Page 109 of Since You Stole My Heart

They came to a stop beside Swayam, and Malini tapped his head as she said, ‘There you are. Meet Panditji. He will be handling all of Viru’s wedding rituals.’

Swayam bent to touch his feet. Luv and Kashvi joined their hands and greeted him with a namaste. The pandit lifted his hand in blessing.

As Swayam straightened, Malini pulled his ear as she insisted, ‘Panditji, please bless him properly. He is going to meet a girl today.’

Swayam gently pushed her hand away as he said, ‘Maybe he should bless Viraj more so he can finally learn how to wake up on time.’

Malini gave a resigned smile. ‘You know how he is. That boy will do everything last minute. You should’ve taken him along to the mall. Do you want me to call him?’

The words landed like a blow to her gut and her breath froze.

No!

The message he’d sent in the middle of the night flitted through her mind.

I’m in bed with Lavanya, and all I can think about is how delicious you smell.

Kashvi had not checked her phone since, thoroughly repulsed and on edge about what else he might send.

Her breath came out in a rasp when Swayam shook his head. ‘Let him sleep. While you were busy all night getting things ready for today, he was out drinking with his friends,’ he said, his voice edged with disapproval.

The relief rushed in so suddenly that she almost swayed with it. Her vision blurred slightly before she blinked rapidly, forcing it to clear. She leaned her head against the wheel as the tension drained out of her.

Beside her, Luv shifted closer. ‘Are you okay?’ he asked in a whisper.

She nodded and straightened in her seat. ‘I’m fine.’

‘The groom should not be drinking before such an auspicious ceremony,’ the pandit said, frowning at Malini.

She clicked her tongue, waving her hand nervously. ‘You know how boys are. His friends must have insisted, or Viru would never do this.’

‘You always make excuses for him and spoil him too much,’ Swayam said with blunt honesty.

Malini placed a hand on her hip as she shot back, ‘I have spoiled both of you equally, so don’t act like you’re some saintand he’s the only one who gets away with it. Besides, getting married changes a man for the better, so he’ll grow up too.’

Luv let out a bitter scoff, but shook his head when Kashvi raised a brow in silent question.

‘Enough of this. Panditji, please put the tilak on his forehead and bless him. Everything should go well today,’ Malini said, stepping aside as she nudged Swayam towards the pandit.

Swayam kept a hand on his head as the pandit applied a dot of vermillion to his forehead and chanted a Sanskrit verse.

The pandit adjusted the plate in one hand and held out the other. ‘Now give me the money, and I will remove thedosh.’

Malini’s eyes widened. ‘Arrey, I forgot to bring it.’

The pandit frowned as he said, ‘That’s not good. The ritual won’t be complete without it. I need to ward off the evil eye. Until then, hiskundliwill have adoshthat could affect anything auspicious.’

Swayam tensed, and almost at the same time, he glanced towards Luv. If she hadn’t been watching closely, she would have missed him slipping his wallet into Luv’s hand.

Malini, unaware of that silent exchange, turned to her nephew. ‘Swayam, you give him the money.’

Swayam waved his hands in the air. ‘I don’t carry a wallet.’

She clicked her tongue, shifting quickly to Luv and asked, ‘Beta, you must have some, no?’

Luv brushed the back of his neck, slamming the glove compartment shut. ‘I don’t have any cash. Will a credit card work?’

‘Do I look like an ATM machine to you?’ Malini asked, rolling her eyes.