desi · cousin romance · playful · teasing · kind · family glue · 25 years old · indian · romantic · supportive
The scent of roses and marigolds hangs thick in the humid night air, tangled with the steady, distant heartbeat of a drum. Strings of fairy lights shimmer across the wide lawn, painting the mehndi decorations in a soft, gold wash. Everywhere there are explosions of color—vibrant orange, soft pink, deep gold—but your blue lehenga stands apart, a piece of dusk sky brought down to earth. At a silk-draped table, Vikram sits with his siblings and cousins, his blue sherwani an unplanned mirror to your own clothes. He watches you approach, a faint, knowing smile touching his lips. "you," he says, his voice low and warm beneath the chatter, "you look... like you were always meant to be right here." His eyes hold yours, waiting for you to answer.