Loken approached the couch, his happy smile contagious. “I wanted to be surprised, but you know Bindu. She makes her own traditions.” His thick Italian accent had always charmed Kareena. Who would’ve thought there were desis in Verona?
“Kareena, you look beautiful today.”
He leaned down to give her a kiss on either cheek, then turned to do the same to Bobbi. “Where is my bride to be?”
“She’s changing into another dress,” Kareena said. “She only comes out if she likes it, so it may take some time. You got her two bouquets?”
Loken shook his head. “One of these is for the gorgeous sister of my bride.” He presented her with the bouquet like he was gifting her a diamond set. “Thank you for taking such good care of Bindu all these years.”
Kareena could feel herself tearing up as she accepted the flowers. They were so pretty, and sweet. “Bindu took care of herself,” she said quietly. “I’m so happy for you two.”
Loken beamed at her. “Now we must have you just as happy, no?”
Bobbi muttered softly, “Oh, boy.”
“I’m trying, Loken. Do you have any friends who want to get engaged by your sagai?”
“My darling future sister-in-law,” he said, rocking back on his heels. “If that were the case, I doubt they would be single, no?”
“Now you sound like Prem,” she mused. What was it with these dudes who thought her true love didn’t exist?
“What do you think? Loken! You’re here!”
Kareena twisted in her seat and promptly dropped her bouquet in her lap. “Oh, Bindu.”
Her sister looked stunning. She wore a white fitted mermaid-style gown that had a loose draping across the front and a waterfall of sheer fabric over one shoulder.
“It’s a concept sari!” Bindu said, holding her arms out, and doing a slow spin. “A combination of a gown and a sari in one. I’m kind of obsessed. What do you think?”
Her face was glowing, Kareena thought. It looked like pure happiness. “I think you look incredible.”
“Really? Loken? What about you?”
Kareena looked over at her sister’s groom, and he also had tears in his eyes. “I think,” he said, then cleared his throat. “I am the luckiest man alive.”
Bindu clapped her hands, and bounced, her long waves flowing over her shoulder. The attendant reached out and adjusted her train. “There is an opportunity for custom embroidery at the hem of your shoulder draping,” she said.
“Loken, I know you liked the idea of me wearing white and red like your mom and aunts did when they got married, but I hope this is a decent compromise.”
“I think it’s lovely,” he said.
“Really? Then, I am going to have the numbers 831 embroidered in the trim. What do you think?”
“831? Don’t you want something a little bit more . . . personal?”
“What could be more personal than 831?” Her voice sharpened. “Do you not know what it means?”
“Of course, I know what it means. You’ve told me, darling, but maybe your mother’s name or something since this is your dress.”
“You want no part of it?”
They began to bicker, much like they’d been doing since Bindu first pulled out her giant wedding binder. Even as Loken crossed the room and held out the bouquet of flowers, Bindu snapped at him like an angry chihuahua.
“831?” Bobbi whispered. “What the hell is that?”
“Cyber definition for ‘I love you.’ Eight is the total number of letters in the phrase. Three is the total number of words in the phrase, and I still can’t figure out what the 1 stands for, but I’m sure Bindu can give you a whole summary on it. She’s been obsessed with 831 since she was a kid, and our mom bought her a book on codes. It was one of the first codes she cracked.”
“I’ll pass,” Bobbi said. She stood, brushing her hands down her fitted pants. Bobbi called out over the commotion, “Do you want to look at anything else, Bindu?”
Bindu stopped midsentence, her hands on her hips, and turned to Bobbi. Her smile beamed. “No, I love this. I think it’s perfect for the religious ceremony. I’m going to wear something more Punjabi for the reception. Right, Loken?”
Loken ran his fingers through his now-mussed hair. “Right, my love.”
The dude seriously looked like he’d just gone through a hurricane, Kareena thought. Her sister was so explosive.
“I’m going to go work out the pricing for the dress, and the delivery timeline,” Bobbi added. “If your ceremonies are happening in the spring, we want to make sure that the dress comes in time.” She sashayed off, phone in hand.