“Yes, I heard.”
“So, I have that next week.” She smiled at him, memorizing his face for a moment before turning and getting into her car.
WEDDINGPREPARATIONSTOOKup every single moment she had that she wasn’t teaching. Forget sleeping and eating—Naya was getting married. One would think Annika would be too busy to think about Daniel, but thoughts of him managed to wriggle their way into her mind. Not that she was trying in any real way not to think about him. She hadn’t heard from him, but he was probably doing round-the-clock shifts at the ER and the chopper.
Everyone was up early on the big day—hair and makeup had to be done, after all. Naya had insisted that Annika have hers done as well, even though she wasn’t the bride. Annika finally relented, if for no other reason than to stop the nagging. The hair and makeup artist was incredible, and sure enough, she had Annika feeling like a bride herself.
“You look beautiful!” Naya gushed. “Aren’t you glad I nagged you?”
It did feel nice to be made-up, so she smiled at her cousin and gave the smallest little eye roll. “Fine—yes.” She gave her cousin a once-over. “But you—you make a gorgeous bride.” Naya was decked out in the traditional white sari with the red border. It was decorated with beads and sequins, but Naya had forgone all the traditional gold jewelry and opted for the basics. A simple gold set and bangles and she just glowed.
Annika’s sari was a stunning shade of cobalt blue that complemented her skin. Naya wrapped an arm around Annika’s shoulders and pulled her close. “You’re not so bad yourself. Heard from Daniel yet?”
“No.”
“You could call him.”
“I might, but I’ve been busy getting you ready to be married this week.”
Naya grinned. “I’m getting married!”
“You are! I, for one, never thought it would happen,” Annika teased.
Naya nodded. “You and me both.” She sighed, a slightly dreamy expression in her eyes.
“Well, if I didn’t know better, I’d say we had two brides here today.” Naya’s father burst in without knocking.
Annika and Naya rolled their eyes at each other.
Naya’s father turned to Annika. “Thejaan is almost at the door. We need you.”
Annika and Naya squealed like schoolgirls at a middle school dance. Naya’s father covered his ears and gestured to Annika with his head. Annika squeezed her cousin’s hand before following her uncle down to the crowd that had formed in front of the double doors. Annika and her kaka joined the rest of their family and went out together to welcome Ravi.
Ravi was resplendent in his cream sherwani and turban, with a red scarf that matched exactly the shade of red that Naya wore. He was glowing just as much as Naya, and Annika teared up at the happiness that exuded from him. Naya’s motherapproached him with the tray of sweets and performed the ceremony of welcome, in the end offering him the chance to leave or stay forever. When he stomped on the small clay pot, shattering it, Ravi chose Naya forever.
Kaka and Kaki escorted Ravi into the building, accompanied by Nilay and Annika’s parents. They walked Ravi to the wedding hall and up to the mandap, where Ravi stopped to remove his shoes.
Annika caught sight of two little girls, distant nieces of hers, hovering around Ravi. Just as his feet slipped off his shoes, two little girls lunged forward, each grabbing a shoe. One of the groomsmen reached for them, but he was too late; the little girls ran off, giggling and taunting the groomsman with their prize. Annika watched the little girls, smiling to herself. She turned, then froze in place as she was met with the most familiar set of green eyes.
Daniel was the groomsman. He was stunning in a cream sherwani similar to Ravi’s, though his scarf was the exact shade of blue as Annika’s sari. He locked eyes with her and smiled as if he attended weddings like this all the time.
He walked toward her in that unassuming, powerful way he had, which she had loved since she’d first seen him that night outside of Phil’s. Annika held back while the families took their seats on either side of the mandap. Daniel stopped in front of her.
“It’s always more fun when they get the shoes,” he whispered before continuing along behind the other groomsmen.
Annika’s heart skipped a beat. If she had fallen in love with him the first time he’d said that, she’d fallen again, and deeper this time. She forced her feet to move. “Nice scarf,” she whispered to him as she made her way back up to Naya. His rumbling chuckle was a welcome, happy sound, and she couldn’t help turning back to watch him.
She took the steps up to her cousin as fast as her sari would allow and entered the bridal suite to a knowing look from Naya.
“He called me,” she blurted out before Annika could speak. “Wanted to know what color you were wearing.”
“Hmm.” Annika could not stop the grin. “Let’s get you married.” In short order, Nilay arrived, informing them that they were ready for the bride, and the wedding was underway.
Annika sat under the mandap next to Naya, while Daniel sat just outside the mandap with the other groomsmen. She couldn’t take her eyes off him. He spoke quietly to the other groomsmen around him, acknowledging their input, sending them to tend to things. Every so often, he would chuckle softly, occasionally catching her eye. The jolt of electricity from his eye contact was so wonderful that she didn’t care he’d caught her staring. This was a more relaxed, more jovial version of the man she loved. And yes. It was definitive: she completely loved him.
Naya and Ravi took their four turns around the sacred fire and were now officially husband and wife. Naya glowed, as did Ravi. It was as if they couldn’t believe their luck in having found each other. As part of the wedding party, Annika and Daniel joined them for pictures. The photographer kept putting them together—not that Annika minded having Daniel’s body pressed up against hers. There wasn’t much time for conversation, but Daniel took her hand every chance he could, and Annika willingly laced her fingers with his.
The photographer dismissed them when she had all the shots she needed, and Annika escorted Naya back to the bridal suite to change for the reception. Naya changed into a midriff-baringcholiof the deepest burgundy with gold filigree design. Annika’s choli, also midriff baring, was a bit simpler, in a cobalt blue and gold. She touched up Naya’s makeup before taking a look at her own.
