Annika heard the confidence in Daniel’s voice, but when she turned to him, he simply raised his eyebrows at her and motioned for her to move.

Annika loved being part of the jaan. Dancing in the street (or parking lot) was one of the many highlights of the wedding. This groom had opted out of the traditional horse in favor of a fancy sports car with the top down. He sat on top of the back seat, dressed in his fancy turban and white-and-red wedding outfit, holding a coconut with leaves.

Annika and Nilay joined the dancers in front of the car. Sajan stood to the side and joined in the clapping. These were the groom’s friends and family, and they would dance the procession to the hotel entrance to celebrate the joy of the day. The dol was in full swing, its beat revving up the dancers. Annika joined a group of her friends in a small circle and danced garba, which was a line dance done in a circle. Skirts twirled, hands clapped, and hips swayed, faster and faster in time with the beat of the dol. A few men joined in the garba, and Annika actually stopped, causing the girl behind her to trip, when she recognized Daniel in his emerald-green sherwani, easily moving to the complicated steps and beat of the drum.

Her flub did not go unnoticed by Daniel, who winked at her but kept pace and didn’t miss a beat. Annika was forced to step out of the circle so as not to cause a backup. She inhaled deeply to gather herself. Daniel was dancing garba like he’d done it all his life. There was a natural, masculine grace about the way his body moved, the way his feet kept the beat, the way his arms moved in sync with everyone else’s.

As his part of the circle came her way, Annika picked up the step and joined the circle in front of Daniel. Just for fun, she motioned to Naya and a couple of friends to change up the step to a yet more complicated one. Having done this together all their lives, the girls quickly and gracefully switched up the step. After missing only one or two beats, Daniel easily made the switch, as well. Annika couldn’t help the impressed grin on her face. Daniel was holding out on more than being in her room that night, and suddenly she was curious about all of it.

They finished the garba in a synchronized fury of clapped beats, quick feet and excited calls, many people dropping out, while Annika and Daniel remained the last two with the stamina to continue. At the final call, she caught his eye, slightly out of breath, and they took a small bow to the cheers of the other members of the jaan.