The shadow made its way to the suitcase. It opened the suitcase carefully. Reema too rifled through the contents. She too found the plastic bag and the book and the handbag and the diamond necklace. Her feelings were exactly similar to those of her sister. She walked out of the room and into her bed, her mind wandering on happy thoughts of envious friends and admiring looks and adulation. Meanwhile Seema -- who had comprehended that the shadow was her sister and also realized that her sister too had indulged in nefarious activities such as rifling through the contents of Uncle's bags -- too returned to her room.

"Reema, Are you awake", she hissed at her sister. "No" came the reply.
"Reeeema" she whispered again.
"What??" Reema finally said.
"You saw the necklace? Beeyoootiful, isn't it?"
"Yes, it will look very good on me. " replied Reema.

Seema felt as if she was struck by lightning. The thought had never occurred to her that the necklace could be a gift to Reema. She had assumed that it would be hers. Now her mind had to acknowledge that it was a possibility.

"What makes you think it is for you? " She asked angrily.
"I am older" replied Reema.
"So?".
"So I am old enough and mature enough to get a necklace."
"How do you know it is not for Amma?"
"The handbag is for Amma."
"How do you know the necklace is not for me? It is for me. I am younger"
"So??"
"I am younger, so I will get it. "
"Haa ha!"(in a very sarcastic tone)
"Haa Haa ha"( in an even more sarcastic tone)
"Haa Haa Haa ha"(even more sarcastically)
"Hmmph."

And so it ended in an impasse. Nothing was resolved. Both of them would not hear of sharing it. The idea was preposterous. No, it would only go to one girl. The next day, one would be happy and the other heartbroken. Both of them went to sleep, dreaming of diamond necklaces and suitcases and benevolent Uncles.

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