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. “The jaan 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 mother approached 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.