"Wow jazz, this is so beautiful."

I grinned at Mahi who was staring at my bridal outfit. "I know."

"But... How did you manage it? I mean how on the earth aunty got agreed for such light colour lehnga for your wedding?" She gasped, shaking her head in disbelief.

"Well, you can call it magic of Max." I wiggled my eyebrows playfully and we both started laughing.

"No seriously," she stopped to catch her breath and continued, "What about the famous dialogue punjabiyo ki shaan?"

I rolled my eyes as I stepped out from the change room, wearing blouse and shorts only, leaving the heavy lehnga skirt inside so I could wear it later.

"You're such a drama queen. But answer to your question is, yes it was hard to convince mumma but as you know it's a ritual that bridal dress should be from groom side so whatever they choose we have to accept it." I shrugged.

"Excuse me mam, please sit here," one of my make-up artist said, pointing towards the chair and handed me a apron. "And wear this, to cover your beautiful blouse."

I smiled, doing the same and glanced at my pale blush pink lehnga. The entire lehnga was crafted in silk floss and gold and silver 'tila' work. It was simple but extraordinary dress. I remembered clearly when I told Max about my dream of wearing a Sabyasachi lehnga on my wedding and here, he got it for me.

I knew she is tough and conservative but mothers only want best for their children. In the end, after taking so much time, she finally accepted Max from her heart. Now, she adored him like his own kid.

"Now, I also want a foreign guy for myself," Mahi let out a dreamy sigh and changed into her dress as well.

"I can easily fix that, if you want," I winked at her and smiled mischievously.

She narrowed her eyes at me, placing her hand on her hips. "What's cooking in your devil mind, jazz?"

"Mahi Mam, please sit down."

Mahi pouted when her make-up artist called her.

"Mam, please leaned down and don't open your eyes," my make up artist requested probably getting frustrated with our continues chatter.

I nodded and smirked at Mahi, "Later."

"You better," she mumbled before sitting down on the chair.

***

"Look who's texting me," Mahi wiggled her eyebrows, lifting her face from the phone.

I looked at her from the corner of my eyes and the first thing I noticed was, how beautiful she was looking in a royal blue Georgette saree which was plain but with a sequence border only which she paired with a black sleeveless blouse and diamond earrings. She decided to had a low loose bun with letting out few flicks on her face and smoky eye-makeup.

"You're looking gorgeous," was the first thing I blurted out and then smirked, "you are going to kill lots of foreign boy today."

Her mouth hung open. "Jessica kapoor, what the hell are you planning? Tell me now or..." She trailed off.

"Or?" I raised me eyebrows.

She grinned, showing me her phone. "I won't tell you whose message is this?"

I chuckled, looking back at the mirror and realized my hairstyle was almost done. "Then don't tell me."

"Of course because you already know." She huffed then added, "but you don't know what he said, right?"

I glanced at her through the mirror and noticed her smiling victoriously.

"Mam, please don't move your head," my make-up artist let out a frustrated sigh after repeating the same thing for hundredth time and I bit back a laugh, glancing at Mahi who was doing the same.

That's the thing with best friends. You tend to forget what you're doing or what you're supposed to do.

"Sorry," I mumbled and stuck out my tongue to Mahi.

**

"You're looking so pretty jazz," Mahi exclaimed as they set the duppatta on my head, giving me the final touch.

I smiled shyly and turned towards the mirror, letting out a gasp as the girl standing infront me was not a typical Jessica Kapoor.

There was a girl wearing a bridal chokar, jhumkas and long necklace paired with matching head piece handcrafted with syndicate uncut diamonds, pale pink spinel and baroque Japanese cultured pearls. My make-up artist did a great job with simple make-up -- a nude lip and kohl rimmed eyes -- with a whimsical, edgy and romantic updo, adorned with a bouquet of Tuscan hydrangeas in white.

"You're going to take his breath away," Mahi whispered in my ear and unlocked her phone to open the camera. "Now let's take a selfie."

I turned towards her and smiled at the camera, ignoring the twisting knot in my stomach.

After taking the snap, she examined it and looked at me with concerned. "Are you okay, jazz?"

I sighed, "I'm nervous."

"Here drink this," she handed me a glass of water and said, "Travis is going to be here in five minutes. You better calm your nerves and listen, if you're going to shed tears or something then do it here. I'm not going to fix your make-up or something once we reached there and..."

"Mahi," I cut her in and added when she gave me a questioning look. "My make-up is waterproof."

And, then we both burst out laughing.

**

"Oh, Jessica it's you? Oh my God! You're looking so different," Travis exclaimed when I stepped out from the parlour. Then he turned to Mahi and said, "you too."

I giggled, "I hope it's in good way?"

"Ofcourse, you're looking lovely. Now stop fishing out for more compliments and get in the car. Max is already there," He winked and I felt the goosebumps rising on my skin.

Sensing my nervousness, he put his arms around my shoulder and smiled softly, "You will be fine. It's just pre-wedding jitters but you need to hold yourself. When I nodded slowly he continued, "Now, close your eyes, take a deep breath and imagine yourself already being there with Max. Who is waiting to take you with him to his country, his house."

Mahi rolled her eyes, "I'm inside the car. Join me when you guys are done."

After that, she opened the backseat door and went inside the car.

Travis gave me a questioning look on her strange behavior but I shook my head and told him the truth. "When I went to New York for studies, she was upset but there was a hope that I was coming back and now, I'm moving out permanently. She just don't want to accept this. That's why she is avoiding any kind of emotional conversation right now."

"Oh, I made her upset." His tone was apologetic.

"No worries. She will be fine. She is Mahi, after all," I chuckled.

"No doubt about that," he smiled. "Now let's go." He took my hand and let me towards the car.

"By the way, where is Roy? I thought he is coming with you?"

"He wanted to but then there is a ritual. Um..." He scratched his head to get the name. "Where brother in law would help the groom to step out from the horsecart." Then he noticed me laughing silently at him. "C'mon jazz, stop laughing."

"You were looking so cute," I stopped to catch my breath and added, "and yes, I know so you came with the driver?"

"Yes. Now move. We are getting late."

**

"Did you uploaded our picture on Instagram?" I asked Mahi, playing with my bangles.

"And give Max, the exclusive look of his bride. No way!!! This is my only chance to torture him," she grinned, scrolling her Facebook.

Travis chuckled from passenger seat. "I'm feeling so bad for your future husband."

"That's why I'm giving him time to enjoy his life freely. I'll wait for two more year before getting married."

"You got the guy?" Travis turned his head in our direction.

"Didn't I tell you about waiting for two more years?" Mahi lifted her face from the phone and raised her eyebrows.

"How can you say that when you don't know what's going to happen today?" I asked, bumping her shoulder.

"Listen, stop the nonsense right now and spill everything."

"What spill?" I furrowed my eyebrows.

"Jazz."

"Mahi."

"Jazz."

"Mahi..."

"Guys?" We both stopped and looked at Travis in confusion.

But my breath caught in my throat when I looked around.

"Get ready, we are here."

*****

I'm soooooo sorry for such late update but I kinda lost the touch.

I know, I promised about posting a wedding scene but you need to wait bit long.

This was something I wanted to write before ending the book. Jessica and Mahi's friendship is beautiful. And I really missed writing their scenes.

Actually I didn't plan anything for this chapter. I just had an idea that I'll write about wedding but when I started writing... Everything eventually came up.

I don't know why I included Travis in this.. it was just writer sense.

I hope you guys will enjoy it.

Don't forget to drop your views. It encourage me to write more. Like this chapter, I want to dedicate this to anterdeep

Who continuously drop comments and motivated me to update faster.

Thank you so much to every person who voted ☺️☺️☺️

Happy reading!