Smart Sindara Goes Shopping with Aunty Joyce in Dubai

Smart Sindara Goes Shopping with Aunty Joyce in Dubai

Smart Sindara couldn’t believe her luck.

“Aunty Joyce really did it!” she whispered to herself, staring out the window as the airplane descended over the glistening city of Dubai. Towering skyscrapers sparkled like diamonds, and the desert below shimmered with golden sands.

Aunty Joyce, her mum’s stylish and ever-smiling friend, had once promised, “Sindara, one day I’ll take you on a proper vacation! You’ll see places that look like fairy tales!”

And now here they were, walking through the entrance of the Mall of the Emirates, with its giant chandeliers, marble floors, and even an indoor ski resort — in the middle of the desert!

“Dubai is like glitter glued to everything!” Sindara squealed.

Aunty Joyce laughed, adjusting her oversized sunglasses. “Let’s see if you can handle the sparkle without losing your brain — or your pocket money.”

Sindara skipped beside her, her purple polka dot backpack bouncing. She had saved up her allowance for this trip: 400 dirhams (a little over $100). She planned to buy glittery sneakers, fancy lip gloss, a snow globe, and maybe even a small gold necklace.

The mall was like a wonderland. Shops with glowing signs displayed gold bangles, smart gadgets, dresses that sparkled like starlight, and the most colorful milkshakes she’d ever seen. Sindara’s eyes danced from one thing to another.

“Ooooh! Look at this charm bracelet!” she gasped. “Only 150 dirhams!”

She bought it.

Then a glittery notebook with holographic pages — 75 dirhams.

And then… something magical happened.

In a tiny boutique filled with accessories, she spotted it — a purple headband covered in bright polka dots.

Her exact colors.

“What are the odds?!” she gasped, grabbing it like it might disappear. “Aunty Joyce, it’s like this was made for me!”

Aunty Joyce chuckled. “Looks like Dubai knew you were coming.”

She bought it for 50 dirhams.

By the time they reached the third floor, she had 125 dirhams left.

“Aunty Joyce ,” she said, “Can I borrow a little more? Just 100 dirhams?”

Aunty Joyce raised one perfectly shaped eyebrow. “Borrow? Hmm… Come, let’s sit.”

They found a cozy spot near a giant aquarium wall where fish swam like they were models in an underwater fashion show.

“Sindara,” Aunty Joyce  said, sipping her passion fruit juice, “let me teach you a little secret about money.”

Sindara nodded, her bracelet jingling.

“Money,” Aunty Joyce began, “is like a ticket. You can spend it on things you want now, or you can save it for something bigger later. The trick is knowing the difference between shiny and smart.”

Sindara frowned. “So… was my bracelet not smart?”

“It’s cute,” Aunty Joyce smiled, “but imagine if you bought one meaningful thing and saved the rest. Next year, you could afford something even cooler — like a proper camera to document your travels.”

“Ohhh,” Sindara said, thinking hard. “So, I was chasing shiny instead of choosing smart?”

“Exactly!” Aunty Joyce beamed.

They made a new plan: Sindara would return one or two items and keep only what she really loved. She chose the bracelet and — of course — the purple polka dot headband. She returned the notebook and decided to save the rest of her money.

Later that evening, they watched the Dubai Fountain Show, lights dancing in sync with music, water shooting into the sky. Sindara leaned into Aunty Joyce’s shoulder.

“Thank you,” she whispered. “Not just for the trip. But for teaching me something my wallet will thank me for one day.”

Aunty Joyce kissed her forehead. “That’s what aunties are for, darling — even the unofficial ones.”

And just like that, beneath the stars and skyscrapers of Dubai, Smart Sindara sparkled too — not from what she bought, but from what she learned.

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