First Comes Like (Modern Love #3) - Alisha Rai Page 0,110
strange man.” He spread his hands. “I don’t care about the money, at all, by the way.”
“Then why rush? We take marriage seriously. It is not something I want one of my children to enter into lightly.” There was a finality to Mohammad’s words that struck fear into Dev’s heart. It was scarier than if the man had yelled his opposition to this match.
“It’s not something I enter into lightly,” Dev said quietly. “And I think it matters how Jia feels. She wants this wedding now, and I want what she wants.”
“Jia has a history of jumping into situations with both feet, without looking.”
“And she always lands on her feet, does she not? The decisions she makes are good for her.”
Mohammad’s eyes narrowed, and Dev finally caught the upset the man had been hiding behind his easygoing facade. “Just because she gets lucky—”
“It’s not lucky. You only think she’s lucky because she makes things look easy. Have you watched her videos? I’ve watched every single one. She makes shadows appear on her face where there are none! She excels at making difficult things look flawless when in fact she is putting one hundred percent of herself into everything she does. She’s smart. She’s not flighty.”
“That may be—”
“No maybe about it, it is.” Dev shook his head, frustrated. “She craves your and her mother’s approval, but she can’t change who she is. And who she is is someone who propels herself into life without spending eons weighing all the pros and cons. I admire that about her.”
Mohammad studied him. “You’ve watched all her videos?”
“Yes.” Dev clasped his hands together. He didn’t know if he’d ever spoken so passionately in his life, off a stage.
Mohammad looked out over the ocean. “She is set on this impulsive wedding,” he said quietly.
Dev knew that, but his heart still soared. “Good,” he managed. “So am I.”
“Very well. I can’t stop you, and I’m not about to repeat history by opposing another daughter’s choice in a mate.” Mohammad’s chest rose. “I suppose once you are married, we will have plenty of time to get to know each other.”
The relief was overwhelming. “We will.”
“And this is only the formality. We want her to have a proper celebration as soon as possible.”
“That’s what I want as well.”
“I will want to spend some time with this imam your grandmother found, to make sure we approve.”
“Of course.”
Jia’s father sighed. “Then I believe we should discuss the marriage contract, yes?”
Elation soared through Dev. “Yes.”
The older man reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone. “First things first, however. Her sisters wanted to meet you before the ceremony. Do you mind if I call them?”
He would agree to walk on hot coals at this point. “Not at all.”
Mohammad handed Dev the phone, stood, and clapped him on the shoulder. “Survive this”—he nodded at the phone—“and I’ll give you my blessing.”
What? He didn’t have time to clarify what the older man meant, though, because the call connected.
“Hello?”
“Hello?”
“Well, well, well. Look who it is.”
Dev focused on the small phone screen. He could identify them based on Jia’s descriptions alone. The woman with the hijab and the oxygen tank, that was Noor. The polished one, that was Zara. The pregnant woman, Sadia. “Hello,” he said and waved. “Um, I’m Dev. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
Noor squinted at him. “You’re not that handsome in real life.”
His lips parted.
“Are you still tall at least?”
“Yes,” he managed.
“Good. We could use some more tall genes in this family.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you,” Sadia said warmly. The peacemaker of the family, but also the one who had rebelled to marry the man she loved. “This wedding has come as a shock to us. We’re sorry we can’t be there.”
“Still not quite sure why it has to be today.” Zara’s eyes narrowed. “What’s your game, what’s the rush?”
“Ah—”
“Besides your grandmother,” Noor interjected. “So sorry about that.”
“And this ridiculous will,” Zara added. “Which I’m still skeptical of. I’d like a copy, please.”
Dev would have whiplash if they were here. “I’m sorry you can’t be here as well. As for the rush, well, Jia and I simply . . . we wish to be together, as quickly as possible.”
Sadia visibly softened, but the eldest sisters didn’t so much as bat an eye. “Jia told us you were willing to wait, despite your grandma and the money, so that’s a point for you,” Noor said.