Page 41

Josh

After completing the final circle around the holy fire, only the closing vows of Saptapadi remain. “We have taken the Seven Steps. You have become mine forever. Yes, we have become partners. I have become yours. Hereafter, I cannot live without you. Do not live without me…”

A tear slips from the corner of my eye as Karma gives me a tender smile. We grip each others’ hands while the sacred Hindu ritual of love and commitment comes to an end, making the marriage legally binding.

Sara grins at the happy couple, adding the modern phrase, “I now pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss the bride.”

George Bennett Senior cups his hands on either side of Moira McLaughlin-Bennett’s face, leaning down and pressing a kiss to her lips. “I love you,” he whispers, his voice choked.

“As I love ye.” Molly sniffs, tears in her eyes.

A cheer erupts from the crowd of onlookers. As we throw rose petals at the newlyweds for good luck, the night sky explodes in fireworks. Karma wraps his arms around me as we gasp at the dazzling pyrotechnics. While the teeming city of Jaipur honors Diwali, our small group celebrates the triumph of love.

“What a magical night.” Simon lets out a wistful sigh once the fireworks fade away. “It’s almost enough to make me wish for my own Happily Ever After .”

“You, Si?” Fletcher raises an eyebrow at his best friend. “You said you’d never collar anyone. Would you really settle down with one man?”

“I said almost.” The businessman snorts.

After JR gives his father a hug—and a kiss on the cheek for Molly—he turns to us with a grin. “You never know what surprises the future has in store. Well, except if you’re Mata Darshanaji.”

“I guess even my Nani can be wrong sometimes,“ I tell my best friend. “Even though she was right about there being a wedding during Diwali, the Malik and Wilson families still aren’t joined in marriage.”

“Not yet anyway.” Karma gazes at me with a hopeful sparkle in his eyes.

“We sure do appreciate you, Sara,” SR says as he hugs his wife to his side. “Your newfound knowledge of ancient Hindu rituals has made our wedding extra special.”

Molly winks at her husband. “Aye, we’ll remember this day for donkey’s years. What’re yer plans now that ‘the prophecy’ has been fulfilled?”

Sara shrugs. “I guess I’ll head back to California.”

“Wait, you’re leaving?” Siddharth’s face falls. “But what about Bedtime Stories with Sara and Sidd ?”

“Don’t worry,” she tells him. “We can still do it over video chat. You’ll hardly know that I’m gone.”

“But… but..,” he stutters.

“We appreciate your sacrifice in coming here,” Mother says to Sara. “Especially since this wasn’t the wedding we expected.”

Father adds, “We enjoyed getting to know you, Saraswati. You and the entire Wilson family are always welcome in our home.”

“I’ll miss you, Swati.” Pradnya looks up from her video camera where she’s been livestreaming the entire event for Karma’s family back home. “It’s been fun having a ‘sister’ around for a change.”

As Nani ‘s gazes at her young protégé, she tells her in Hindi, “No matter how much distance may separate us, our families will always share a bond of love.”

Once Siddharth finishes translating our grandmother’s words, he falls to his knees in front of Sara. “Don’t leave me, Goddess,” he begs, clinging to her hand. “Stay. Be my wife. I cannot live without you—please do not live without me.”

Sara stares at him for a long moment before breaking into a wide grin. “It’s about time, Sidd. I thought you’d never ask… even though everyone knows Nani ‘s prophecies are never wrong.”

Another cheer erupts as our families celebrate the surprise engagement. After much hugging and kissing—as well as a few more tears—Karma and I finally step away for a moment to ourselves.

“My brother and your sister?” I ask my boyfriend in shock. “Did you know about this?”

He shakes his head, a look of amazement on his face. “No, but I highkey ship it—though you and I will always be my OTP.”

Me, too. Karma is one destiny I won’t ever let slip through my fingers.

As he leans over to kiss me, Saraswati interrupts us. “Hey, I almost forgot to tell you guys. Mata Darshanaji says that your third child will be ‘filled with the energy of a divine cyclone’. She thinks you should name her Aandhee.”

“ Third child?“ Karma’s eyes pop out as he turns to face me.

“ Aandhee? “ I look at him and gasp.

A worried line creases his forehead. “What does Aandhee mean, Moonbeam?”

I gulp, then say in a whisper, “It means storm , My Prince.”

Lightning flashes across the night sky. In the distance, thunder rumbles.

The End

If you enjoyed D is for Desire Me , please consider leaving a review . My deepest desire is to be a novelist (like Karma!) and your support would mean the world to me. Thank you so much!