Manal was primped up to go with her. She was impatient to buy her engagement dress, the matching jewelry and sandals. And get the beauty parlor booked up for the makeup and hair.

"I am trusting you, Faiza, for what she chooses. Don't get a really fancy dress," Saliha said. "Plus it will be uncomfortable just for the engagement. You know how hot it is."

"Mummy, I am not a baby. I am totally aware of what suits me," Manal said. "Don't worry." Both girls started to head out.

"Wait, Manal," Saliha called. "You both are going alone? How will you manage. Let me send Shehryaar."

Zoha emerged from upstairs. A shot of confusion alive on her face. She saw Manal and Faiza, highlighted with summer colors, fit to go out. She came down and stopped at the bottom of the stairs, hand lightly holding the banister.

"Zoha," Saliha said,her voice tinged with modicum surprise. "I thought you were in the study room. Are you free? Do you want to go with the girls?"

Manal came forth at the offer and said, "Mummy, we can manage. Don't call bhai."

Saliha turned around. "No. I am calling him. He will be ready. Shehryaar!" she shouted.

"Bari ammi, I was taking a nap. Now I will start doing my work, so I can't go," Zoha said. "Where are they going?"

"They are going for shopping. It will be a change for you if you go with them. You haven't been anywhere since the last time I saw- months ago. Two days ago you told me your exams were over."

"I know. But I can't leave the assignment."

"Shehryaar!" Saliha shouted again. "Okay, Zoha." Then she said looking at her.

Shehryaar came rushing down the stairs. "What is it, mummy?" he said.

"Thank goodness you are here. I wanted you to go with the girls. You're older, it will give me a satisfaction."

"Shopping?"

"Yeah. Engagement is on Saturday."

"Zoha, you are coming too?" Shehryaar said. She looked at him.

"No," Zoha said.

"Why?"

"Because I have work to do."

"Nothing will happen. You can do it after we come back." He rolled his sleeves.

"Go, Zoha. Do shopping for yourself. This is the perfect time," Saliha insisted.

Manal and Faiza exchanged glances.

"Yeah. All I see you do is work. Come on, it will be great," Shehryaar said.

Zoha thought. "But."

"You're coming. No buts." He grabbed her wrist. Everyone's eyes went on Zoha's hand, who was herself shocked.

"I am not ready." Zoha could only make those word.

"You look totally fine." He pulled her past Saliha.

"Please," Zoha said, with emphasis. And he stopped letting go of her hand.

"Okay. We will be waiting for you in the car."

Faiza rolled her eyes and took Manal out in the driveway.

They went to Madni mall in North Nazimabad. This mall was one of the new ones, with numerous stores, ranging from fancy bridal dresses to the trending fashion. Every other shop proffered plethora of jewelry, dripping from the mannequins, shiny. Sandals were lined across the display window, coercing the buyers. It had everything of branded style that a young girl desired. Seeing them made Manal's heart rush with euphoria.

One after another, they tried to find the shop from which Manal would like to buy.

"Look at that one." Faiza pointed. "They have more fancy dresses."

"Let's go there," Manal said. Shehryaar ensued them.

Zoha was mesmerized by the fancy clothes, draped around mannequins' body. She wanted to stop and look at it, but she was left behind. So she tended to stick with them.

Manal and Faiza skimmed the clothes, the unstitched ones were packed in the transparent plastic bags, stacked on the shelf. Only the color and neck design was visible on the top. But they chose to check at the ready made dresses.

"Remember, mummy said to get a soft color? Just for the engagement. But these are really bright. And dark," Manal said.

"You're right," Faiza said.

"Let's check somewhere else then."

They visited the shop on third floor. The mall looked beautiful and glassy with lighting. Zoha's eyes were wide, soaking in the sight. It was true. She hadn't done any shopping in months. She wore her clothes with great care. She didn't like to waste money. But now as she was looking at the window display, her heart leapt with excitement. She stopped very often to gaze at the designing, color and every part of a dress. People came out and went in the shops, carrying bags. They must have bought lots of things, she thought.

Shehryaar was ahead of her. She wished she could stay and buy something to wear for the engagement, too. But she had no money with her of her own. So she moved on.

"Manal, that looks really pretty," Faiza said. They were interested in the dress, which was not too fancy nor too decent. It was off-white, big flower designs throughout the whole front side, back was plain, bottom sagging with long length. The neckline was maroon, as well as the circles inside the flowers.

"It is." Manal touched the dress. "Really elegant."

"Saliha khala will love this. She will say this is what she wanted. I love the off-white color."

"Bhai, tell me how this looks. Isn't it pretty?"

Shehryaar came over. "Truly pretty. Are you buying this?"

"Looks like I should," Manal said.

"Manal, make this final. You will find nothing better than this," Faiza said.

"You're lucky you found it," Shehryaar said to Manal.

"I know I am. This wedding will be charming with lots of luck," Manal said.

Faiza took out the dress, ignoring the price tag. Then brought it to the counter. Shehryaar paid with the debit card.

"I have this hairstyle in my mind that you should totally get done. You will pop out."

"I am already thinking about the jewelry. The silver set." Manal blushed with a huge grin. When they were done with the payment, they took the dress and abandoned the store.

"Now what else?" Shehryaar said. Zoha walked along with them.

They surveyed the jewelry shops, luxuriously bright with the shine and light. Manal and Faiza were enthralled with everything around them. They asked the shopkeepers to show them items, safely locked in the glass showcase. When they didn't like it as much, they began looking for another shop. Just like this, they ended up on the fourth floor.

Zoha quietly passed the enticing shops; hue of happiness dissolved in a frown, lips sealed to evade from uttering word to ask for anything. She felt it was not quite right to stop Manal, whose shopping was more substantial than her own. Shehryaar was walking behind them, commenting. Zoha realized that she was abandoned unnoticed. They were too busy moving from one shop to another, smiling and gleeful. It didn't even matter if she was walking slow and they were ahead of her.

As Manal and Faiza were selecting the jewelry set, matching with the engagement dress, Shehryaar looked at Zoha, who was standing by the window of the storefront, staring at the shiny necklace, embellished with red stones, fit for a bride. He walked over to her and began looking at the necklace like her. A slight flutter of presence tapped on her shoulder and she turned her eyes at him. He was smiling.

"It looks really nice," he said. Zoha returned her eyes back at the necklace. She didn't say a word. "Do you have a dress that matches anything here?"

Trace of embarrassment touched her skin. The new thought was empty and hollow. She couldn't recall anything in her wardrobe. She had collection of casual clothes that she wore to college and on formal occasion. But not anything as fancy (because she rarely been to weddings. Especially when she was little). There was no option beside to buy a new dress.

"I haven't thought about it," she said softly.

"Are you willing to buy anything?"

Zoha didn't know if she wanted to. One second she thought to say yes, but then no again. Just as she was about to utter her response when Manal's voice spliced Shehryaar's attention from her.

"Bhai, I need you to decide on this," she said.

Shehryaar went over. From the side, Faiza pierced a look at Zoha, like what was she doing with him. Zoha sailed her gaze away somewhere else. When Manal was done with buying her jewelry set, they deserted the shop and strolled around in the ground floor.

"How about if we eat ice-cream?" Manal said. There was a small store, deep freezer for a counter, on the top all the flavors were listed accompanied with bowls of colorful ice-creams. "Over there." She pointed.

"Sure," Shehryaar said.

They settled around the table, limited to four chairs. The bags from shopping were put on the table.

"Are you coming to pick flavors or is it decided?" he said.

Manal exchanged glance with Faiza. "Mines is pistachio." She folded her arms on the table.

"Strawberry," Faiza said.

Shehryaar looked at Zoha."Vanilla," she said.

"Okay. I'll be back." He sauntered away.

Zoha unwillingly faced Manal and Faiza, who seemed to have perfectly planned to ignore her. They constantly looked into each other's face and gossiped.

"Did you see the other one? It had maroon stone," Faiza said. "For the Nikah in the future you must get a rich color bridal dress."

"Of course."

"What about the makeup?"

"I got my makeup done few times at this Jasmine Beauty parlor near my house. The artist does it so good. She took a professional course. For all the wedding events I will get it done from there."

"We will get the package. Much easier." Faiza kept swiping her silky hair from the temples. "It might have mehndi too."

"No please. I barely put mehndi. It irritates my skin, and I don't want the redness." Manal began caressing her smooth forearm.

"Then we will leave that." Faiza fished out the jewelry set securely put in the velvet box. "We should have gotten the matching bangles. Two big ones in each hand."

Manal propped her chin on planted elbows and watched the box's lid lift up, revealing sparkling necklace. "Last night, mummy told me that she might make me wear the gold bracelet. But what will I wear in the other hand?"

"Tell her that you are getting artificial bangles for the other hand."

Zoha glanced at the jewelry box. But was unable to see since the lid was in the way. She was reminded of the diamond ring Zafar gifted her. It was myriad precious than anything she possessed. She had fond of buying jewelry and clothes. But at the same time she barely asked for anything. When dadi was alive, she was still shaukeen. After she lost her, her personality became dull and decent. Her heart didn't permit her to buy fancy things. It did not let her celebrate anything, even it was a huge occasion like wedding. It was almost equal to committing a sin, like forgetting your bereaved one for the worldly fun.

Shehryaar returned, holding two cups in each hand, plastic white spoon jabbed in them.

"Here you go," he said, putting them on the table. Faiza closed the jewelry box and slid it inside the shopping bag. "Manal's pistachio, Zoha's vanilla and Faiza's strawberry." He settled in his seat next to Zoha.

"Thank you," Faiza said. Shehryaar's eyes attracted towards her. He smiled and she stretched hers into a grin.

"Bhai, you must be bored with us," Manal said.

"Not really. It's part of the great event and I am enjoying it."

"Really?" She was surprised.

"Yeah."

"So you're going to come with us for shopping from now on?"

"No- I mean if I am not busy." He spooned chocolate ice-cream in his mouth, and put the cup on the table. "Why? You don't want me to come?"

"No- no. I just wanted to know. When you are with us, it helps a lot. Like what to pick. A third advice."

"I wish someone can give me advice like this when I go for shopping," Faiza said, looking at Shehryaar. "And you don't even know how fast the time passes." She ran her hand through her hair.

"Doesn't Umair bhai come with you?" Manal said.

Zoha ate her ice-cream and listened to their conversation.

"No. He is tired of girl's fashion, clothes, shopping and anything that relates to me. You're lucky that your brother is not like that."

Shehryaar laughed while eating. Manal's attention jumped to him. She smiled. "I have noticed one thing. Since the time I got this proposal and I said yes to it. I feel like the luckiest girl in the world," she said. "Maybe I made so many people happy. And this is the reward."

Zoha's teeth quivered by accidentally biting on the piece of ice. She closed her eyes and tried to get through it. When she opened them back, she caught Manal looking at her pointedly. The ominous pair of eyes weren't the same: lively and kind. They set a different meaning towards her; telling her to stay away, to keep no intend of involving in their affair, or else it would be apart from anything she ever experienced.

"Do you want to get the sandals today?" Faiza said.

Manal stumbled away from staring at Zoha and spread the earlier look. "Let's see. If we find them, then that would be amazing, if not then we can see tomorrow."

"Okay."

"By the way this ice-cream is great." She licked the spoon.

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

"I knew it. It was a right idea to send Faiza with you," Saliha said. She looked at the dress with wide, smiley eyes.

"Mummy, you know I was looking for the sandals. But couldn't find the one that I wanted," Manal whined.

Saliha managed to look up from the dress. "Which ones did you want?"

Manal bent down, and touched the heels of her feet. "At least this much heels." Then stood back up. And clasped her slender waist. "But that's not the actual problem. Bhai was tired. He kept asking when are we going to be done. So I thought we should come some other day." She was still unhappy despite she bought the elegant dress and matching jewelry.

"It's okay." Saliha got up, picked the dress by the hanger hook and carried it to the wardrobe. "I am hanging it here. When you go to your room take it with you."

Zafar was downstairs in the living area, watching tv. The black sheet of night covered the sky. Manal was exhausted from perpetually walking in the prodigious mall, looking for things. Her face was droopy, with no energy left in her body. Limbs dangled wearily on her side, as she thought about the sandals. She sat on Saliha's king size bed, fancied it with dark brown duvet.

Saliha went to the bathroom to take out something from the back of the door. When she came out, she noticed Manal pondering at the floor. She strolled over to her and placed her hand on her shoulder.

"What happened?" she asked, concerned.

Manal looked up. "Why did you have to send Zoha with us?"

"Why?"

"It wasn't necessary. She didn't buy anything and was purposelessly walking around with us. She didn't have to buy anything."

"I thought it would have been nice. It will be your wedding, so she can go out and buy something for herself. You know-" It seemed that she would continue speaking.

"Just not when I am there. I didn't make a fuss about it because everyone was there. Don't force her next time." There was a sharp warning harboring her words.

"Relax. You are tired. I don't understand why you are saying that. But I am not gonna ask you right now." Saliha sighed. "Lay back."

"Can I? Isn't daddy gonna come here?"

"No."

She climbed on the bed properly and propped her back against the pile of flabby pillows. "Mummy, can you sit with me?"

"Sure." Saliha joined her. She allowed Manal's head to rest on her shoulder and stroked her hair. "You never get this tired when you come back from shopping. I thought you would be really happy since Faiza was with you. And Shehryaar was there for the first time." She looked at her, then stared ahead.

"It was so much fun with Faiza. She found the dress. Bhai liked it and we chose to buy it."

"Just like this?"

"No. Of course I looked at everything." Smirk twinkled her lips. She turned on her side, facing Saliha. "You told me you liked everything. But didn't tell me that if you liked the color or not."

"I first thought you would choose something around pink. Your favorite. I was surprised you picked white. Sorry off-white. You will look like my princess." She kissed Manal's head.

"I really want to try it on. But too tired. I walked a lot unlike other times when I go."

The window was open little bit to avoid the leftover cooling of air-conditioner from escaping. Beside their talking, it was tranquil.

"What else did you do?"

"We ate ice-cream. It was so good that I wanted to eat again. Madni mall is really big. Hyderi market was so crowded and hot. We stayed inside the whole time."

"In this hot it's tough to do shopping. There are five more months of summer still. We only fixed the date for engagement. I don't know when they will keep the wedding. It would be better if they do it in October. At least when it's colder."

Manal fixed her position against the pillow, putting her head on her hand, retaining a small distance between her and Saliha. They were much closer. Not a word could be misheard by either of them.

"Did Rubab khala talk about Shehryaar bhai' proposal for Faiza?"

Saliha veered her consideration off to that proposal. Her eyes became thin thinking about it. "Yeah. How can that slip my mind? I haven't gotten any response regarding that lately."

"Why don't you remind her again? I think they will make a perfect couple. Faiza is more than my best friend." Enthusiasm crept in her voice.

"I should. Faiza is my favorite too. I would feel like the most luckiest mother-in-law to have her as my daughter-in-law. I shouldn't even call her my daughter-in-law. She is my another beloved daughter."

Manal's mood was pinched with irritation all of a sudden. "But I didn't like one thing." Words were hooked in a curve, forming a mystery in the air.

"What?" Saliha couldn't help to ask.

"That bhai held Zoha's hand. In front of everyone."

"I was shocked to see that too. I never thought Shehryaar could do that. He is not like that. I know him. It must be-"

"I hope that too. What would have Faiza thought? That someone." Saliha interrupted before she revealed the possibility.

"I think we should not assume things. Zoha is not that type of girl. After dadi's death she talks very little. For her to do such thing. No. I don't think so." Saliha tried to calm the rising feeling. "It's not like that."

"I know," Manal said. "Just a thought crossed my mind. Now I think I am just being stupid." She threw her arm over Saliha's side, wrapping her in a squeezed hug and kissed her cheek, leaving the red lipstick print of her lips. When she saw that, she tried to erase it off. But it smeared around. Laughingly, she said, "Your cheeks are red forever. It's waterproof. It's good that you won't have to put any blush-on." She raised her head from the pillow.

Saliha touched her cheek with a finger, trying to sense where the lipstick was. "Now how am I going to get it off?" She made a grossed-out face.

"First of all you look funny. Your cheeks look like some celebrity napkin." She pointed at Saliha, making fun of her.