Page 173 of Glass Jawed
And presses the softest, lightest kiss to my forehead.
My eyes shut on instinct.
The contact barely lasts two seconds, butevery cellin my body lights up, humming from the contact.
Then she grabs my hand and pulls me toward the dance floor again.
I think we’re going to join the chaos, but I realize something else is happening. A circle is forming. A group of us—cousins, friends, siblings—bandingtogether to create a privacy shield around Ishika and Vikram. Keeping the aunties and uncles from seeing what’s clearly a plan.
I catch Liam being yanked into place by Kashvi, who looks like she’s about to throw up but in a theatrical, overly dramatic way. I chuckle.
And then the chants begin.
“Go! Go,go!”
Vikram spins Ishika in a twirl, dips her with flair, his hand bold at her waist. They’re both laughing... until they’re not. Vikram steals a kiss. Not just any kiss—arealone. One that drips with history and love and promises whispered long before today.
It’s the kind of kiss that buckles knees and silences crowds.
Without thinking, I squeeze Rohi’s hand.
And to my utter shock and relief, she squeezesback.
My heart thunders. I lower my head slightly, lean in—and press a gentle kiss to her temple. Just barely there. Just enough.
She startles, looking up at me, eyes shining. A hint of a tear. Panic flares for a second. Did I go too far?
But then she pouts—an impossibly soft little frown as she tries not to melt—and I forget what fear even is.
We smile.
And just like that, our bubble wraps around us again.
FORTY-THREE
Lucian
“It’s not here, uncle. I swear I saw it!” I mutter, completely losing my mind. The little fireworks box has disappeared.
I remember putting it here—with the rest of the stuff. This is the only store room in the mansion. Where thehellcould it have gone?
Raj Uncle scratches his head. “Beta, maybe... hmm... the groom’s side stole it?”
I blink. “Stole it? Is... is that a thing?”
He bursts out laughing. “No, no! But anything can happen during weddings. Some families are justscary!”
I laugh too, shaking my head. Honestly, it does feel like two chaotic families crashing into each other. Loud, colorful, opinionated—forming bonds that somehow last.
Jesus. Would my very-divorced parents even survive this glorious circus. Would they get along with Mina Aunty? Would my family dance? Would they...embarrassme?
Would they even come?
I don’t have much of a family. A few cousins, a handful of aunts and uncles, all scattered across North America.
But her family’s all here. Her people. Her chaos. And our wedding, I’d want it to be here. In this beautiful, loud, ridiculous, unforgettable place.
Wait.
