The Big Day

THE BIG DAY

W hen we chose the end of September for our wedding, we had factored in the chance of rain, but neither of us truly believed it. Now, sitting under the mandap, dressed in a cream-and-gold sherwani and red turban, I stared out at a sea of guests who sheltered under umbrellas. The outdoor venue, sprawling gardens with a lake, had been the only thing Kiran was firm on. Everything else had flexibility. So, despite the drizzle that greeted us that morning, we gathered outside for the ceremony.

This was far from the weddings I was used to and imagined. There were intricate traditions and explosions of colour that I was unfamiliar with. Kiran had tried to wave it off, but it was important to her, and it would be important to her sons. Shah and Maaz deserved to see their culture and religion honoured. My life had become a balancing act and every day I tried to learn something new.

Noah hustled down the aisle between the chairs. He chose to wear traditional clothing to honour Kiran—a testament to the fact that she had a special place in my family's heart.

"Is she here?" I asked as he stopped in front of the mandap. Noah brushed a hanging flower out of his face, looking vaguely irritated by the foliage. "Noah," I called his name, bringing his attention to me. "Is Kiran here?"

"Yes." The crease in his brow didn't completely disappear. "She looks like a princess."

A bolt of jealousy burned through me and I gritted my teeth together, letting it pass. I waited patiently over the course of our relationship for the moment where I would become less protective over Kiran. The point where my eagerness wore off and we veered into the monotonous day-to-day, as was the case with all my past relationships. But my obsession remained as strong as it had from the day I saw her standing outside her office.

Kiran lit up my life and coloured it with every shade in existence. She loved me with every flaw and took in my family as her own. She gave me sons when I thought I would never have the chance to be called Dad.

The congregation rose to their feet and my heart thumped erratically behind my breastbone. The hammering organ was at risk of punching its way out of my body and landing at Kiran's feet as an offering. Time slowed as the doors of the grand building at the top of the garden opened and my breath caught when I saw her.

Kiran was dressed in a red lehenga with intricate gold details. Gold highlighted other areas too—her neck, wrists, and the piercing in her nose. Her hair was curled and pinned carefully around the crown of her head. The brown skin of her stomach peeked through the gap between her top and skirt, reminding me of the first time I ever saw her in her yoga outfit.

I would never have imagined all that time ago that I would make her a Sinclair. She was too vibrant and too happy for my liking. I soon realised she was everything I ever needed and I refused to let her get away from me.

Four of my brothers carried a patterned scarf over Kiran's head while Maaz and Shah held her hands and guided her down the aisle towards me. As she reached the mandap, I snapped back into reality and stumbled forward, offering her my hand.

"Seth," Shah said, and I looked at him, hand still outstretched. "You need to keep your promise."

Shah had always been the most cautious around me. At seventeen, he had watched Kiran endure all her hardships and was the man of the house since he was a child. He wanted the reassurance that she would be taken care of before he truly enjoyed being a kid again.

"I always will," I told him. "Not just to look after your mother but you and Maaz as well."

There was a beat before he nodded slowly. He turned his head and kissed Kiran's cheek before she reached down and kissed her youngest. When she straightened up, she took in a deep breath and offered me a shaky smile.

"Don't keep me waiting any longer, flower," I told her. She placed her hand in mine, gathering her skirt in the other, and I blinked a few times. "Kiran…"

The smile took over her face, crinkling the corners of her eyes as she stepped up onto the raised stage and stood in front of me. She looked like a princess from her head to almost her toes.

Swishing her skirt slightly with a twist of her hips, Kiran flashed her pastel-coloured striped wellington boots. "I didn't want to risk wearing the heels and getting stuck in the aisle. I've already had you rescue me from the mud once in this relationship."

This was just one of the reasons I loved Kiran. When it came to my life, I had made it meticulous and controlled. There was never a speck out of place in order to avoid criticism of any kind. The woman in front of me was my complete opposite. Things rarely matched, colour was in abundance, and she always had too many bottles of milk in her fridge. And the best thing about her was that she didn't care. Kiran was happy exactly the way she was and that was what she had imparted to me. Happiness.

"I would save you every time, Kiran," I said, taking a stray curl and placing it behind her ear. "In this life and the next."

She ducked her head before the officiant cleared his throat. My hand went to the small of her back as I guided her towards the seats that were set up for us.

As we moved through the ceremony, I became tunnel visioned. The only person that existed was Kiran. I would never be able to understand or explain what spell she put me under—all I knew was that I never wanted it to break.

When the ceremony drew to a close, we walked back up the aisle hand in hand. The reception would be held indoors, away from the elements. Kiran's hand shook in mine as we stepped inside, ready to mingle with our guests.

There were kisses and hugs and congratulations exchanged and I played my part in being cordial to guests, but my focus remained on my wife.

"You should try and eat something," I said, kissing the top of her head as she refused another round of canapes that were offered to us.

"You worry too much. I'll eat later. I'm not that hungry."

She was saved from more questions when Aiden joined us. He sported a grin that was wide enough to split his face in two.

"You finally made an honest man out of him!" he boomed. He pulled her into a hug and Kiran laughed, squeezing him back.

"He's officially all mine."

Aiden released Kiran from the hug and she drifted back to my side. I wrapped an arm around her and she leaned her weight against me.

"Where's Tiff?" I asked my brother. "I'm surprised you let her out of your sight."

"She said she needed to find the photographer. You know she wasn't going to let you have anyone else run this wedding, right?"

Tiffany ran a tight ship when it came to her work, so it made sense that she would want to help the day run as smoothly as possible. I worried when she lost her mum that she would also lose all her spark, but Aiden continued to support her every step of the way. Becoming a husband had made him mature in ways I didn't think was possible for my little brother.

"Kiran?" Aiden peered curiously at my wife. "Are you okay?"

"Sorry," she muttered, straightening up. "I was a million miles away."

"Aiden, we'll catch up with you later. I want a few moments with my wife," I told him, taking her hand and guiding her out of the room. Aiden's farewell was muffled against the hum of the guests but I was sure he wouldn't hold it against us.

"Seth," she whispered, eyes widening. "Where are we going?"

"Away from the madness."

"That is an impossibility in our lives."

I huffed a laugh. "A temporary reprieve."

She followed me as I led her up the stairs of the grand home and stopped us in front of one of the large windows that looked over the grounds we had just been on. The photographer that was hired for the day would probably be less than pleased at the detour. Golden hour was a prime time for ‘dreamy shots.'

"What's the temporary reprieve for?" Kiran asked as we came to a stop.

"For you. You're looking a little overwhelmed."

"I just got married again, which is something I thought would never happen. To a man I am deeply in love with. It's taking a moment to process." Her eyes grew glassy. "You're my husband."

My hands went to her face, and I leaned down so my forehead rested against hers. "And you're my wife." A choked laugh came from her as I pressed a kiss against her cheek. And another. And another. "I wanted a moment to talk to you alone."

"Why?"

"Some things are meant solely for your ears."

I felt the pressure of her hands against my chest, not pushing me away but steadying herself. "We need to join the guests."

"Not yet."

Lifting my head away from hers, I stared down at my wife. A gift that I in no way deserved. I messed up at every step of making Kiran mine. I assumed things about her life that made me look like an ass. And she dealt with it with kindness and patience and a modicum of fire that made my soul come to life.

"I want you to know that I will never leave your side," I told her, keeping my voice hushed. We were alone but I didn't want the chance of anyone overhearing what I had to say.

"Seth," she mumbled, dropping her gaze to the garland that hung around my neck.

"Listen to me." It was a gentle command. "You think I haven't noticed it? The way you've been skittish the last few days. You come to bed late. You head to the office early. If I didn't know you better, I would have been worried that you would stand me up at the altar."

Her head snapped up, eyes wide and locked on mine. "I would never—"

"I know, flower. I know you. And I know that you must have had a million thoughts and doubts and concerns about doing this again."

"Not because of you."

"Of course not. I'm a Sinclair. I told you before we're God's gift."

Kiran rolled her eyes and gave me a gentle shove. I dropped my hands to her waist, pulling her in towards me. The matching flower garlands we wore were crushed together but neither of us cared.

"I knew if you wanted to talk about it, you would. I didn't want to push you but that doesn't mean I didn't know where your thoughts were. That there was some fear starting to set in. I can't put myself in your shoes, Kiran, but I can tell you that I'm not going anywhere. All of this," I jerked my head out the window where we had taken part in the rituals and traditions that made us man and wife, "is just the start. I don't care if I have to remind you every single day for the rest of our lives together. I love you and you are stuck with me now."

She stayed silent, staring up at me, and there was a twisting in the pit of my stomach. If I put my foot in it on my wedding day, this would be a record even for me. And then she reached up and wrapped her arms around my neck. For a small woman she had surprising strength.

"I love you," she whispered. Her lips brushed against my cheek. The heat of a hot, wet tear soaked into my skin and my grip on her tightened. "I trust you… but I appreciate the reassurance."

I nudged her face away from mine and kissed my wife. A gentle kiss that reminded her that I was her sanctuary. That offer I gave her the night she took me home from a messy evening had and would never be rescinded.

"We should have eloped," I muttered, struggling to pull myself away from her. "Just you, me, and the boys."

"You would never have gotten married without your family with you."

It was true. I might never admit it aloud, but my brothers and parents were the ones that kept me going through my darkest days. And now I had added to that list Kiran, Shah, and Maaz.

"I hope you know the photographer is losing her shit wondering where you two are." Tiffy's voice broke through the moment. I tore my gaze away from Kiran to see my sister-in-law standing at the top of the stairs with her hands on her hips and a knowing smirk. "Before you say anything, be grateful it was me and not Aiden. He volunteered to be head of the search party."

Kiran laughed and gathered her skirt in her hands. "We're coming now."

"I'll let her know," Tiffy replied, starting her descent. She stopped and looked back at both of us. "By the way, you both look stunning."

Ducking her head, Kiran muttered, "Thank you."

As Kiran went to follow Tiffy, I reached out and grabbed her arm. "Not so fast."

"Seth." She looked over her shoulder at me, but a smile played on her lips.

I drew her in to me again and we shared another kiss. "They know where we are now. We told them we're on the way, but this is our day. No need to rush."

"You are a terrible influence."

"And you're the one who married me, Mrs. Sinclair."

Kiran's features lit up and she kissed me deeply. "A decision I will never regret, Mr. Sinclair."

The piece you have just read is a bonus scene from Notes on Love. The Seven Deadly Sinclairs series is a set of standalone books following seven billionaire brothers in their quest for love. Seth is the eldest but the series can be read in any order.