Print processing status in script

I have a script n which i have line like this

echo "enter option"
retrive
cat /tmp/file1

in the above "retrive" is a function that performs some operaion and writes the o/p to a file and i will cat the file after that. the operation of "retirve" will take some time and i need to print the status while it is processing ...

say the print should be "retriving data ......" until it completes.. pl suggest

Not Sure you want it like the following or not

Thanks for ur reply,,

i am actually trying to print the the status continuoslu until it ends,,,

something like "status bar" which will indicate dots[printing dots] until the operation is in progress,,