“Both in relationships.”
Arjun pouted. “You could have invited someone for me, Bhai.”
“You’re lucky to be here at all.”
A rare flash of sobriety cleared Arjun’s face. “I agree. Thank you, both of you, for giving me a second chance. I don’t deserve it. But I do wish you many wonderful years together.”
Dev dropped his hand on his cousin’s shoulder for a second and squeezed. “Thank you.”
Their grandmother joined them. “Arjun, you will be next, of course.”
The younger man took a step back, and then kept walking. “I’m sorry, you’re breaking up. I am going through a tunnel.”
Shweta shook her head indulgently, then turned to him. “Marriage looks good on you, Dev.”
“It feels good, so far.”
She adjusted her sari, though its sharp pleats needed no adjustment. “I was thinking I could stay for an extra week. Luna and Adil could remain here. It would give you and your new wife some alone time.”
Dev took a sip of his sparkling water. Luna had warmedto the excitement of the event, or at least, warmed to being dressed up and the only child in attendance, and thus, fawned over by everyone. Jia’s sister had particularly bonded with his niece, and the girl was following Ayesha around like a duckling, asking for gruesome medical stories. “I think Luna would like that very much.” So would his grandmother. Her eyes held a hint of yearning, more vulnerability than he’d seen from her outside of a movie screen. One week out of school wouldn’t hurt his smart niece.
She raised her hand and beckoned Adil over. “I told Dev our plan,” she explained to his uncle.
“Yes, it’s a good idea.” Adil Uncle smiled at him. “Newlyweds should have some time to themselves.”
Dev tried not to think of what he and Jia could do with all that privacy. “I’ll drive home tonight and get Luna’s belongings.”
“There’s no need to do such a thing on your wedding night,” his grandmother protested.
Adil agreed. “I will go.”
The wedding night he wouldn’t be able to actually spend with Jia? She was rooming with her sister, and his room had a full bed that barely fit him. Plus, if he couldn’t kiss her in front of her parents, he didn’t think he could sleep in the same bed with her while they were under the same roof, even if they didn’t do anything. This was too new. “Jia will understand. Uncle, you have trouble driving at night.”
“I’ll buy Luna whatever she needs for the week.”
Oh boy. This, he had to curb now. “No. Aji, try to refrainfrom any lavish gifts, please. I can tell you this: I would have killed for affection in lieu of presents when we first came to live with you.”
Something flickered in his grandmother’s eyes. “Very well. I will spoil Luna with affection over the next week. And perhaps some small trinkets here and there.”
“That’s fine.”
His grandmother patted him on the arm. “You’ve become a good man. I’ll go tell Luna the news.”
Adil rocked back on his heels. “She’s right. You’ve become a very good man.”
Dev turned his gaze to the floor, vaguely embarrassed by the praise. “You’ve helped with that, over the past year. I can’t thank you enough.”
“No thanks are necessary. We are family. You are the son I never had.”
They both found it necessary to look away from each other after that. “Do you have any marriage advice for me?” Everyone had some advice for him, he’d found.
“Go slow. These are strange circumstances. You know, it would not even hurt for you to live apart for a time, while you learn about each other. Your aunt and I, we did not live together for a year after our nikah.” His smile was nostalgic. “And then we had thirty perfect years together. There is value in patience.”
Dev nodded, all that making sense to him. He wanted thirty, forty, fifty years with Jia. If that meant he had to go slow and steady in the beginning, that would be fine.
“I believe your bride is calling you.”
Hisbride.A month ago, he wouldn’t have thought such a word was even applicable to him. Dev made his way over to the table she stood next to, Luna at her side.His family.
