FOOLS AND GENIUSES

CHAPTER 57

Kiara looking absolutely ethereal in her wedding saree above.

apodyopsis

(n.) the act of mentally undressing someone

The engagement party was held on the first day of their wedding celebrations as guests filtered into the palace restaurant to enjoy an evening of great company, free-flow alcohol and royal scenery. It was a relatively mellow evening, tame by Kiara's family's standards considering the events of her cousin's wedding nights, but still just as enjoyable.

The Sangeet* ceremony on the second day, however, was a whirlwind of colour, dance and laughter. Each family performed various acts on stage ranging from choreographed dances to drama skits as they competed with one another for Kiara and Chris to decide a winner. But with a family of theatre kids and natural-born performers, it was no surprise when the Evans family wiped the floor with them.

The plan was to keep the wedding strictly to family and close friends before throwing an afterparty later for their other friend circles. Kiara and Chris ended each day tangled in bed. Sometimes with her face pressed into his chest, sometimes with him spooning her and sometimes with his arm around her and tucked into his side. Always touching with her scent everywhere.

When the day of her wedding finally arrived, Kiara was a nervous wreck as the makeup artists and hairstylists worked tirelessly around her and the girls. The reality of it all hadn't hit her until this morning as she sat frozen in the makeup chair panicking. Lisa rushed into the room but paused at the sight before her, eyes filling with unshed tears.

Hair styled in an elegant low bun with a few curls framing her face, Kiara was the epitome of beauty as she fanned her face, "If you cry then I'll cry and if I start, I'll never stop."

Miya snorted behind her, "You'll both ruin your makeup."

Spluttering out a laugh, Lisa tenderly embraced her daughter-in-law, "You were the greatest gift life could award my son, crashing into his life like a breath of fresh air. When you marry Chris, you'll be my daughter and I will always hold your hand when you need it."

Squeezing her hand gratefully, Kiara smiled wanly, "Thank you for always being there for me."

Diana and Alia awed in unison, snapping Lisa out of the poignant moment as she held up a finger and rummaged through her clutch.

Pulling a tiny gold hairpin out, she placed it in Kiara's hand, "This was my grandmother's hairpin. It's been passed down each generation on our wedding day so I want you to have it... something old."

Slipping the hairpin into her bun, she lifted the ends of her dress to reveal the gold stilettos, "Something new."

Gesturing at the entire dress, Diana shrugged, "Something borrowed."

That was when the panic set in. Shit, in the disarray of planning her wedding, Kiara had completely overlooked arranging for something blue. Through this wasn't a superstition practiced in India, Chris had always wanted a traditional wedding so they made sure to incorporate all the unique little rituals.

Frantically looking around, she startled when Lisa stopped her, "Don't worry about the something blue, Chris said he's got something for that."

Still anxious, Kiara breathed, "He can't see me before the wedding, though!"

"Then he'll see you at the altar."

"O-okay."

Quickly ushering the girls out to the main wedding hall, Lisa grabbed her basket and hurried to stand in front. Kiara grew sentimental again as she gazed around, the girls were a vision in gold as the groomsmen wore matching gold pocket squares but it was the sight of this blended family that nearly brought her to tears. She had finally done it– created a beautiful family worth every sacrifice and hardship.