“Why are you loitering around us women? Go get your turban tied,” Mummy said.

He winked at Nimita and made her smile before he walked out of the room.

The wedding took place in a mandap, canopy, which represents the universe. When Girishji came to the hall, Mummy welcomed him and enscorted him to the mandap. Inside the mandap, Mummy and Pappa began the ceremony by invoking the blessings of Lord Ganesh. Then Nimita arrived escorted by Mummy’s brother. She sat across from Girishji. Chiraj and I sat behind Girishji and Nimita, holding napkins and fans in our laps, ready to assist the couple during the long ceremony. I noticed that even in Nimita’s hair, Mummy had stuck gold and silver clips.

When Nimita and Girishji put flower garlands around each other, the smell of roses filled the air. The priest recited a prayer seeking God’s grace in the forthcoming marriage.

Pappa and Mummy gave Nimita’s hand to Girishji, and the priest placed a sacred string around both of them, establishing a special link of mind, body, and soul. Now Mummy and Pappa were done with their part of the ceremony and left the mandap.

Since Girishji didn’t have a sister, I had to perform the ceremony of tying Nimita’s sari with Girishji’s shawl. I made sure that the knot was tight and wouldn’t come undone.

After Nimita and Girishji moved next to each other, the priest lit a holy fire that served as the divine witness of the marriage vows. Throughout all this, the priest chanted, and the photographer clicked away. Every time the priest called out “Swaha,” Nimita and Girishji sprinkled rice or added ghee, clarified butter, to the fire. Luckily, in the noise and commotion, no one heard Chiraj when he asked me, “Does Nimita get to keep the gold she is wearing?”

“Those are her things now. She keeps it all,” I whispered.

He stopped fanning Nimita and Girishji. “All that gold? How can that be?”

“Why? Are you afraid that by the time you get married there won’t be anything left?”

“Why should I worry? I’m a boy.”

“Napkin, who has a napkin?” someone shouted. Nimita had vermilion powder on her hands. I looked down and realized I had napkins on my lap. I quickly handed one to Nimita, but not before Foi had a chance to say, “Pay attention, children, we’re here to get a daughter married, not to watch a movie.”

Chiraj began to fan Girishji vigorously, and the flame roared.

I grabbed his hand. “What are you doing? Do you want to set Nimita’s sari on fire?”

“I’m doing what Mummy asked me to do.”