First Comes Like

by Alisha Rai

  This wasn’t the woman who had screamed at Sadia all those years ago for marrying an unsuitable man. Jia wasn’t the only one who had grown. “Thank you, Mom.”

  A knock came at the door, and Luna peeked in, her face wary and concerned. “Hi. My uncle told me you were looking for me.”

  “We were, yes.” Jia motioned her in. “I thought you might like to get ready with us.”

  Luna came fully into the room. “Okay.” She stopped when she noticed Ayesha and her mother in the room as well.

  If there was one thing their mother knew, though, it was young girls. She took charge, placing her arm around Luna. “Hello, dear. We didn’t get a chance to get acquainted yesterday. You may call me Auntie Farzana. Come, let’s see what dress you’ve chosen to wear today.” She took the garment bag from Luna’s arms.

  “Aji brought me clothes from India, so I picked one of those.”

  Jia smiled. “Excellent. Why don’t you get dressed, Luna, and then we can discuss what you’d like to do with your hair and makeup.”

  Luna looked moderately interested. “Are you going to do it?”

  Jia picked up a makeup brush and swished it in the air. “Do you honestly think I’d let anyone else do it? Come here, I have something for you, too.”

  Luna accepted the wrapped present Jia handed her. “Should I open it now?”

  “Yes, you’ll need it for the day.”

  Luna’s chuckle when she opened the gift was small, but authentic. “Did Kaka tell you I spend too much time on my phone?”

  “He did, indeed. Now you can make sure it has style.”

  Luna turned the crystal-encrusted phone case over in her hands, and the fake diamonds winked. When she pressed a button on the side, the border of the case lit up, like a built-in ring light. Jia gave a moment of thanks for her goody bag stash. There was no way she would have had time to get a teen-friendly present amidst this chaos.

  “He got me a boring old black case. This’ll match my dress today. Thanks.” There was wary interest in Luna’s gaze when she looked up.

  Jia wasn’t naïve enough to think the girl would be won over with one present, but it couldn’t hurt. “Not a problem.”

  Another knock came on the door, and Rhiannon and Katrina walked in. Rhiannon held up dry cleaning bags and a bottle of sparkling grape juice. “Hello all! Looking for the bridal suite.”

  Farzana beamed at Rhiannon. “Rhiannon, how are you? Your mother says hello, and told me to tell you to call her.”

  Rhiannon nodded and hugged Jia’s mother. “Sounds about right.”

  After everyone greeted everyone else, Rhiannon threw her arm around Jia’s shoulder. Her friend looked at her with concern, not condemnation. “Are you sure you want to do this?”

  “Yes.” She braced herself for the arguments, the reasons against it, but Rhiannon’s lips curled.

  “He’s no peach blush, eh?”

  “Not in the slightest.”

  “Then let’s get you married.”

  DEV FOUND MOHAMMAD sitting on the deck of the house, overlooking the beach. He approached slowly, more than a little worried. Had this been a normal state of events, he would have already spent a great deal of time with his soon-to-be father-in-law. As it was, he only had time to get the man’s blessing before the ceremony in a couple hours.

  Jia’s father glanced up as he approached and gave him a kind smile. He was dressed in a slightly baggy suit. “Dev.”

  “Dr. Ahmed.”

  “Please, no need to revert to formalities. Mohammad is fine.”

  “Okay.” He took a deep breath, bracing himself. “I know this is all a little unorthodox.”

  Mohammad laughed. “A little. I understand family dynamics, especially when there’s an elder who may or may not be sick, Dev. But I fear your family is using my daughter.”

  Dev paused. “Is that what Jia said? That she feels like she is being used?” He hadn’t seen her since last night. Had she changed her mind?

  “Not at all. She is ready and willing to marry you immediately. I know what you’re here for, for my blessing. I thank you for seeking it, but I am hesitant to give it.” Mohammad raised his hand and counted off each point. “You two barely know each other. We barely know you. I do not appreciate one of my daughters being pressured into a commitment, especially into a family that is so different from our own, one that has such a wildly different way of life. This inheritance business alone is strange.”

  “I am well aware of that. My grandfather was a strange man.” He spread his hands. “I don’t care about the money, at all, by the way.”

  “Then why rush? We take marriage seriously. It is not something I want one of my children to enter into lightly.” There was a finality to Mohammad’s words that struck fear into Dev’s heart. It was scarier than if the man had yelled his opposition to this match.

  “It’s not something I enter into lightly,” Dev said quietly. “And I think it matters how Jia feels. She wants this wedding now, and I want what she wants.”

  “Jia has a history of jumping into situations with both feet, without looking.”

  “And she always lands on her feet, does she not? The decisions she makes are good for her.”

  Mohammad’s eyes narrowed, and Dev finally caught the upset the man had been hiding behind his easygoing facade. “Just because she gets lucky—”

  “It’s not lucky. You only think she’s lucky because she makes things look easy. Have you watched her videos? I’ve watched every single one. She makes shadows appear on her face where there are none! She excels at making difficult things look flawless when in fact she is putting one hundred percent of herself into everything she does. She’s smart. She’s not flighty.”

  “That may be—”

  “No maybe about it, it is.” Dev shook his head, frustrated. “She craves your and her mother’s approval, but she can’t change who she is. And who she is is someone who propels herself into life without spending eons weighing all the pros and cons. I admire that about her.”

  Mohammad studied him. “You’ve watched all her videos?”

  “Yes.” Dev clasped his hands together. He didn’t know if he’d ever spoken so passionately in his life, off a stage.

  Mohammad looked out over the ocean. “She is set on this impulsive wedding,” he said quietly.

  Dev knew that, but his heart still soared. “Good,” he managed. “So am I.”

  “Very well. I can’t stop you, and I’m not about to repeat history by opposing another daughter’s choice in a mate.” Mohammad’s chest rose. “I suppose once you are married, we will have plenty of time to get to know each other.”

  The relief was overwhelming. “We will.”

  “And this is only the formality. We want her to have a proper celebration as soon as possible.”

  “That’s what I want as well.”

  “I will want to spend some time with this imam your grandmother found, to make sure we approve.”

  “Of course.”

  Jia’s father sighed. “Then I believe we should discuss the marriage contract, yes?”

  Elation soared through Dev. “Yes.”

  The older man reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone. “First things first, however. Her sisters wanted to meet you before the ceremony. Do you mind if I call them?”

  He would agree to walk on hot coals at this point. “Not at all.”

  Mohammad handed Dev the phone, stood, and clapped him on the shoulder. “Survive this”—he nodded at the phone—“and I’ll give you my blessing.”

  What? He didn’t have time to clarify what the older man meant, though, because the call connected.

  “Hello?”

  “Hello?”

  “Well, well, well. Look who it is.”

  Dev focused on the small phone screen. He could identify them based on Jia’s descriptions alone. The woman with the hijab and the oxygen tank, that was Noor. The polished one, that was Zara. The pregnant woman, Sadia. “Hello,
” he said and waved. “Um, I’m Dev. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

  Noor squinted at him. “You’re not that handsome in real life.”

  His lips parted.

  “Are you still tall at least?”

  “Yes,” he managed.

  “Good. We could use some more tall genes in this family.”

  “It’s a pleasure to meet you,” Sadia said warmly. The peacemaker of the family, but also the one who had rebelled to marry the man she loved. “This wedding has come as a shock to us. We’re sorry we can’t be there.”

  “Still not quite sure why it has to be today.” Zara’s eyes narrowed. “What’s your game, what’s the rush?”

  “Ah—”

  “Besides your grandmother,” Noor interjected. “So sorry about that.”

  “And this ridiculous will,” Zara added. “Which I’m still skeptical of. I’d like a copy, please.”

  Dev would have whiplash if they were here. “I’m sorry you can’t be here as well. As for the rush, well, Jia and I simply . . . we wish to be together, as quickly as possible.”

  Sadia visibly softened, but the eldest sisters didn’t so much as bat an eye. “Jia told us you were willing to wait, despite your grandma and the money, so that’s a point for you,” Noor said.

  Thank God. He imagined he’d need many points.

  “Are you rushing just for sex?” Zara demanded.

  “Oh God, no.” He looked around, fearing someone might hear. “I’d never . . . for that.”

  “He’s blushing,” Sadia said. “That’s cute.”

  “Listen, Dev. We love our sister very much.”

  He met Noor’s eyes. Her worried eyes. “I understand. I know what it’s like to protect family.”

  “Good. Then you know that if you hurt her, there is nowhere on this planet you could go where we would not destroy you.”

  “We don’t care how much money you have or how much power your family wields. We will kill you and make it look like an accident. We’re physicians. We know exactly how to do that.” Zara’s teeth flashed, and her bright smile was made scarier by her fierce words.

  Sadia stroked her belly. “Shoot, I’m just a bartender, but I’ll happily stab an ice pick through your eye.”

  So much for the peacemaker.

  He didn’t mind, though. He wished he could have had a sibling relationship like this. He was happy Jia had it. Maybe eventually, her siblings could become his. “Understood,” Dev repeated. “I won’t hurt her, I promise.”

  “Sweet.” Noor’s smile was chilling as well, but contained a trace of friendliness. “Now, let’s get this wedding on the road, eh?”

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  DEV HADN’T played the center of attention at a party in . . . well, ever. Tonight, though, he was smack-dab, literally, in the center of the room, seated with Jia on the low couch. He’d opted for what he had easiest access to and donned a western suit. She wore an icy white shalwar kameez with delicate silver beading and a silver hijab to match. As usual, everything was perfectly color coordinated, from her shoes to her jewelry. He’d used his niece as a small spy and had matched Jia with a white rose boutonniere, tied with a silver ribbon.

  The imam was a kind man who had seemed only mildly star struck over Shweta, but had quickly gotten down to business to speak with their elders and go over the marriage contract and impart some words of wisdom to Dev and Jia before the event. Dev had tried to pay attention to every second of the ceremony so he could commit it to memory, but he was so distracted by Jia’s elegant profile and all the warmth inside of him that he could barely focus.

  This was what happiness felt like. No, wait, even more specifically: this was what a family felt like. Was that all he’d been missing, all those empty aching spots inside him? It hadn’t been a lack of love in him. It had been people to give his affection to. Who could have known.

  As the ceremony wrapped up, Dev stiffened. Oh shoot. A ring. They hadn’t discussed whether they’d exchange rings, but he’d wanted to get one for Jia.

  Like she’d read his mind, his grandmother nudged him, a blue box in her hand.

  He accepted it, grateful. “Thank you.”

  She held on to the box a little longer than necessary. “It was your father’s, inherited from your great-grandparents,” she said quietly. “So consider it a gift from him, not me.”

  He nodded, touched. “Thank you again, then.” He flipped open the box and nearly choked at what was inside. By Jia’s gasp, he could tell she was shocked too.

  “Holy moly, is that rock for my finger or for a mountain?”

  “Jia,” her mother hissed and poked her from behind. While Farzana clearly had her reservations about their marriage, she’d gotten into the spirit of things. Her makeup was flawless, and her light blue outfit set off the sapphire earrings in her ears and the bangles on her wrist.

  Jia cleared her throat. “Sorry.”

  “An understandable reaction,” Dev said. The ring was set in platinum and boasted a clear yellow diamond, surrounded by a dozen smaller diamonds. It was heavy and gaudy, and when he slipped it on Jia’s small finger, it nearly toppled over from its own weight.

  “It’s . . . nice,” she said weakly.

  He clasped her cold fingers between his. “We’ll buy you something else next week,” he murmured. He’d already planned on a proper engagement ring to make up for the piece of fabric he’d used to propose to her. He’d buy a matched set, as well as a band for him.

  There was something about others knowing that he belonged to Jia that quite pleased him.

  “Oh, but you gave this to me tonight.”

  “It’s a perfectly nice ring,” Noor chimed in, her voice fuzzy from the tablet Farzana was holding.

  “We can put this ring on a chain for you to wear and get you something more to your taste.” He readjusted the top-heavy ring. “Deal?”

  Jia smiled up at him. “Deal.”

  He wanted to drop a kiss on her upturned nose, but married or not, he couldn’t imagine kissing her in front of both their families. He returned her grin, instead.

  It was the last second they had to look into each other’s eyes before their families toasted them and they posed for photos. His grandmother oozed satisfaction, and Dev was so happy, he couldn’t even be annoyed that her manipulations had worked. Adil Uncle was still a little muted around his grandmother, but he beamed with pride. Dev had hired a caterer to do the heavy lifting for their celebratory dinner, so his uncle could relax and enjoy his time. He and Mohammad had a love of tennis in common, so they’d quickly become friends.

  Arjun, Dev was happy to note, was on his best behavior, charming the elder Ahmeds with stories of Bollywood scandals. When he started in on charming Ayesha, though, Dev intervened, pulling him aside. “Watch it,” he murmured to his cousin.

  Arjun opened his eyes wide. “I’m just talking to her!”

  “Best that be all you do.”

  Arjun grumbled. “I wouldn’t dare. Besides, she’s not my type. Do you know if Jia’s friends . . . ?”

  “Both in relationships.”

  Arjun pouted. “You could have invited someone for me, Bhai.”

  “You’re lucky to be here at all.”

  A rare flash of sobriety cleared Arjun’s face. “I agree. Thank you, both of you, for giving me a second chance. I don’t deserve it. But I do wish you many wonderful years together.”

  Dev dropped his hand on his cousin’s shoulder for a second and squeezed. “Thank you.”

  Their grandmother joined them. “Arjun, you will be next, of course.”

  The younger man took a step back, and then kept walking. “I’m sorry, you’re breaking up. I am going through a tunnel.”

  Shweta shook her head indulgently, then turned to him. “Marriage looks good on you, Dev.”

  “It feels good, so far.”

  She adjusted her sari, though its sharp pleats needed no adjustment. “I was thinking I could stay for an extra week. Lun
a and Adil could remain here. It would give you and your new wife some alone time.”

  Dev took a sip of his sparkling water. Luna had warmed to the excitement of the event, or at least, warmed to being dressed up and the only child in attendance, and thus, fawned over by everyone. Jia’s sister had particularly bonded with his niece, and the girl was following Ayesha around like a duckling, asking for gruesome medical stories. “I think Luna would like that very much.” So would his grandmother. Her eyes held a hint of yearning, more vulnerability than he’d seen from her outside of a movie screen. One week out of school wouldn’t hurt his smart niece.

  She raised her hand and beckoned Adil over. “I told Dev our plan,” she explained to his uncle.

  “Yes, it’s a good idea.” Adil Uncle smiled at him. “Newlyweds should have some time to themselves.”

  Dev tried not to think of what he and Jia could do with all that privacy. “I’ll drive home tonight and get Luna’s belongings.”

  “There’s no need to do such a thing on your wedding night,” his grandmother protested.

  Adil agreed. “I will go.”

  The wedding night he wouldn’t be able to actually spend with Jia? She was rooming with her sister, and his room had a full bed that barely fit him. Plus, if he couldn’t kiss her in front of her parents, he didn’t think he could sleep in the same bed with her while they were under the same roof, even if they didn’t do anything. This was too new. “Jia will understand. Uncle, you have trouble driving at night.”

  “I’ll buy Luna whatever she needs for the week.”

  Oh boy. This, he had to curb now. “No. Aji, try to refrain from any lavish gifts, please. I can tell you this: I would have killed for affection in lieu of presents when we first came to live with you.”

  Something flickered in his grandmother’s eyes. “Very well. I will spoil Luna with affection over the next week. And perhaps some small trinkets here and there.”

  “That’s fine.”

  His grandmother patted him on the arm. “You’ve become a good man. I’ll go tell Luna the news.”

  Adil rocked back on his heels. “She’s right. You’ve become a very good man.”