Just before 8pm, we wended our way over to the Four Seasons (a different part of the same hotel) for Asma's sister Aliya's khish khurri (the night before the wedding for the brides' side, with the admonition to "dress colorful"). At first there were lovely drinks, like peach & strawberry smoothies & a refreshing mango juice, and a few appetizers, & then there was dinner--buffet-style, with two very good Pakistani dishes, pizzas, pastas, & a good salad bar. We sat at a table with Lynn & Lara from Wellesley, who flew in from Chicago & SF respectively, a friend of Ali's from Groton, a Spanish teacher of Aliya's from Groton, & a friend of Asma's from Groton. There was a procession of Aliya under a canopy, announcements by Asma & her mother, an Elvis impersonator we unfortunately didn't get a clear picture of, a touching custom-made movie about Aliya, some Pakistani videos & dancing, & the single people trying to open Aliya's clenched fist (pictured is one of her friends, Masha, attempting, with Ali the announcer and Asma looking on). Everyone was beautifully dressed & we had a good time, getting to visit a little with Ali & Asma, & leaving only around 12:30.

Lara took all of the pictures of Robert and me and a lot of other pictures with our camera that night. She is an extremely avid photographer, but occasionally laughed too much to keep the camera perfectly still. She kept asking us to pose, but the extent of our innovative poses involved my taking off my shawl and standing on the other side of Robert. Frustrated, she decided to vary the shots by taking one of our feet.