The sun was positioned high in the sky – at its zenith and its soft glow breathed warmth into the land below it. The vast amounts of sand within the city intensified the light, each grain reflected. The market was painted in a variety of colors ranging from the clothing the people wore to the colors of gems on the jeweler's trading stall. Lively were the people, whom conversed and bartered in the largest city in the region. Of course for the sand, the heat of the sun was no issue. But the people that lived under the Light's gaze took precautions against such temperatures.

I adjusted my shawl; the dark blue silk was keeping me cool against the heat of the sun. Beads of sweat did still fall upon my brows. It was not the most convenient time to be outside but father had been preparing all day. There would not be another chance of seeing father before he left. He was to take Ikram this time as well, and though my brother and I argue sometimes. He was still my brother. I walked close to my twin, who was pulling on his white shalwar, trying to create wind. Father was ahead of us, but near enough to watch us both. Keeping our promise, we try not to cause any problems. Neither of us wanted to be scolded.

"Please. Wind. Where are you?" Ikram exhaled, as he shook the front of his Shalwar more with his hand. His complexion was much more tan than mine. His complaints about the heat vanished as he noticed a stall complete with swords and daggers from a nearby blacksmith. Walking straight up to the stall, father and I followed.

"Look at these blades!" Ikram's eyes were wide with interest. I disagreed with the smirk on his face. "Sharp enough to cut air."

"They're used to kill people." I commented. Ikram gave me a look as if I had stated the obvious. I've never seen actual weapons before. In fact, I've never seen a drawing of one, unless Ikram's sand interpretations counted. My twin had read books which included diagrams of weaponry. I was not allowed to read such books.

"Ah, but they can also be used for self-defense Asra." Father examined the blades carefully. He seemed to just be standing there, but I could tell papa was paying well attention by his gaze. A man behind the table headed towards us, his stout figure adorned in beige and wine colored coloring with a matching Taquiyah on his head. A smile appeared on his tanned face, adding more creases to his eyes.

"Zaahir! It has been a while!" the stall owner greeted my father. His voice seemed to match his appearance, booming. "I have not seen you since your trip to Duma."

"It has been Ghalib. I will be heading to Masayaf soon with my son, to show him the ports." papa took Ghalib's extended right hand in formal greeting.

"Papa, may I have a blade?" Ikram piped up, his eyes watching father then back to gaze at how the blades reflected the sun.

"If you're heading to Masayaf, you will not need to buy anything here." Ghalib's chuckle lightly. "They have finer blades there." The merchant turned his head towards me. Panic emerged in my chest and I averted my gaze at everything around me but the big man.

"Is this your daughter Zaahir?" I immediately walked behind my father, looking down at the sand at my feet. Father nodded.

"Father!" Ikram called out again, his attention to the fact that papa was talking to someone seemed to evade him. "May I please?" he impatiently pleaded, pointing at one of the daggers.

Ghalib laughed. He leaned a little closer to Ikram "You may have any dagger you like, to return a favor your father had helped me with."

"It was a favor for both of us. Bandits are neither welcome or good for profits." Father replied. I glanced towards Ikram, who was looking at each of the weapons with excitement. Curious as to see what was so interesting, I looked at the table as well. All I saw were knives, some with decorated hilts full of gems or gilded design in wood, silver, and gold. Some had shaped handles, some had curved blades. My eyes were caught towards a plain dagger, its blade was thin. The hilt was gilded with eagles. Ikram saw it too, and placed his hands on the hilt of the blade. I hid my pout, either my brother had saw me glance at the weapon or as twins he could read my mind. Although I had no need for a knife, that one had seemed attractive.

"May I?" Ikram asked father, his smile pulled ear to ear. Ikram held the blade in his hand, tilting it from side to side.

"Thank you, Ghalib." the merchant simply nodded and went to attend with his other customers. Father turned to me "Now that Ikram has gotten something, lets go look at other stalls shall we, Asra?"

"May I. get one too?" my finger pointed halfheartedly towards the table. I was not sure why I even asked. I've never seen a real dagger until today, I'm not even sure how I would hold one.

"No stop copying me Asra! Girls don't need weapons anyways" Ikram spoke immediately, putting the weapon away.

"You're the one copying me, I saw that dagger first!" I spoke back, my hands crossed in front of me. Ikram looked at father confused and dramatically shrugged his shoulders, as I had never said anything out loud. I was a bit angry now. We walked away from the stalls and Father kneeled down to my height.

"My daughter, you do not need something like that."

"But you told me that daggers can be used for protecting yourself." I reasoned, my eyes blinking fast, saddened by father's opinion following my brother's. "I can use one to protect myself."

"Don't worry Asra; we'll do the protecting for you!" Ikram swung the cloaked dagger around as if he was fighting an unknown enemy. I couldn't help but smile, the tears that were forming had evaporated. My twin was so annoying at times, but I wonder if I was just being sensitive.

"You made us waste the entire day, Asra. Why didn't you just pick something?" Ikram huffed, as we headed home.

The sun has done its daily rounds, now resting on the horizon as evening was preparing for the night. I'm pretty sure Ikram was a shade darker from being out all day, but it could just be his face puffing red from frustration. There was nothing I wanted from the other traders. I did not want any bracelets and I had found out today that neither papa or my twin brother knew what it meant to 'buy something that matches'. Father was being patient though, and I believe he knew that he could not match mother's ability to pick the right things for me. He was letting me calm down and I was glad for that. I did like the looking at the items being sold, but I felt too guilty to actually want anything. Ikram had gotten angry the first time I rejected one of his opinions, then my emotions soured and I didn't want father to buy me anything purely out of spite.

"I didn't want anything, okay?" I said defensively, pulling my arms around myself.

"Your loss." We finally made it back home, my brother ran through the door when mother opened it to greet us. Father pulled me aside.

"We will be there in a moment Samina," mother nodded at her husband's words and headed inside.

"Am I in trouble father?" I whispered, afraid that being too stubborn at the market might have earned me a scolding.

"No" Father started "You didn't want anything at the market today Asra?" I shook my head.

"I didn't really want anything. I just wanted to spend time with you and Ikram before you were to leave. He didn't have to get mad! He picks bad colors."

"Well, I have a gift for you instead then." Father laughed as he pulled a bag out from his pocket, and I saw a necklace taken from the bag. The chains were thin, made of silver. There was an icon in the placed in the center that I did not recognize. Handing it to me, I ran my hands over it.

"Make sure to wear it underneath your jihab. It is haram otherwise." I nodded quickly, father sounded so serious. "Keep it hidden, it would be unfortunate if someone took it." This I easily knew the reason for, smiling as I placed it under my shawl. "Thank you papa."

"Come, let's go back inside."

For something to be haram, it means something that you should not do. He gave her the necklace but she should not wear it openly because accessories were usually to make one beautiful and women in Islam were to keep their beauty hidden. There was no reason to show it to everyone, just for people who are close to them.