It was so soft and sexy with its lace trim at the hem and at the bodice. It always sent a shiver through her body when she put it over her head and felt it sliding softly down over her breasts and then drifting down over her hips. She loved to feel it caress her legs as she walked. It always made her feel good about herself and she hoped that she looked as sexy to men as she felt about herself. Radha then sat down to apply her makeup for the day. She wanted to be sure that she applied enough to look good, but so much as to be too obvious. She put on her eye shadow, some mascara, and just a touch of rouge on her cheeks. Some eyebrow pencil, then her lip gloss. She stopped to study herself in the mirror. A little more mascara and she looked again. This time she was satisfied with her handiwork. She then brushed and styled her hair until she was happy with it. Then a few dabs of perfume behind her ears, on her wrists and then a little between her breasts.

Radha arose from her makeup table and walked to her closet where she took out a saree and Blouse that buttoned up the front - was green with three quarter sleeves. It was her favorite. She had always thought that redheads looked best in green. Today this sari would be the most practical for Radha because as she would be trying on many dresses and skirts at the mall. She put on her gold earrings and started to put on a gold necklace. She then thought better of the necklace and put it back in her jewelry box. It would only get in the way as she changed clothes, she thought to herself. She walked back to her closet and put on her medium heels a black pair. They would be more comfortable to walk in than the high heels, she thought. She did wish that they were a different color. Green would go better with her sari than the black. But no matter. Today she would buy what she needed. She walked to her full length mirror and carefully looked herself over. She turned several times to be sure that her hair and dress were just right. She made sure that her lehangha would not show and were not wrinkled. Finally she was ready to go.

Radha was indeed on top of the world as she backed her car out of the driveway and started for the mall. She was on her way to a happy life at least what there was left of it. She mused about her future as she drove and wondered if she would ever find a man who would love her. Would he marry her? What about children? Perhaps he might have children from a previous marriage that she could consider as her own. Or perhaps they could adopt a child that she could raise as her own. How she wished that she had been able to marry years ago. Perhaps then she could have raised several children from birth. How wonderful it would have been to have been a mother. She imagined herself pregnant and giving birth to a beautiful baby. She thought that being pregnant and giving birth must be the most wonderful thing that any human being could ever experience. As she drove, she brought a hand to her breast and imagined a small baby sucking milk from her nipple. Imagine being able to feed another human being. It would have been so wonderful.

The mall parking lot was about half full when Radha arrived. She easily found a parking space near the entrance to the Saravana store and pulled into it. She got out, locked her car, and started walking toward the mall entrance. She was careful to walk in her most feminine manner but not to exaggerate the movement of her hips too much. As she neared the entrance, two younger men held the door for her and smiled appreciatively as she entered.

"Good morning, Ma'am." one of them said.
Radha smiled at them, but did not speak. She still lacked complete confidence in her voice and imagined them staring after her as she walked into the mall.
That made her feel more like a woman than ever before. She consciously put a little extra wiggle into her walk as she proceeded. Sarvana store had a sale on ladies summer clothes that week. As Radha shopped through the ladies department, she noticed many mannequins wearing perfectly lovely sun dresses, summer skirts, cotton saris and blouses, and even some bathing suits. Radha knew that it would not be easy having to choose what she would buy. She wanted almost everything that she saw. The store had an especially good selection of sun dresses. They were available in every color imaginable --- plain colors, prints, stripes, plaids and paisley. They had plain designs, frilly dresses, dresses covered with lace, dresses that had wide shoulder straps, dresses with straps, dresses with no straps. Radha especially liked the dresses with shoulder straps and with pretty flowered prints. She couldn't decide between the dresses with full flower print sari and those with slim skirts. She thought that she would have to get at least one of each. She tried on dress after dress and finally selected two & three saree that she liked the most. She almost decided to wear one of them while she finished her shopping, but decided that it might get too wrinkled. After all, she did have to try on blouses and skirts too.

She paid for the bill and walked to the parking lot to put them in the trunk of her car while she finished her shopping. She then walked back into the mall. As she was window shopping and trying to decide which styles she liked the best, she decided to get a bite to eat. She entered one of the better restaurants and was promptly seated at a small table near one side of the room. After she had ordered, a couple entered the room and sat at the table next to Radha.
She immediately recognized the girl as one of the secretaries from the office where Krishna used to work and the man as one of Krishna's best friends. Radha had not seen either of them since Krishna had resigned from his work (for medical reasons, he had told them). In fact, Radha had not seen anyone that Krishna had known until today. She was extremely nervous and afraid that they would recognize her. After all, both of them had known Krishna for years. Both, however, appeared too occupied talking to each other to notice Radha --- for which she was very relieved. She could think of nothing worse than for one of them to recognize her as Krishna.

The waiter soon served Radha's meal which she finished quickly as she was anxious to leave the restaurant. As she rose from her table, Krishna's friend glanced at her and smiled. Radha weakly smiled back at him and walked briskly to the door. As she was leaving, she heard him say that he thought he had seen that girl before. She looked like someone he used to know --- but he couldn't remember who. Radha thought to herself that he would be in for the shock of his life if he really knew who she was.

Radha continued to shop in the better stores for summer skirts & nighty. She tried many of them on and selected six --- all in bright colors and patterns. Four of them were full skirts --- two were Nighty and both of these were in solid colors --- one red and one navy blue. In another store, she bought six blouses in various styles and colors. At this point, Radha made another trip to her car to put her purchases in the trunk. As she was walking back to the mall, one younger man glanced her up and down and then gave her a long, soft wolf whistle. Radha was extremely embarrassed --- and flattered. Imagine having a young man whistle at her like that. She walked the rest of the way back to the mall with a renewed spring in her step.

Once again inside the mall, she bought two pairs of heels and one pair of flats. In another store, she bought several bras and panties plus lehanghas. She also remembered to but some panty for Maya. A few cosmetics from another store and she was ready to return home. Suddenly, she remembered that she must have a bathing suit for summer. She walked back to the sarvana store --- her heels clicking on the tiled floor of the mall.

Once in the bathing suit department, she knew that she would have a hard time choosing a suit. She desperately wanted a bikini. She knew her figure was good enough to wear one --- but women of her age generally wore more conservative bathing suits --- generally one piece suits. Finally she decided to buy a green one piece suit --- and the skimpiest flowered bikini that she could find. She just had to have the bikini --- even if she only wore it in her room.

She couldn't wait to get home and try it on. What would Maya say when she saw her in that bikini? Had Maya ever imagined that her husband, Krishna, would become Radha --- and look good in a bikini?? Her shopping done for that day, Radha headed for her car and the trip back home. She hummed to herself all the way back. How wonderful it had been to spend the day shopping for new clothes! How wonderful to be alive on a day like this! How wonderful to be a woman!