Chapter 89 — The Brides Arrive
The drums from the baraat were still echoing through the marble courtyard when the grooms finally reached the wedding venue.
The venue looked unreal.
A massive lakeside palace courtyard had been transformed into a glowing ocean of flowers and lights.
Four mandaps stood in a grand line beneath a carved marble canopy.
Each decorated differently.
One with deep red roses.
One with white jasmine.
One with golden marigolds.
One with soft peach and pink flowers.
Thousands of lamps flickered across the lake behind them.
The sky above Udaipur had turned into a glowing orange sunset.
Even the billionaires in the group — people who owned private islands and jets — stood quietly for a moment.
Because this…
This was different.
This was ancient.
---
The Grooms Take Their Places
One by one the four grooms were guided to their mandaps.
Priests began preparing sacred fires.
Soft traditional music played in the background.
But the chaos of the baraat had suddenly faded.
Now there was silence.
Expectation.
Cole adjusted the cuff of his sherwani.
Alex stood calm but alert.
Ben folded his hands quietly.
Joong looked like he might faint.
Percy leaned toward him.
"Relax."
Joong whispered back.
"I think my soul left my body."
Aries laughed.
"Wait till you see Daisy."
Joong groaned.
"That's exactly the problem."
---
The Brothers Go for the Brides
According to tradition, the bride would not walk alone.
She would be escorted by family.
And today…
The group had become each other's family.
So the "brothers" left the mandap area and walked toward the grand palace hallway where the brides were waiting.
Four groups.
Four entrances.
Four moments that would stop time.
---
Care's Entrance
The musicians slowly changed the tune.
The soft notes of traditional wedding instruments filled the air.
And then—
The massive carved palace doors opened.
Everyone turned.
At the end of the long flower-covered aisle stood Care.
And the entire courtyard went silent.
Her deep red lehenga shimmered under the lights.
Gold embroidery caught every flicker of fire.
The veil draped over her head flowed behind her like a royal banner.
She looked less like a bride…
and more like a queen walking toward her throne.
Beside her stood Keifer and JJ.
And on her other side—
Ash.
Ash held Care's hand tightly.
The three of them began walking slowly down the aisle.
Every step echoed across the marble floor.
At the mandap—
Cole looked up.
And for the first time since anyone had known him…
Cole looked completely speechless.
He had faced criminals.
Gunshots.
Near death.
But this?
This destroyed him.
Percy leaned toward him.
"Close your mouth."
Cole whispered without blinking.
"…I can't."
Care slowly lifted her eyes.
And their gazes met.
Everything around them disappeared.
No crowd.
No music.
No wedding.
Just two people who had nearly died together in a frozen truck in the jungle.
Now walking toward forever.
When they reached the mandap—
Keifer stopped Cole with one hand on his shoulder.
The entire group leaned closer.
Because everyone knew this moment was coming.
Keifer leaned down slightly and spoke quietly into Cole's ear.
But the microphone nearby caught enough for everyone to hear.
"Listen carefully."
His voice was calm.
Deadly calm.
"You keep her safe."
Cole nodded slowly.
Keifer continued.
"Because if you ever make her cry…"
He leaned closer.
"I will personally bury you."
The crowd burst into laughter.
But Keifer's eyes didn't change.
Cole replied quietly—
"Understood."
Keifer stared at him a moment.
Then he placed Care's hand into Cole's.
"Take care of my sister."
Cole answered softly.
"Always."
Ash wiped her eyes quietly.
---
Lyra's Entrance
The music changed again.
The palace doors opened once more.
And this time—
Lyra appeared.
Her red and emerald lehenga glowed under the lights.
Elegant.
Graceful.
Almost royal.
She walked like someone completely certain of her place in the world.
Beside her were Percy, Honey, and Freya.
Percy held Lyra's hand dramatically.
"You know I raised you better than this."
Lyra rolled her eyes.
"You absolutely did not."
Honey laughed.
Freya whispered.
"You look dangerous."
Lyra smirked slightly.
"Good."
They began walking down the aisle.
At the mandap—
Alex finally looked up.
And something rare happened.
The calm billionaire CEO actually froze.
Ben whispered beside him.
"System crash?"
Alex replied quietly.
"…possibly."
Lyra reached the mandap.
Percy stopped Alex before she stepped forward.
He leaned close to Alex's ear.
"Two rules."
Alex raised an eyebrow.
Percy whispered:
"Rule one — you protect her."
Alex nodded.
Percy continued.
"Rule two — if she ever calls me crying…"
He pointed toward the lake behind them.
"I will throw you into that water."
Alex replied calmly—
"Fair."
Then Percy placed Lyra's hand into Alex's.
Alex didn't look away from her.
Not even for a second.
---
Nova's Entrance
The music softened again.
The doors opened for the third time.
And Nova stepped forward.
Her maroon lehenga looked elegant and powerful.
Less dramatic than the others.
But somehow just as breathtaking.
Beside her stood Aries, Ella, and Endrix.
Aries whispered dramatically.
"I feel emotional."
Nova raised an eyebrow.
"You cried during a Marvel movie."
Ella laughed softly.
"You look beautiful."
Endrix added—
"Ben is definitely not surviving this."
They began walking.
At the mandap—
Ben looked up.
And smiled.
Not shocked.
Not overwhelmed.
Just quietly happy.
Nova reached the mandap.
Endrix leaned toward Ben.
"Medical advice."
Ben tilted his head.
"Go on."
Endrix whispered—
"If you break her heart…"
He tapped the side of his head.
"I can ruin your life digitally in thirty seconds."
Ben nodded calmly.
"Understood."
Ella placed Nova's hand into Ben's.
The two surgeons looked at each other.
Both smiling slightly.
Like two people who had always known this was inevitable.
---
Daisy's Entrance
The music changed one final time.
The doors opened again.
And Daisy appeared.
Her peach lehenga shimmered softly in the lights.
Gentle.
Warm.
Different from the traditional red.
But perfect for her.
Beside her stood Rakhi and Cin.
Cin whispered nervously.
"You're actually getting married."
Daisy laughed.
"You sound more scared than Joong."
Rakhi adjusted Daisy's veil.
"You look beautiful."
They started walking.
At the mandap—
Joong saw her.
And instantly looked like someone had unplugged his brain.
Percy whispered loudly—
"He's dead."
Joong whispered back.
"She's glowing."
Daisy reached the mandap.
Cin leaned toward Joong.
"Take care of her."
Joong nodded quickly.
Rakhi added—
"And if you hurt her…"
She smiled sweetly.
"We will find you."
Joong swallowed.
"Understood."
They placed Daisy's hand into Joong's.
Joong looked at her like she had just rewritten his entire life.
Daisy smiled softly.
---
Four Couples
Now all four couples stood beneath their mandaps.
The sacred fires were lit.
The priests began chanting.
Behind them stood nineteen people who had become something stronger than friends.
They had become family.
Ash stood beside JJ watching everything.
Ash whispered quietly—
"We survived a lot to reach this moment."
JJ nodded.
"Yes."
Her eyes moved across the four couples.
"And now the real chaos begins."
Ash laughed softly.
Because this was only the beginning.
The actual wedding rituals were about to start.