Zoha, where did you go? It is so empty without you. I miss you, jaan. I miss you. Dadi got on her feet and made a precarious move. She reached for the door knob, but fell. A wave of pain crushed her bones and she helplessly called, Zoha come here. Your poor dadi is dying in pain. Where are you? Where are you?

Zoha bolted on bed, and tried to help her. By the time she got out of bed and saw, there was no one at the door. Dadi was gone.

It was just a dream, she realized. But it felt so real. Like dadi was actually crying for help. Her condition was believable, as she used to balance herself on feet, which were too old to carry her weight.

Her kameez was bathed in sweat. It started to feel cold against her body as the breeze from the window passed in. She looked around her in dark, except now the luminous, soft light from the east was breaking into the room. Fariqa's bed was empty and she was nowhere seen in the room. Zoha reckoned from the sound of running water in the sink that she was in the bathroom. A relief resided in her. The heart beat slowly leveled down.

Fariqa came out of the bathroom and looked at Zoha with surprise.

"You woke up on time," she said.

Zoha didn't comprehend what Fariqa meant. Was she talking about university? Or-

"It's fajr time," she cleared her message.

Zoha wanted to tell that she had a bad dream. But stopped amid. She covered her face with hands and closed her eyes. She could see the image of dadi floating in her head; her voice rung in her ears. Zoha, where are you?

"Dadi, I am here," Zoha muttered.

Fariqa, who was unrolling her sleeves after doing wudhu and was taking out the praying rug, quizzically looked at Zoha.

"I am here. I was helping you..."

"Zoha?" Fariqa said, standing still.

Zoha uncovered her face and amazedly shot a look over her shoulder. Then realized she was talking to herself. She got up and went to the bathroom to avoid telling the reason for mumbling like that.

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

Saliha strolled across the lawn, watching the plants. The phone buzzed in her hand. It was Zafar to whom she called earlier and he said he was busy.

"Hello, Zafar," she said, first hearing the background noise.

"Hello. Yeah I can hear you. Hold on....." Zafar said. After couple of seconds his voice took over the phone again. "Han, Saliha?"

"Are you still busy?"

"No I was instructing my employee. So what made you call me?" There was a slight disturbance in the line, as if it was a landline phone and the cord was pulled.

"I had a news to tell you."

"What kind?"

"I could have called you yesterday. But it wouldn't have been the same. We got a proposal for Manal. It was sent through Rubab. She knows the family, because they are close friends. Belong to a well-established background."

"Really?" Zafar's voice changed. "You are calling me late?"

"No. This news is only a day old. I talked with Manal. In the beginning she wasn't in a favor of getting married. I just explained her with calm mind. Made her realize that it isn't what she is thinking. Rubab especially introduced her to her friend. They liked her at first sight. Our Manal is lucky." Saliha smiled to herself.

"Acha? What did she say?" He was hopeful.

"Manal said yes."

"Did she think it thoroughly? Don't force her if she isn't happy with it." He sounded serious than before. A fraction of dissatisfaction lurked in his words.

"I went through the same thought. Maybe we are thinking we are forcing her. But she might not be thinking that way. I said I could give her more time. She said, later would make her find fake faults in this proposal." Saliha got weary of walking so she sat on the lawn chair.

"What is the boy's name? What does he do?"

"Usman. He is lawyer. His father has a business in Dubai."

"Do you have any of their phone numbers?"

"To talk to them? I was thinking about inviting Rubab this evening for tea and we can discuss about the future plan. Like engagement."

"You know what? I am coming to Pakistan. In about two days. It would be better if I am there to decide the engagement and fixing the date of other events." It seemed as if he was packing up to come right now. The decision of traveling across a long distance sounded like it was very ordinary thing for him.

Saliha got up, enthused. Her eyes went wide hearing that he was coming to Pakistan. This meant they were saying yes to the proposal. Her responsibility of handling the various wedding affairs would be divided with him.

"That's good. Shehryaar is the only at home to whom I can discuss things."

"How is he doing there? I miss my son. Feel alone."

Saliha laughed. "Now that you are coming, you can spend time with all of us."

"Okay, now I should get back to the work. One of my employee resigned because he was moving. Now I kept a hiring sign. So I will check on what they are doing."

"Shehryaar told me there was some renovation in the kitchen?"

"Yeah, just some work. It's done now."

"Then you carry on. Allah-hafiz."

As soon as she hung up, she rushed inside to spread the good news. She visited Shehryaar in his room, who with keen interest stared at the laptop screen. His eyes didn't catch his mother until she came and sat on his bed. He folded his legs and put aside the laptop to give her attention.

Saliha was beaming as if the sun had risen over her. She endlessly grinned at Shehryaar before the string of words unraveled her happiness.

"Shehryaar, you know your daddy is coming home. In two days."

"Really?"

"Yeah. He just called me. Actually I called him to tell him about Manal's proposal. Since Manal said yes, he will come over for the engagement."

"This is a really good thing. Khala might already know about this, right?"

"No. She is still unaware. Imagine how much happy she would be to hear this."

Saliha patted Shehryaar's lap. "Since your daddy will be coming in two days, I have lots of things to take care of. I am inviting Rubab this evening for tea. Do you think I should get the number and call her?"

Shehryaar glanced at the laptop screen. Then looked back, holding his mother's hand that rested on the verge of his lap. "You should talk to khala first and she will tell you what's best to do."

Saliha lightly nodded in approval. "Yes. That sounds better. I am really happy at least you are here. Your support is important in making these small decisions."

"What is Manal doing?"

"I don't know. Must be in her room."

"What were you doing?" She tried to look at the screen like he was hiding something.

Then he himself faced the screen to her. "I put up my artwork online. It's my website. When I graduated from college, my mentor advised me to find an artist agent who will represent my work. I have potential skills. It will benefit my career. So from few days my agent is in contact with a buyer. But since I am not in California, I don't know if it would be a good idea to sell the painting."

"You look happy with what you do." Saliha looked closely at him.

"Yeah. I don't regret taking my hobby seriously. I have a friend he took science engineering. Now he doesn't like it. It's all about interest not money." He scrolled down the images of paintings. There were five of them. Unique and distinctive from the one before. "Look at this one. I worked all evening in the backyard to complete this. When the weather cooperates, everything works out."

"All of them look really good. I am proud of you."

"I am proud to be your son. If you didn't give me this freedom I wouldn't be able to do this."

"Be thankful to your daddy. He has done more than me." An slight guilt pinched her words. "Anyways, I am gonna go do my work. Just came to tell you."

She got up and headed towards the door.

"If you need any help call me," Shehryaar said.

She turned around and nodded.

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

In the evening, Rubab came over with Faiza. She had been the only person to whom Saliha was closer to. After their marriage, they were separated by long distances; Saliha managed to raise her family, and Rubab her own. Now that their children had grown up, they set another reason for the two sisters to come together. The time of extending their relationships through the children's marriages had rung bell at the door.

Manal wore olive green tights with polka dot chiffon top that reached below her waist. She had straightened her hair and left them loose open. Her face sparkled with makeup, which wasn't heavy as the party style one. Saliha was a happy mother. She kept looking at her daughter who would soon be a bride.

Rumina came driving the guest trolley to the living area, fancied with variety of sweets, tea kettle, China cups and saucer; assorted biscuits in a gold-rimmed plate, and loaf of chocolate cake. She served the tea, asking each one how many teaspoons sugar she should add.

"Add three teaspoons," Rubab ordered.

"Rumina, put everything on the center table," Saliha told.

"Jee," she replied.

"Manal, I am really happy about your decision. You didn't only make my day, but made my relationship stronger with you. You look lovely," Rubab commented. She was sitting crossed-knee, leaning the center of her back against the inside sofa. The red velvet-clad cushion slouched in her right corner.

"Thank you, khala," Manal said.

"Faiza, do you drink tea?" Saliha asked, with endearment flushing her cheeks.

"Half cup."

Rumina looked less attractive than the lavishly dressed ladies, to whom she served without a bit of objection. Although that, everyone treated her gently.

"When you told me the news just after one day I couldn't believe it. I thought you would take more time." Rubab's intent was half towards Saliha and half Manal, as she looked at both of them. She took a sip of tea and placed it on the center table.

"Haan. Now it's a good news. We should celebrate it," Saliha cleverly turned the wheel of the upcoming gossip.

"Congratulations, Manal. This is exciting," Faiza exclaimed. She was wearing a coral lace outfit, and the white tights underneath. Her hair were designed in side braid, long bangs hanging on the left side of the face. The floral studs gleamed in her ears as if she polished them and then wore it.

"Thanks."

"We are gonna do the shopping together," Faiza said, punch colored lips spreading in a vivacious grin.

"Yeah, I was saying to Manal to go with you for shopping. Let her buy things from her choice," Saliha said.

"That's a perfect idea. As we meet with the family and fix the engagement, you can buy your dress," Rubab said.

Faiza picked the jelly-topped biscuit and nibbled on it. They clearly matched her red nails, coated with sparkles.

"Which color would be nice to wear?" Manal asked openly for different opinions.

"Peach?" Faiza guessed.

"For engagement it is always nice to wear a soft color. I don't mind how fancy it is." Saliha gave an advice.

"You can check out the trends online. And whichever you like, order it to design. They are more expensive and better quality," Faiza said.

As Rubab drank half of the tea, she took a plate and cut a slice of cake.

"Sure," Manal agreed on the idea. She chose a pista speckled biscuit.

"Faiza, Rubab, taste the meethai please. They are special treats this evening," Saliha urged. "I ordered them fresh in the afternoon. Have some sohan halwa. This reminded me of our wedding time. Remember ammi ordered forty different types of meethaiyaan and displayed them on the table when Zafar's family came to see me?"

Rubab giggled. "They came little late. We had everything ready."

"And yeah that too."

"It was our time. Now it theirs."

"Perhaps we will not see forty different types of meethais altogether again," Saliha said.

"Our ammi was really shaukeen of things like these."

"Of course in all the cooking. Ton of dishes she used to make for big dawats," she said. "Don't ask. She managed everything. Allah give her a place in jannah."

Saliha ate a small bite of gulab jaman and licked the sweet syrup from the tips of her fingers. Then poured half a cup tea. She watched Faiza with a sweet smile, thinking. She always liked her as a person. Today she looked extra gorgeous to her.

"Today not only are we celebrating the good news of Manal's approval of the proposal. But I am also eager to ask Faiza's hand for my Shehryaar."

A wave of surprise unfurled in the sudden hush. Rubab put the plate on the table and her wide eyes stared at Saliha.

"Saliha? Today? Are you just......"

"Haan. I am asking Faiza's hand for Shehryaar. Not even Manal knew about this. I kept it a secret."

Faiza pursed her lips, hands together in her lap and jolted a tiny imperceptible laugh. She seemed to daze out.

"You were all along hiding this surprise?" Rubab said, dumbstruck.

"I always liked Faiza. My favorite. They both will make a great couple," Saliha complimented.

"Isn't it a coincident that Shehryaar has always been my favorite. There would be no better boy for my Faiza than him," Rubab said.

"If you make your decision sooner than we can have Faiza Shehryaar and Manal Usman's engagement together at the same day. Zafar is coming to Pakistan in two days. In my opinion all this would be better than anything else."

Faiza who spoke with alacrity at first, was now narrowed down to her own shyness. She and Manal exchanged glances upon the discussion that was taking place.

"I didn't ever think that Shehryaar can be my son-in-law. Is it his choice?"

"My choice is his choice."

"There isn't much to think about in this proposal. Just have to fulfill the formality of sharing opinion with Sohail."

"It would be my dream."

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

Meethai- sweets.

Meethaiyaan- plural term.

Haan- yes.

Shaukeen- having fond of something.

Ammi- mother, mom

Jee- yes