Page 36 of Carnal Games

“A pixie who’s wearing five-inch heels that’ll fit nicely where the sun doesn’t shine.”

Nathan shudders, regarding me with amusement. “Rosalie has created a monster.”

I snort at the mention of my grumpy best friend, who married his best friend, Nova D’Cruz, last year. The night I had met her, if someone had told me she’d be happily married and crazy in love with Nova, I would’ve laughed my ass off.

One look at them now, and you can’t tell there was once a time they wanted to kill each other.

“So, we’re really doing this?” Nathan asks, giving me a final chance to back out.

“Yeah, we are.”

Both of us turn when the door to the bridal suite swings open, revealing my two best friends and mydadu.

Nathan and I quickly fall into our roles. One we could play in our sleep.

“Somebody was eager to see theirguddu,” teases Bianca.

A pang hits my chest when Rosalie wheels mydaduin a wheelchair. I’ll never be prepared for this sight of him. Last year, he had a stroke and lost function of the right side of his body. Despite the tragic hand he’s been dealt, there’s a loving grin on his face, full of laughing lines earned from a life well-lived.

The happiness reflecting from him is a comforting reminder of why I am doing this. Instantly, my nerves ease away.

“Only he’s allowed to call me that,” I reply to Bianca.

“Damn right,” says mydaduslowly.

Before the stroke, my grandfather was strong and healthy for his age. But after the incident, his health has been deteriorating, much to our dismay. He can no longer even go to the bathroom or sit up in bed without my papa’s help. For a man who has always been independent, it’s been a rough adjustment. We’re careful with his diet, making sure he takes his medicine on time, but there hasn’t been any improvement.

It’s heartbreaking to watch him wither away in front of my own eyes. When the doctor told us his heart had become weak and he can’t handle another attack, it was a crushing blow to my parents and me.

The thought of losing him is frightening.

This man is the glue of our small family. I can’t imagine my life without him.

Nathan believes I’m doing him a favor when it’s the opposite.

Because of him, I’ll be able to give mydaduhis final wish: to see his only grandchild get happily married. I wish it were areal marriage with a man I truly loved, but God forbid something happens to him. I want him to see me settle down.

“Myguddu, all grown up and beautiful like her mother.”

The moisture in his brown eyes makes me tear up, and I have to gulp in deep breaths to not let them fall. He never gets emotional. The fact that he does tonight tells me I made the right decision. Caressing his frail hand, I murmur, “Thank you,Dadu.”

Squeezing my fingers lightly, he turns his gaze to my fiancé.

Nathan, like a dutiful son-in-law, bends and touches his feet. “Namaste,Dadu.”

It always warms my heart when Nathan embraces the tradition as a show of respect to our culture. Being an old-fashioned man, the gesture touches mydadu’sheart.

“Khush raho, beta,” blesses mydadu. Once Nathan straightens, he sternly says, “You better take care of my little girl, Nathan. Protect and cherish her.”

“Dadu,” I sigh, my cheeks burning.

Nathan presses his hand to the small of my back while replying to my grandfather, “I’ll always take care of her. You have my word.”

Nodding, mydadureaches for the corner of his chair and pulls out a small envelope and a tiny velvet string purse with his working hand. “Here, take it,guddu. The envelope is for Nathan.”

“Oh no, you don’t have to,” says Nathan.

“It’s yourshagun. Keep it,” explainsDadu. A pre-wedding ritual to bless the couple. Sliding his eyes to mine after Nathan accepts the envelope, he softly urges, “Look inside.”