But, no. She didn’t know Nadim years ago. And there was no one else in the world she could imagine marrying.
At eight o’clock Saturday night, long after her family had left, an unexpected mehndi artist showed up, telling Reena she’d been hired to do full bridal mehndi. The poor woman had probably never applied mehndi to a bride’s feet while the groom sat happily on the floor watching the process, but she did a beautiful job anyway.
Finally, Sunday morning at the regular brunch time, Reena and Nadim met their friends and family in the private functions room at the back of the Sparrow to celebrate their marriage, and to film the final video for the cooking contest. The party was planned with her parents, with collaboration instead of compromise. A traditional Indian meal served in the back room of their favorite pub. Both bride and groom wore the traditional Indian clothing they’d been married in (Reena in strappy sandals instead of barefoot this time), and the guests wore a mixture of formal Indian and Western clothes.
Shaila Aunty and Amin Uncle arrived together with several trays of jalebi, ganthiya, and platters of sweets. Her aunt hugged her tightly before presenting her with a silver wrapped box. Reena guessed it was filled with a bit of bridal gold. “This is wonderful! Look how sneaky you are, not giving us a hint of this when we met last week! And thank you so much for inviting us to celebrate with you.”
“Thank you for coming, and for this!” Reena said, taking the box from her aunt.
“Were we supposed to bring presents?” Shayne asked, walking in with Marley.
“I didn’t,” Amira said. “But I’ve only been home for three minutes since Friday morning. It’s kind of short notice for presents.”
“Not for me,” Saira added. “I got her thebestpresent. I doubt anyone will top it.”
Reena laughed. Saira stealing the thunder only felt hilarious today.
Steve came into the room. “An enormously pregnant woman and a man with a lot of curly hair just wandered into the bar looking for you, Reena,” he said.
Saira beamed. “That’s my present!”
Happy tears and a huge grin erupted on Reena’s face as her big brother and his very pregnant wife came into the room. He laughed as he approached Reena and hugged her tightly.
“Khizar, you’re here!”
“We woke up at the crack of dawn to catch a flight to get here on time.” He hugged her again.
“I didn’t think you’d come when we talked yesterday. I can’t even believe it! I’m so happy to see you!”
He smiled and kissed her forehead. “My baby sister got married. Where else would I be?”
“I thought I was the baby sister,” Saira said.
“You’re both my baby sisters.” He opened his arms to get Saira into the group hug.
Reena hugged Nafissa next, and rubbed the belly containing her two baby nieces before introducing her new husband to her brother and sister-in-law.
Husband. She could not stop smiling to herself. How could she have possibly been so lucky?
“We have a gift, too,” Dad said, “and we’d like to give it to you now, before the party starts,” Dad said.
Reena looked around. Most of their guests had arrived, as well as the camera crew. Amira and Marley were helping people find seats. She smiled and looked at Mum and Dad, expecting them to pull out a box of wedding jewelry. Instead, Dad handed Nadim a slim envelope.
With a confused expression, he opened it. Inside, on her father’s company letterhead, was an offer of employment.
Reena blinked a few times. Was this real? Dad wanted to rehire Nadim? What about his father’s money?
She looked at her husband, who also looked confused. Then she looked at her father, who was smiling.
“Nadim, I hired you to work in my company because of your father’s investment. I didn’t expect you would end up being one of the best managers we have ever had. And when I wondered if you and Reena might be a good match, I could not have predicted just how right for each other you two are. Now that you are family, I hope you will let me help you the way I would help any of my children.” He paused, looking from Reena to Nadim. “I would be honored to have you continue to work for me. It is your decision, but should you choose, you can stay here, employed in the family business as general manager of the Diamond project, with the same ownership stake I agreed on with your father but without his investment. The work visa will continue, and we will all sponsor you to stay here with us. As family.”
Nadim’s eyes were wide as saucers. “Really?”
“Yes, really. This is a business decision. Half my construction team was in my office on Friday demanding I bring you back. I made some calls, and thanks to your outreach and professionalism, I have easily secured funding from other investors to keep the project going. And I, personally, would love to finally work with my family.”
Nadim laughed as he reached out to shake Dad’s hand. “Of course. Yes. I want to be where Reena is. And it would be an honor to continue learning from you, sir.”
Dad let go of Nadim’s hand and pulled him into a hug. “No more Sir. Dad. Welcome to the family.” He shook his head, smiling. “Heaven help you. You’ll need it.”
