s rather well-made!”
A relieved sigh escaped my lips.
“Um, thank you,” he added bashfully. Thank goodness. He liked it.
“Oh, one more thing,” I said, pulling a box from underneath my bed. “Here. The rest.”
“The rest?” he asked as he took the box.
“Yes! Open it!” I urged him with a smile.
Nadir opened the box as instructed, and his expression turned to shock. “This is...”
I chuckled, pleased with his reaction. “It’s not just the scarf! I made you gloves too, plus socks and a belly warmer for you to wear to sleep! It’s been cold lately, right?”
“Socks and...a belly warmer...”
“My parents are getting on in years,” I explained. “I often made these things for them, to help them fend off the cold! I think they came out quite nicely. Don’t you?”
“Y-Yes.”
Phew! My hard work had paid off!
“I’m getting the same treatment as her parents... If I think about it as being considered part of her family, then...” Nadir trailed off.
He’d mumbled so quietly that I hadn’t heard him at all. Huh. Well, either way, he’d enjoyed his gifts, so perhaps I’d knit him a sweater next. And woolen underpants? My parents used to love them, but I wasn’t sure whether Nadir would.
I was so lost in thought that I didn’t notice Nadir’s deep sigh.