But, no. She didn’t know Nadim years ago. And there was no one else in the world she could imagine marrying.

At eight o’clock Saturday night, long after her family had left, an unexpected mehndi artist showed up, telling Reena she’d been hired to do full bridal mehndi. The poor woman had probably never applied mehndi to a bride’s feet while the groom sat happily on the floor watching the process, but she did a beautiful job anyway.

Finally, Sunday morning at the regular brunch time, Reena and Nadim met their friends and family in the private functions room at the back of the Sparrow to celebrate their marriage, and to film the final video for the cooking contest. The party was planned with her parents, with collaboration instead of compromise. A traditional Indian meal served in the back room of their favorite pub. Both bride and groom wore the traditional Indian clothing they’d been married in (Reena in strappy sandals instead of barefoot this time), and the guests wore a mixture of formal Indian and Western clothes.

Shaila Aunty and Amin Uncle arrived together with several trays of jalebi, ganthiya, and platters of sweets. Her aunt hugged her tightly before presenting her with a silver wrapped box. Reena guessed it was filled with a bit of bridal gold. “This is wonderful! Look how sneaky you are, not giving us a hint of this when we met last week! And thank you so much for inviting us to celebrate with you.”

“Thank you for coming, and for this!” Reena said, taking the box from her aunt.

“Were we supposed to bring presents?” Shayne asked, walking in with Marley.

“I didn’t,” Amira said. “But I’ve only been home for three minutes since Friday morning. It’s kind of short notice for presents.”

“Not for me,” Saira added. “I got her the best present. I doubt anyone will top it.”

Reena laughed. Saira stealing the thunder only felt hilarious today.

Steve came into the room. “An enormously pregnant woman and a man with a lot of curly hair just wandered into the bar looking for you, Reena,” he said.

Saira beamed. “That’s my present!”

Happy tears and a huge grin erupted on Reena’s face as her big brother and his very pregnant wife came into the room. He laughed as he approached Reena and hugged her tightly.

“Khizar, you’re here!”

“We woke up at the crack of dawn to catch a flight to get here on time.” He hugged her again.

“I didn’t think you’d come when we talked yesterday. I can’t even believe it! I’m so happy to see you!”

He smiled and kissed her forehead. “My baby sister got married. Where else would I be?”

“I thought I was the baby sister,” Saira said.

“You’re both my baby sisters.” He opened his arms to get Saira into the group hug.

Reena hugged Nafissa next, and rubbed the belly containing her two baby nieces before introducing her new husband to her brother and sister-in-law.