Chapter 84 — Arrival in India
The private jets descended slowly through the golden evening sky.
Below them—
Udaipur.
Lakes reflecting sunlight like molten gold.
White marble palaces rising from the water.
Ancient walls glowing in sunset light.
Even from the sky the city looked unreal.
Inside the jet—
Honey pressed her face to the window.
"Oh my god."
Freya leaned over her shoulder.
"Welcome to Rajasthan."
Percy stretched lazily in his seat.
"Alright… I admit it."
He pointed outside.
"This is ridiculous."
JJ was already reviewing schedules on her tablet.
Seven days.
Four weddings.
Nineteen people.
One palace.
She sighed.
"This will be war."
Keifer chuckled beside her.
Across the cabin—
Care sat quietly beside Cole, watching the city below.
"It's beautiful."
Cole looked at her.
"You haven't seen the palace yet."
Care narrowed her eyes slightly.
"That sounds like a warning."
Cole smirked.
"It is."
The jet landed at a private airstrip outside the city.
When the doors opened—
Warm desert air greeted them.
But that wasn't the surprising part.
A royal convoy was waiting.
Luxury cars.
Traditional musicians.
Decorated elephants.
Flower garlands.
Even Percy froze.
"Okay… this is not normal."
Freya laughed.
"This is Rajasthan."
The group entered the convoy.
As the cars drove through the old streets of Udaipur—
Markets buzzed.
Colorful fabrics everywhere.
Lanterns hanging from balconies.
Spices filling the air.
Ash watched everything quietly from the window.
For the first time in months—
Her face looked peaceful.
Honey noticed.
"You like it here?"
Ash smiled softly.
"Yes."
The convoy finally turned toward the lake road.
And then—
The palace appeared.
Massive.
White marble rising above the lake.
Golden lights already glowing along the balconies.
Ancient domes and carved windows.
Even Alex stopped speaking.
Nova whispered slowly—
"Wow."
Joong leaned forward slightly.
"This is… not a hotel."
Freya smiled proudly.
"No."
"It's a palace."
When the cars stopped at the entrance—
Hundreds of lanterns lit the courtyard.
Traditional musicians began playing.
Drums.
Shehnai.
Royal trumpets.
The palace gates opened slowly.
Inside—
Royal welcome awaited them.
Women in colorful saris.
Men in royal uniforms.
Flower petals began falling from above.
Garlands were placed around everyone's necks.
Honey immediately started filming.
"Oh this is going in the documentary."
Percy stepped forward dramatically.
"I feel like a king."
Then—
He accidentally knocked over a decorative brass lamp.
CLANG.
Everyone froze.
JJ closed her eyes slowly.
"Five minutes."
"Five minutes and you already broke something."
Percy raised his hands.
"Technically gravity broke it."
Keifer sighed.
"This week will be long."
The palace manager welcomed them respectfully.
"Welcome to Udaipur Palace."
"You have the entire palace reserved for seven days."
Everyone exchanged looks.
Even billionaires were stunned.
Because this place was something else.
Marble floors.
Crystal chandeliers.
Open courtyards with fountains.
Balconies overlooking the lake.
Ancient carved walls glowing with candlelight.
Care whispered to Cole—
"This is insane."
Cole leaned slightly closer.
"You deserve insane."
Care glanced at him.
Then looked away before smiling.
JJ clapped loudly.
"Alright people."
Everyone turned toward her.
"Seven days."
"Four weddings."
"Try not to destroy the palace."
Percy raised his hand.
"No promises."
Everyone laughed.
---
The Shopping Chaos
The next morning—
Udaipur markets were not ready for them.
The group stepped into the old bazaar streets like a royal invasion.
Colors everywhere.
Silk fabrics hanging from shops.
Jewelry glittering under lantern lights.
Lehenga stores lining the streets.
Ash practically ran into the first store.
Lyra followed laughing.
"Slow down."
Ash turned.
"No."
Care walked in more calmly.
But even she stopped when she saw the fabrics.
Red.
Pink.
Gold embroidery.
Mirror work.
Royal designs.
Nova whispered quietly—
"These are beautiful."
Daisy looked around slightly overwhelmed.
"I have never worn a lehenga before."
Freya laughed.
"You will now."
The store owner immediately realized something.
These customers were not normal tourists.
Within minutes—
The entire store was closed for private shopping.
Tables filled with fabrics.
Design books.
Tailors standing ready.
Ash sat down with a designer immediately.
"Four bridal lehengas."
Everyone laughed.
Lyra flipped through designs.
"I want traditional."
Rakhi nodded approvingly.
"Red."
Freya agreed.
"Classic bridal color."
Care examined a deep crimson lehenga embroidered with gold.
The designer smiled.
"Royal Rajasthani style."
Cole walked past behind her.
Then quietly said—
"That one."
Care looked up.
"You're choosing my wedding outfit now?"
Cole shrugged.
"Just good taste."
Care rolled her eyes.
But she kept the lehenga aside.
Nova chose a soft pink lehenga with silver work.
Elegant.
Calm.
Exactly like her.
Lyra went bold.
Deep royal red with heavy gold embroidery.
Alex saw it and simply said—
"Perfect."
Daisy hesitated.
Then quietly chose a peach-colored lehenga.
Soft peach fabric with delicate gold work.
Joong noticed.
"Why peach?"
Daisy smiled gently.
"Because you're not Indian."
Joong looked confused.
"So?"
Daisy shrugged softly.
"I wanted something that connects both cultures."
Joong looked at her for a moment.
Then smiled quietly.
"Then it's perfect."
Ash clapped excitedly.
"The brides are decided."
Meanwhile—
Across the market—
The boys were suffering.
---
Boys Shopping Disaster
Percy stared at a rack of sherwanis.
"What is this?"
Aries laughed.
"It's a sherwani."
Percy picked one up.
"This weighs like armor."
Cin tried another.
"How many layers does this have?"
Ben looked confused.
"Where do the buttons go?"
Joong tried one and got stuck halfway.
Endrix calmly filmed the chaos.
"This is entertaining."
Cole emerged wearing a deep navy sherwani.
Simple.
Elegant.
Care walked into the shop at that moment.
She stopped.
Looked at him.
Then said calmly—
"That one."
Cole smirked.
"Good taste again?"
Care rolled her eyes again.
Alex chose a royal ivory sherwani.
Lyra approved immediately.
Keifer chose a dark gold royal design.
JJ approved with a nod.
Ben kept things simple.
Classic cream sherwani.
Nova smiled.
Perfect.
Joong eventually found a sherwani matching Daisy's peach lehenga.
Freya clapped.
"Now you look like a groom."
Joong sighed.
"I miss suits."
Percy finally emerged wearing a heavily embroidered royal blue sherwani.
Honey burst out laughing.
"You look like a prince."
Percy raised an eyebrow.
"I am."
Everyone ignored him.
---
Final Outfit Planning
That night—
Everyone gathered in the palace courtyard.
Design sketches spread across tables.
Seven days of events.
Mehendi.
Haldi.
Sangeet.
Wedding ceremonies.
Reception.
Outfits for every event were decided.
Colors.
Jewelry.
Shoes.
Accessories.
Honey was still filming everything.
"This documentary will win awards."
JJ reviewed schedules again.
Keifer handled logistics.
Freya coordinated decorators.
Rakhi finalized jewelry.
Ash oversaw outfit designs like a professional fashion director.
Percy supervised chaos.
And Care sat quietly watching everything.
Cole sat beside her.
"Still insane?"
Care nodded.
"Yes."
Cole looked around the courtyard.
Nineteen people laughing.
Planning.
Arguing.
Family.
Then he said softly—
"Worth it?"
Care looked at him.
Then slowly smiled.
"Absolutely."
The palace lights glowed against the lake.
Wedding preparations had officially begun.
And the chaos—
Was just getting started.