Page 70 of The Rules of Playing with Fire

“I’m so happy for you, love,” she whispered in my ear.

“No, it’s not like that,” I tried to object with a vehement shake of my head, but I knew she was already planning our life together.

She took Sameer’s hand and led him to the door. “I want you both downstairs now,” she called over her shoulder. “So whatever you were planning on doing, don’t.”

“What was that about?” Sameer asked her.

“I’ll tell you later,” she said as she threw a last loving glance in our direction before shutting the door behind her.

“I have the same question. What did I miss?” Mihir asked me.

I walked to the bed and lowered myself to it with a deep sigh. “There are precisely five people, excluding my parents, who are privy to the details of what happened with Ajay. You are now one of them, and she thinks this means we are…I don’t know what she’s thinking, but it’s her version of a fairy tale.”

“So, what are we?” Mihir asked with a cheeky grin. “Hum aapke hain kaun?” he added in the American-Hindi accent that I was starting to adore on his lips.

I responded in the only fitting way—by rolling my eyes and throwing him out of the room.

MIHIR

“This is boring,” I whispered to Sona as the priest droned on, mantra after mantra, vow after vow. She sat between Mom and me, conveniently ignoring my protests.

After what had happened in her room that morning, we had two more people privy to our relationship. I was in a relationship! It felt strange, but not claustrophobic as I had always assumed it would be. Quite the contrary—it felt liberating. To be able to share myself in a real way with Sona felt like a privilege I had never had before.

The main ritual of the wedding was in progress. The guests were off eating and chatting while family and close friends sat around the floral mandap bearing witness to the ceremony, mainly so the family didn’t feel abandoned. It was ritualistic, monotonous, and didn’t involve anyone but the marrying couple and their parents.

“Let’s sample the food,” I suggested. “I helped Tara finalize all items on the menu.”

“No,” Sona whispered back. “Tara might need me. And it’s not polite.”

“Let’s get away for a bit. I’ve been dying to touch you,” I whispered.

“Then do it,” she said, adjusting the dupatta in her lap.

She’d glided all evening in her regal dark purple lehenga. The jacquard green sherwani Mom had chosen for me was the exact shade of her dupatta. Mom was very thrilled by the coincidence and complimented me several times that evening on how good we looked together.

“Don’t tempt me,” I said. “I have nothing to lose. I’m the one parents warn their daughters about. Ask anyone at this wedding.”

She ignored me and turned her attention back to the ceremony.

“Mom, I’m hungry,” I said, leaning across Sona.

“Go ahead,” Mom said. “You can get a little something before dinner. Sona, you’ve had a long day, and it’s going to be a long night. Go, keep your energy up.”

I thanked Mom with a smile as Sona rose in deference to her words. “Well played,” she said as we walked toward the buffet tables.

“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” I said and saw Mike in the distance. I nodded at him. He raised an enthusiastic hand and walked toward us with a South Asian woman in a designer Indo-Western gown.

“Mikey,” I said as he patted my shoulder.

“Mir, I want you to meet my friend, Saavi. She owns the bakery in Plano I told you about.”

“Very nice to meet you, Saavi,” I said, shaking her hand. “Mike couldn’t say enough great things about your cupcakes. I must try them.”

She gave a luminous laugh. “Thank you,” she said, giving Mikey a look I knew too well. “Dr. Williams has told me so much about you and Grant. It’s so wonderful to finally meet you. And you’re always welcome at the cupcakery.”

“This is my girlfriend, Sona.” Sona’s eyebrows jerked at the tag I’d so casually tossed around before she shook hands with the couple. In a bit, when I found the two women chatting, I took the chance to pull Mike aside.

“Friend?” I demanded in reference to Saavi. “What’s going on? Does Grant know about her?”

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