, Saliha and Shehryaar over to her house. The special guest was Shehryaar, since he was visiting Pakistan after many years. A dawat was must from his loving khala, who always admired him. For her he was one in a million: handsome with dashing personality.

Next day, after when Manal came home from university, in the evening, she dressed up. The outfits she wore to university were put aside and the one that were new in her wardrobe, she took them out. No matter how much she had, she always wanted more. For her things became out-of-fashion in weeks; they started to look old and over-worn.

Saliha wore the gold stud earrings that went with the set of matching necklace. The shine of it expressed how much they were worth. She kept her precious jewelries safe and used them for a long time. She clipped her mid-long hair, wet from shower, applied the light, age-suitable blush-on and lastly looked into the mirror for perfection. The facade of makeup made her look younger. Like one of those pictures from album years ago, when Shehryaar and Manal were little.

Then they three showed up downstairs in the living area. Saliha had offered Zoha to come, but she said no, giving a reason of studying for the exams this week. It was more important. Now as they were leaving she watched them go standing by the ajar door of the study room, dressed in decent home clothes, pen stuck in between her fingers like she got up in the middle of the work.

Saliha came forth and ran her hand down the side of Zoha's face- ingenuous.

"You are a very responsible girl. I will not force you," she said with a smile. "I hope you score high on your exams."

Zoha nodded shyly. "I hope too."

Manal stood arms folded, proud and conceited. But didn't say anything.

"Do you know what you will eat for dinner? I have told Rumina. She will take it out for you whenever you want."

"Thank you."

"I should be going now, before Rubab calls. Take care. Anything you need just call."

Shehryaar was standing in the back, hands plunged in his pockets, his silver watch was showing around the wrist. His jet black hair were brushed sideways, maroon shirt buttoned up until his neck, collars ironed with crease and cuffs were unbuttoned-rolled up for fashion. He looked at Zoha as Saliha was talking to her.

Manal rolled her eyes and sighed in exasperation. "Mummy, I will be outside with bhai."

Saliha facing Zoha said, "I will be there."

Then Shehryaar freed his eyes from Zoha, cleared his throat and went out with Manal. The clacking of heels followed to the door.

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

"Look who is here?" Rubab said excitedly. "Come in Saliha, Manal beti aur Shehryaar beta." She invited them in, as they came out of the car.

They went in and settled around in the living room. Faiza and Umair popped up later as if they were getting ready in their rooms.

"Hey, Shehry," Umair said. He sat next to Shehryaar, nearly looking like they were brothers because of their body and height. "What's up?"

"Nothing much. How you doing?"

"Good."

"Umair, why didn't you come to our house? Now you got Shehry to hang out with. Make a plan someday to come over. And you too Faiza. You girls still meet in university," Saliha said.

"Jee, Khala," Faiza said, and then shot a look at Manal.

"You know what I have thought? Since everyone is here. We should make a plan to go somewhere. Somewhere far." Umair held everyone's attention. "On a long drive." He looked to see their reaction.

"And who who will come?" Manal asked on the edge of mischief.

"Did I say everyone?" Umair gave a quizzical expression.

"But you end up making plans that leaves someone out. Last time Rubab Khala and mummy didn't come," Manal said. "Your mummy was the victim."

"Then this time I will take everyone," Shehryaar dropped in.

Everyone gazed at him.

"Yeah. That's what I was saying. Khabi khabi larkiyaan bohat confusing hoti hain," Umair aimed at Faiza, who hadn't spoken much and Manal.

"Bas bas," Rubab said, laughing. "Anyone invites us or not we will come anyway."

"Yes," Manal said, pointing Umair.

"Okay, okay," Shehryaar tried to calm both sides with an agreement. "We are debating it like it's already decided."

Rubab got up, followed by Saliha. They went to the kitchen to prepare the food. And to talk about adult stuff separately, away from the noisy debate.

Manal moved up to the empty couch.

"You know what me and Faiza are gonna choose a place and you guys do yours. Then we will show it to mummy and they will pick where to go," she asserted.

"Not a bad idea," Shehryaar said, considering it. He slipped down the sofa to the empty side, since Saliha left. They four talked.

"Do you guys want to go out in the lawn? Fresh air," Umair announced.

"Yeah let's go," Faiza said, shrugging out of her zone. She started to head out.

They sat on the patio chairs which was surrounded by round wooden table. The evening had drowned in the dark sky, wind picked its pace, blowing the heat of the day into rather cool breeze. Neem tree swayed brushing against lemon tree. Rubab had a fond of growing vegetable garden- fresh off the nature. The first one was the red pepper, then coriander. They decided to section out the lawn for it and bought variety of seeds which they sown them in the dark brown soil. Faiza often complained about the smell because her room was closer to that part of the lawn and when she opened the window, a waft of bad smell assaulted her good mood. So Rubab told Sohail (her husband) to shift Faiza's room to some other one Umair was fine with his. Though he was the talkative one and often teased Faiza, he did not complain about things like these.

Manal took out her phone and typed a text to her university friend- Raheela. Umair and Shehryaar chatted about things of their interest. Faiza moved closer to Manal and started looking over texts.

"Who is it?" Faiza said, breathing close to her ear.

Manal flinched, nearly dropping the phone.

"It's Raheela. She is asking if I am free these days."

"Is she planning for something?"

"Could be. But if I am not interested I will say no."

"What did you reply?"

"Eh.. sometimes she gets annoying. Two days ago, her text shook me out of sleep. Like seriously at one at the night." Mana lowered her voice. "Yeah I have started sleeping earlier...like eleven."

"I only sleep late as one or two if I find a good movie to watch."

Faiza became quiet as she noticed Manal was busy with her phone. Then sat back in her seat. She listened to Umair and Shehryaar. Her eyes were stuck on Shehryaar. She stole glances of him, observing him talk. Once when he fixed himself sitting and rolled his sleeves, he caught Faiza looking at him. He simply smiled and directed his attention at Umair.

Faiza felt chills down her body. She prodded Manal, mirthfully.

"Give me your phone," she said. "I don't allow you to use your phone in my dawat."

Manal looked in awe. "Your dawat?"

"Yeah, come on do something else. I am getting bored."

"Wait... let me send this text. Lubna is at Raheela's house. They are calling me over."

Faiza snatched Manal's phone and ran away, rocking the chair. She hid it behind her, keeping it out of her reach.

"You are not gonna get it back," she laughed.

Shehryaar and Umair looked at the girls. Since Faiza was quiet the whole time it surprised Shehryaar that she could be as playful and mischievous.

"Faiza, I didn't know you would snatch my phone. Please don't look through anything," Manal shouted across the lawn.

"Try to catch me if you can."

"Just wait before you get caught." Manal chased Faiza. And Faiza cleverly slipped out of her reach, skidding as the fingers were about to grab her.

"Don't you remember the race you lost with me in eighth grade?" Faiza mocked blithely. She was running around the lawn.

"Shut up," Manal shouted. "Give me."

"Go Manal go," Umair chanted.

"Really, Umair?" Shehryaar broke into laugh, holding the bridge of his nose. He lifted his attention at the girls, running.

Umair laughed too.

They stood up and stalked them with their eyes.

"I will give it to you if you don't use it." Faiza saw the screen of the phone go off. "It's off."

"Thank goodness."

"But you still didn't get it back."

Faiza slipped from the other way around, as Manal reached for her, gasping for air. She hunched over holding the knees and breath under pounding heart.

"Just wait," Manal said.

"Faiza, give her the phone," Umair called.

"Then tell her she wouldn't use it."

"She might not want to talk to you that's why," Umair jokingly taunted. Faiza ignored him and watched Manal. Then suddenly she was pumped up and sprinted after Faiza.

"I will get you," Manal told.

Faiza used her old strategy to run past the corner, keeping the phone in the air. Except this time Shehryaar and Umair were standing in her way, not that they were purposely blocking her. But she was determined to make it through.

"Umair bhai, get her," Manal alerted him. And Faiza had gotten close to him by then that she had no way to escape now.

"No," she shouted, partly laughing in the intense enthusiasm.

Umair took hold of Faiza's wrist and pulled her. She shoved Shehryaar and he lost his balance standing.

"Give me it." He tried to to take it from her hand.

"Watch out. Might get hurt," Shehryaar said, who was standing by. Faiza looked at him over the shoulder. Her frail fingers loosened over the phone as Umair worked about to scrape them off. She was startled. Manal had come over and obtained the phone.

"Ha, got it."

"It's not fair," Faiza protested.

"Yeah it's not fair for Faiza, Umair," Shehryaar supported. He folded his arms across the chest.

"But you started it," Umair said to Faiza.

"Leave my hand alone," Faiza scolded. She seemed irritated when Umair interfered in her work. "I was just playing."

"Okay." Umair let go of her hand. And she stomped inside the house.

Manal and Shehryaar watched them. They weren't the type of siblings that Umair and Faiza were: moody and aggravated. Shehryaar raised his eyebrows, hands plunged in his pockets and pursed his lips. He tried to forget what happened. It wasn't a big deal. Girls often became upset at trivial things. Manal and Faiza at last were great friends. It couldn't last like that for long. And that's what happened.

When it was time for dinner, they helped put the dishes on the dining table. Rubab's maid was on leave. She had gone to her village to see her family. That's what usually happened when people were hired in cities, a long distance away from their families. It wasn't much of a load on Rubab since she had Faiza to assist her with kitchen work.

After the table was set, everyone showed up, excited to try a new food by Rubab, who indeed was a great cook. They sat around the table, plates pristine white alongside cutlery and napkins. In the middle, there was chicken turnip curry and vegetable rice, untouched. Nobody reached to take first, and Rubab waited for the guests.

"It smells really delicious," Saliha complimented. She smelled the curry.

"Take some, Shehryaar beta. I'm sure you will like this dish. It's got vegetables and chicken," Rubab offered wholeheartedly. "And Manal there is no reason for you to be shy." She smiled.

"Yes, Khala."

Shehryaar took some rice and poured curry. He saw that everyone was waiting for him to take first.

"Please don't wait, Umair." He picked the spoon. "It's like your home. Don't be shy."

Rubab and Saliha laughed.

"But I will take before him." Manal extended her arm for the spoon. "I can't wait to know how this tastes."

"Yes, please," Umair said.

As they ate the sumptuous dinner, spoons clanking the plates, Rubab told Faiza to bring some more rice and curry. Saliha was already enjoying the food that she didn't stop amid eating to talk. Shehryaar loved Pakistani food. It had its unique piquancy. It brought him a feeling of home and own culture. Foods were filled with spicy spices, either it was a meat item or vegetable. He couldn't resist trying one especially after eating dry foods that met nowhere close to giving him the same type of taste.

"Wow. This is amazing," he said.

"It's no surprise you like desi foods," Rubab said.

"What are you used to eating?" Umair asked him.

Shehryaar swallowed the bite. "I liked burgers. But sometimes daddy brought food from our restaurant. I can taste the difference now."

"And you told me sugar here is more sweeter than over there," Saliha added.

"I really want to go with bhai now," Manal said. "Him talking about the differences makes me want to visit California."

"Will you be able to live without mummy?" Shehryaar said. "I am used to it."

Faiza looked at him as he spoke. Her spoon lingered at the edge of the plate, half filled with rice. She swallowed the lump in her throat and returned her eyes back at the meal.

"Yeah, I am grown up now. It's not like I will cry, mummy mummy I want you. But yes of course I will miss her if I am away," Manal said.

"Did you talk about it with your daddy, huh?" Rubab interjected. "Takes a process for the documents and essential paper works."

"Whatever happens to remind you, Manal, I am not yet ready to send you away until your studies are completed." Saliha arched her eyebrow as she said that. "You get distracted so easily."

"It's not that hard. We will graduate together and have a little celebration," Faiza said to Manal who sat next to her. She nudged her. "I have already planned on going to Islamabad. Book a room in a hotel and explore the beautiful place. You will love it."

"You know that's happening after two years right? I can't wait that long," Manal sounded impatient. She lowered her voice from being overheard by Saliha. Fortunately there was no one looking in their direction.

"Don't overthink it. In fact it is making me even more excited that seriously I can get out of Karachi and actually travel around."

"I knew mummy was never in favor of me. Bhai had all the fun."

"Come on, Manal. Just don't think about it right now. It's not so bad." Faiza's gaze sailed over to Rubab, Saliha, Umair and Shehryaar. Nobody was talking like they were in their low voices. Shehryaar was overtaken by the most tasty food that had the perfect balance of spices. It seemed that after he would go home, he would demand for as this delicious diet for dinner from Saliha.

"Seems like Shehryaar is loving it," Rubab chuckled.

"I am beginning to get jealous of you. I never knew you would pick on cooking like this. Ma was so worried about your household skills. And cooking was a failure. If she was alive now, indeed would have been proud," Saliha appreciated.

"I have come to an old age. Life taught me everything. Not exactly. There still are somethings that I am bad at," Rubab responded. "If it wasn't for you I would be full time depended on maids."

"You are still that same old Rubab with your personality. Talking and habits." Saliha was done eating. She often ate less than everyone else. "It used to be a bad thing for ma. Now it is as sweet." Rubab was younger than Saliha.

Faiza moved back her chair and got up. All eyes darted at her.

"Faiza,beti, that's it?" Saliha said. "Been so quiet that I barely heard anything from you."

"Yeah that's it, Khala. I am full. Leaving some space for the dessert."

"Is it a surprise?" Manal was thrilled at the idea.

"In a while it will no longer be it. Did you tell the dessert, mummy?" Faiza asked Rubab.

"No. Get the bowls and spoons ready."

Faiza pushed in the chair and strolled to the kitchen.

"I am guessing. Is it kheer?" Manal bloomed with excitement. "Or pudding?"

Shehryaar was looking back and forth from Manal to Rubab, finishing his food. Smile cracked on his lips, handsomely indulged in the guessing game. He anticipated yes for the ones he knew about it or liked after eating it first time.

"I didn't know it would be a competition to guess the right answer," Rubab joyfully said. Saliha rose from the chair and walked out the dining room.

"Then what can it be? How about that ice-cream new in the market. It has nuts and pistachios in it?"

"Nope." Rubab was bulging with keeping it a secret as long as she could. "After two more no's you will see for yourself."

"Umair, bhai, do you know anything about it?" she asked him.

"I have long stopped checking what-is-for-lunch-today-or-dinner?" he chuckled.

"Why don't you guess, Shehryaar? Anything that pops in your head," Rubab invited him in.

He dabbed his lips with the napkin, having no idea what to say. But he gave it a shot anyway.

"Trifle?"

"Nice idea. Could have made that. But not tonight," Rubab said.

"I give up," Manal nearly raised her hands.

"I have no idea," Umair said, already being behind in guessing the right answer.

They shifted to the sitting room. Then Faiza came there with a tray, occupied with square shaped dish and sharp edged spoon. She knelt by the coffee table, keeping everyone at the verge of uncovering the top. It was wrapped with an aluminum foil. As it gave way to the white sight peppered with shredded almonds, they all found out that it was a thick block of kulfi.

"You knew I was less expecting this," Saliha stunned. "Last time I saw that recipe book, it had this dessert. But all of a sudden I forgot about it."

Faiza cut squares of kulfi and dropped them in each of the empty bowls. Then went around with the tray and served them. After the first bite, Manal said, "this tastes exactly like the ones we eat outside."

"Can never be any less sweet," Shehryaar commented. It reminded him when he visited Pakistan and Saliha gave sweet treats and from one of them was the kulfi on the stick. He licked every lasting creamy taste of it as it began to melt and drip on the floor.

"I have to avoid it from Sohail. His sugar level shoots up," Rubab said. "As much as I love making these things, I have to equally watch out for him." A swipe of dull concern brushed her expressions.

"Bad luck for that poor man. He must love eating this. When does he coming back?" Saliha said, putting spoon in her mouth.

Manal and Faiza sat together on the couch, gossiping. Umair and Shehryaar chatted about their own things.

"Ten the latest."

"Mmm."

"You know I had to keep it in the freezer for so long. Was just hoping it came out the way I wanted."

"When I am about to leave give me the recipe. Since Shehry has come I haven't tried anything new."

"How could you?" Rubab's voice mingled the sympathy. "Things haven't settled yet for you. How is Zoha?"

"She is fine now. It was hard to calm her. There are some exams going on this week, so she was busy."

Rubab nodded lightly. "That's a good thing."

"It upsets me that Manal didn't tell anything about her exams. I am sure there is something going on. Did Faiza tell you anything?"