Page 35 of The Matchmaker

“I’ll talk to her about a discount,” I whisper. “Desi shops are always up for good old-fashioned bargaining. In all my years, I’ve never paid sticker price here.”

“Even with a discount…” Her hands drift to the tag for the gown on the next hanger. She subtly shakes her head. “It’s fine.” She clears her throat and shoots me a smile. “If I don’t end up buying something from here, it’ll still give me some good ideas.”

Hours pass in the blink of an eye as Darcy tries on different outfits. Now she swings open the door to her dressing room, revealing a beautiful two-toned lengha.

“That one’s absolutely perfect,” I say.

“You’ve said that about every outfit I’ve tried on.”

“I mean it about this one!”

“You think?”

“I know. The cut is very flattering.”

She checks herself out in front of the floor-length mirror. The champagne of the frock brings a flush to her complexion.The silver embroidery along the edges adds a touch of elegance and complements the platinum in her hair.

“I agree with Nura.” Savita collects our teacups and nods approvingly at Darcy. “It brings out your eyes.”

“The price is right too,” she murmurs, examining the tag attached to the veil.

“I can give you a good discount on that one,” Savita offers. “We have a bit of an overstock.”

“We have a winner, then!” Darcy grins. “It’s atinybit snug around the waist, though. Could I get it taken out?”

“Let’s get you a size up instead. It’s easier to tailor it down.”

When Savita reappears, she brings the right size, along with six different outfits.

“Oh noooo,” Darcy says. “Savita, my problem isn’t finding the perfect dress. It’s that you havetoo manyperfect dresses.”

“Glad to hear it.” Savita hangs the new gowns and saris on a hook against the dressing room door. “These arrived last night. Best to be absolutely sure for the most important day of your life.”

Darcy purses her lips and examines them. She takes one and hands it to me.

“Try it on,” she says.

I raise my eyebrow. “This seems sacrilegious.”

“We’re basically the same size, aren’t we? Come on. Help a girl out. I have so many to try on. Let’s call it wedding party duties?”

I can’t argue with that. I try on a raw silk dress. A traditional red gown. They’re both pretty, but we agree they’re not quite right. Next, I try on a periwinkle-colored sari.

“I like that one!” Darcy says when I step out of the dressing room.

“This is a gorgeous sari. But not bridal.”

“It’s not supposed to be.” She gives me a sly look. “It’s your maid of honor outfit. I called Savita before we came and asked her if she had a sari in the right color, and I have to say, she really came through.”

“Darcy!” It’s soft and silky. I walk up to the floor-length mirror. “I love it.”

“I’m going with a unifying color theme instead of matching dresses for the bridesmaids, so everyone can choose something they’d actually want to wear.”

“I’d definitely wear this again,” I tell her. “You know I’m always on the lookout for new wedding attire.”

“I hadn’t realized.” She winks. “Let’s do a selfie. I want to remember this moment.”

She pulls out her phone. The light flashes and I look at the two smiling women on the screen. In just a few months she’ll be married. She’ll be traveling the world with Samir. And even when she’s back, she’ll be busier than before. Her priorities will shift, as they should. I’m happy for her, but between Azar and Darcy, I’m grateful at least Gertie can’t get married and move on without me.

---