“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?”