Page 74 of Not Your Basic Love Story

Miranda chuckled. “I highly doubt Kyle would be interested in taking part in a ceremony like that.”

I nodded in agreement. I hoped to keep him far away from everything wedding-related, as he would only add to my stress.

Priya shrugged. “We’ll figure it out. There’s also the Doliceremony which happens after the wedding, where Dev and all the guys would go to your parents’ house to take you away and bring you back to our house. It usually gets pretty emotional and dramatic, you know, because it is symbolic of when the bride would have to leave her family and sometimes travel a long way away. I don’t think we will do the Doli,though. Everything is going to be a little different. You know, because you’re white.”

My mouth twitched.

“Okay, so, the morning of the wedding. We have to get up at the buttcrack of dawn, so don’t drink too much at mehndi. Rebecca, you will be wearing a lehenga. It’s going to be red, which is symbolic for prosperity. It’s usually pretty bejazzled. The dupetta is this head covering part here. You’re also going to be decked out in a massive amount of jewelry.”

I looked at the image of the lehenga, feeling uncertain. Yes, the outfit was gorgeous, but it also sported a bare midriff. I hadn’t shown off my midriff since college. I made a mental note to add some extra core work to my fitness routine.

“You guys may all be familiar with this image. It’s called a tikka, and it hangs down from your head to cover where your third eye would be. Rebecca, you get this, but everyone else gets a bindi. This dangly bit here around your wrists is called the kaleere. This super elaborate nose ring part is called the nath.”

I interrupted. “Um, my nose isn’t pierced.”

She squinted, inspecting my nostrils. “Oh. I thought it was. Don’t worry, we’ll take care of that.”

What did that mean? Were they going to pierce my nose? I swallowed, wondering what other permanent bodily alterations I’d have to make.

“Okay, so. The main event. The Anand Karaj. The bride and groom, that’s you, Rebecca, will bow in front of the holy scripture, the Guru Granth Sahib. There will be some singing and prayers and what-not. You’ll say your vows and then walk around the holy book four times. Okay?”

I nodded. “Do I make up my own vows?”

Priya shrugged. “Up to you and Dev on that one. Before this happens, the male heads of the family will exchange Milni, which is like a flowery necklace.”

I interrupted. “Does my dad have to bring his own, or will this be provided?”

“He should bring his own.”

“Gotcha. I’ll look into this.”

“Good.”

Miranda raised her hand. “What’s the dress code for guests?”

“You can wear a saree, or a salwar kameez,or you can dress conservatively. But in the temple, you’ll need to cover your head. We’ll have scarves for you, or you can bring your own. Oh, and take off your shoes when you come into the temple.”

“Got it.”

“When you get to the temple walk up to the Guru Granth Sahib and bow before you sit down on the floor near the front of the room. Whatever you do, don’t point your feet at the book. Got it?”

We all nodded. My head was spinning with all the information.

“At the end, there’s dessert. It’s called Parshad, and it’s like pudding. After that, there’s pictures, and then we party. Sikh weddings usually involve the whole community, but this is being kind of rushed together, so there will only be about five hundred people.”

I sprayed my drink across the room. “Five…hundredpeople?”

Priya shrugged. “Like I said. It’s rushed. I’ve been to weddings three times that size. Trust me, this will be chill by comparison.”

“I don’t even know five hundred people!”

She nodded. “Which is why it’s so small. It’s just our family, friends, people from the community, our temple, Papa’s work friends, my grandparent’s friends, and my school friends—and your friends, too, of course. Obviously.”

My heart was pounding.

Angelina raised her hand. “Um, will there be alcohol at this reception, or do I have to bring my own?”

Priya laughed. “There will be lots to drink, don’t worry. Oh, but it’s kind of frowned upon for women to drink openly… so, yeah. Be mindful of that. Some of the old people might give you a hairy eye. Usually, we ask one of the guys to go to the bar for us, it’s no big deal.”

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