During those tranquil ten minutes car ride, Ruby started picking up lint on the sleeve of her apple green shirt.

Joseph's presence in the car didn't really make any big difference. His face was impassive and was busy drawing shapes on his phone as he sat across the driver's seat which was taken by Sarah. Talking a mile a minute, Sarah took pauses in between for Joseph or Ruby to say something. But, that was only possible if Joseph detached his mental concentration from his phone, and Ruby allowed her conscience to fall back inside the car.

"Anshuman wanted to tag along with us so badly. But, he couldn't call away from the meeting at this time. A sit-on-your-ass job for endless hours. That sucks!" Sarah disgusted, gripping the steering wheel tightly.

The timing was odd; it was a quarter past three in the afternoon. The sunlight was simmering through the thin wool of clouds and the air blew the green lush outside to ease the humid tolerance of people. Nobody in their right mind would agree to shop at this hour of the day. Even compulsive shopaholics would give primary preference to their beauty sleep over buying clothes and beating the heat around. But Sarah had some different plans, to which Ruby had to oblige.

"Maybe we could come again together, the Big Four of us." Sarah chuckled and nervously glanced at Ruby through the rearview mirror and then at Joseph. Nobody entertained any conversation; it was all dry just like the mundane scenery dissolving behind.

A while later, Sarah parked the car in the parking lot which was surprisingly not that busy. But scattered people drifting away in ones and twos could be seen, making entry and exit out of the mall at mismatched paces.

Joseph clambered out, followed by Ruby and thereafter Sarah whose excitement hiked up to the sky. "Let's strut our stuff gal!"

Breathing the warm air, as they stayed out for a minute Sarah excused them and left to attend to a call on her phone.

Ruby hummed, and a feeling of uncertainty crossed her face. She shook her head slightly and pushed a lock behind her ear. Suddenly, Joseph loomed against the same ear to whisper, "Just a humble reminder: Shop freely. I'll be paying."

Jumping up, Ruby turned around sharply. "What was that? Your way of giving me a heart attack right? yeah, great going! If I die, then you should know one thing, nobody would step up in my place by any means."

"Absolutely not. I'll undertake to insure your life against any risk arising in between. Until then you don't have to worry about your dear life. Your breathing is really important." Joseph smirked, clasping his hands behind his back.

"And then?"

Shading her eyes with one hand as the midday sun was smiling at her. She looked at Joseph who stood there like an eclipse- his silhouette formed on Ruby's body partly, leaving her face sun-kissed. Her supernova eyes diluted the melding hues of whiskey-brown and stunning.

"And what after that . . . after I loot Mrs Warner's wealth and give the world to your feet?" A question that was born out in an instant in the heat of an indescribable war of emotional distress.

That look, when he neither stared nor blinked was the instance that made her feel awkward just like atheism in a priest. She sprawled out, placing her foot a block to the right, just sufficient for her body to stand under his brawny figure's shade.

"I go on my way as you go on your own," Joseph said hoarsely with his eyes watching her deeply.

As if it touched the pit of her stomach. She blinked and chanted the same sentence under her breath 'I go on my way as you go on your own.

She turned around slowly and a car at high speed swerved from side to side, narrowly missing Ruby's stance, and skidded away.

Ruby squealed, shutting her ears and eyes. A bead of sweat trickled down the side of her neck and her heart leaped inside her chest. Joseph pulled her back and placed a reassuring hand on her back as he yelled at the crazy driver, attaining the highest octave, "HEY! GET BACK HERE! YOU BLOODY BAS-"

"I'm fine! No broken bones," Ruby claimed, rubbing her chest softly.

"You sure?" Joseph asked, lowering himself to fit in her gaze.

"Of course," she tempered her voice, assuring him.

Sarah rushed to Ruby, her body movements being dramatically alert and practiced. "Oh, I'm so sorry. Let's go now."

After sticking the hands of aplomb on their backs, Sarah rotated her face in the opposite direction languidly. A clever smile crept on her face and quickly suppressed it, as Ruby expressed something that called for her attention.

****

"I hope you are holding the fork and the spoon in the right hand. Now, it's time for some fashion tips that would be helpful for you, cause you will be attending the tycoons' parties and the list of the grand events would be endless." Sarah ambled alongside Ruby and her eyes hobbled over one store.

"What do you mean . . . grand events? Oh, God not again!" Ruby cried.

Joseph who was within earshot as he was walking behind the two of them spoke, "Not as a singer, but as a snotty belle. It is needless to say if you are going to live in a mansion, you will meet hundreds of new people." His gait was exceptionally unconcerned and sluggish.

"Only men, no women?" she asked hesitantly, leaning her ear to receive his answer.

Joseph was blank at it.

They entered a luminance dress store. Girl gangs were walking around with a trolley loaded with clothes. Ruby gaped at the sparkling dress worn by the mannequin standing behind the glass. "Wow. So beautiful."

Ruby had never been to such a place in her life. Whereas speaking of all her shopping, the thrift store had it all, she went there once a year to buy one durable dress, that would go a long way, for a cheap price.

To say Ruby was astounded from the inside would be an understatement. Nevertheless, she didn't let it display on her face as she strode along the aisles, so light on her feet as if she was used to going such places.

Joseph sat on the couch at the entrance while Sarah clung her arm with Ruby's and began, "If you're ever on the fence about what to wear and what not to, consider your destination and who you'll see. When in doubt, err on the side of being more dressy. If you're worried about looking too done-up, bring along a casual layer like jeans or a cargo jacket to give your look that effortless chic touch."

She picked up a cobra-printed cargo jacket from the hanger and shoved it in a carry bag. "Clothes featuring animal prints breathe raw, feminine power. Understand it!"

Ruby gave a quick nod of her head.

Cute tops folded and stacked up on the racks invited Ruby to take a look at them. She merely began trotting in that direction when Sarah pulled her to the other section- the secluded section.

"Wow, these dresses look damn expensive." Ruby breathed out in amusement, owly-eyed.

"So, why do you think I brought you here- ouchy! my darling is so innocent." Sarah squished Ruby's cheeks, tucking her lip between her teeth. "I heard it from my friend. She informed me about this store and this treasure. Her boyfriend couldn't stop admiring her beauty outlined by such amazing wonders."

"I get that," Ruby uttered faintly and her eyes scanned the dresses- varying from sexy bodycon to deep plunge bandage dress proudly hanging against the wall.

Sarah asked the salesgirl to take down an alluring dress from the top. Sarah broke a giggle at the dress and handed it over to Ruby.

"This material is called lace; it is female, is impossible to ignore, and is inherently seductive. Wearing a fitted lace dress is a coquettish way to show off your curves and retain an air of unmissable feminine charm. Go try this on!"

"Eh . . . will this length cover me fully from behind?" Ruby asked skeptically.

"Go the hip way, he will love it." Realizing her mistake, Sarah slapped her forehead with her hand and said, "You will only know this when you go inside the changing room; it's on the left, no on the right, no . . . no, it's on the left."

"On the left okay," Ruby cleared and set her foot in the aforesaid direction.

Meanwhile, Joseph yawned and checked the time on his wristwatch. He rose to his feet and began searching high and low for Sarah and Ruby. He couldn't spot either of them.

He sucked in a sharp air and thought of giving shopping a shot, as he lurked in the gents' section. After a while, Joseph found a maroon sweatshirt and a pair of brown pants; he went to a trail room. "This looks interesting."

Entering, he pulled out his gray polo shirt and hung it on the peg.

Word count - 1515

a/n; changing room, I see 😏

Give Ruby some Fashion tips!