Chapter One Hundred Twenty Three: The Double Wedding Planning (Part One)
The morning after Akshi announced her one-month wedding timeline, the mansion exploded into chaos.
"ONE MONTH!" Akshi screamed, running through the living room. "WE HAVE ONE MONTH!"
Chethan followed calmly. "We have thirty days. That's plenty."
"THIRTY DAYS IS NOTHING!"
"It's 720 hours."
"DON'T DO MATH AT ME!"
---
The family gathered in the living room.
Everyone.
Aries and Ella arrived first, Ella moving carefully, one hand on her growing belly. She was three months pregnant now, glowing and beautiful.
Aries never left her side. "Slow down. Careful. Don't rush."
Ella laughed. "I'm pregnant, not dying."
"Same thing!"
"Very different things!"
---
Percy and Honey burst through the door next. Percy was already crying.
"A DOUBLE WEDDING! IN ONE MONTH! I'M NOT EMOTIONALLY READY!"
Honey patted his back. "Babe, you're never emotionally ready."
"THAT'S TRUE!"
---
C.N. and Rakii arrived, C.N. with his laptop, Rakii with her cameras.
C.N. opened his notebook. "Double wedding logistics. One month timeline. Statistical probability of success: 73%."
Rakii raised an eyebrow. "Only 73%?"
"The variables are significant. Two brides. Two grooms. One venue. One month."
"We love variables!"
"Variables are chaos."
"CHAOS IS FUN!"
---
David and Freya came next, David already bouncing. "DOUBLE WEDDING! DOUBLE THE CAKE!"
Freya sighed. "David, focus."
"I AM focused! On CAKE!"
---
Mica and Calix arrived, Mica vibrating with excitement. "TWO WEDDINGS! TWO DRESSES! TWO BOUQUETS! TWO—"
Calix grabbed her. "Breathe."
"I CAN'T! EXCITEMENT!"
---
Felix and Bridget walked in quietly, hand in hand. Felix smiled. "This is going to be beautiful."
Bridget nodded. "Two of our favorite people. On the same day."
"The best day."
---
Yuri arrived last, cameras everywhere. "I'm ready. Multiple angles. Multiple ceremonies. Multiple receptions. This is my SUPER BOWL!"
Keifer appeared with Jay, Keiran on his hip, Rex and Ganesha in hand. "Is it always like this?"
Jay laughed. "Always."
"How do you survive?"
"Coffee and chaos."
---
Kuya Angelo walked in with Ion, calm as always. Ion smiled at the chaos.
Tita Gemma and Tito Rachel followed, Tita Gemma already holding a clipboard.
"OKAY! Let's begin! We have ONE MONTH to plan TWO WEDDINGS!"
---
Shreya and Mithun sat together on one couch.
Akshi and Chethan sat together on another.
The two couples. The two weddings. One month to make it happen.
Akshi grabbed Shreya's hand. "SISTER WEDDINGS!"
Shreya squeezed back. "SISTER WEDDINGS!"
"On the same day!"
"The same day!"
"We're going to be the most beautiful brides ever!"
"Obviously!"
---
Tita Gemma stood in the center. "First! VENUE!"
Akshi raised her hand. "MANSION! Obviously!"
Shreya nodded. "Same. But different spots."
"East lawn and west lawn," Jay suggested. "Separate ceremonies, same reception."
Akshi's eyes lit up. "GENIUS!"
Shreya nodded. "Perfect."
Tita Gemma wrote it down. "East lawn and west lawn. Ceremonies at different times?"
Akshi looked at Shreya. "Morning and evening?"
Shreya nodded. "I love morning weddings."
"I love evening weddings!"
"Then morning for me, evening for you!"
"DEAL!"
---
C.N. made a note. "Ceremony timing: Shreya morning, Akshi evening. Logical compromise."
Rakii photographed the moment. "For the album. 'The Decision.'"
---
Second: COLORS.
Akshi pulled out her swatches. "Pink and gold!"
Shreya pulled out hers. "Ivory and sage green!"
They looked at each other.
"They'll look beautiful together," Shreya said.
"Completely different but both beautiful," Akshi agreed.
"Like us!"
"Like us!"
They hugged.
Percy sobbed. "THEY'RE SO CUTE!"
Honey patted his back. "Babe, calm down."
"I CAN'T! SISTER LOVE!"
---
Third: GUEST LIST.
Akshi pulled out her list. "Everyone. Literally everyone."
Shreya pulled out hers. "Same."
They compared.
Identical.
Akshi grinned. "Great minds!"
Shreya grinned back. "Sisters!"
Tita Gemma took the lists. "That's... a lot of people."
"A LOT IS GOOD!"
---
Fourth: FOOD.
Akshi bounced. "Fusion! Filipino-Indian!"
Shreya nodded. "Same. But with different cake flavors."
"What cake do you want?"
"Vanilla with strawberry filling."
"CHOCOLATE WITH RASPBERRY!"
"Two cakes!"
"TWO CAKES!"
Percy screamed. "TWO CAKES! THIS IS THE BEST DAY!"
Honey held him back. "Babe, it's just cake."
"THERE'S NO 'JUST' ABOUT CAKE!"
---
C.N. made another note. "Cake count: Two. Probability of Percy eating both: 94%."
Rakii laughed. "I'd say 100%."
"Statistically, 94% allows for unforeseen circumstances."
"Like what?"
"Like Honey physically restraining him."
"Fair."
---
Fifth: DRESSES.
Akshi grabbed Shreya's arm. "DRESS SHOPPING! TOGETHER!"
Shreya's eyes lit up. "TOGETHER!"
"Tomorrow!"
"TOMORROW!"
Jay raised her hand. "I'm coming."
Ella raised hers. "Me too. Baby needs to see dresses."
Mica bounced. "ME THREE!"
Freya nodded. "I'll help."
Bridget smiled. "This will be fun."
Rakii raised her camera. "I'm documenting everything."
C.N. sighed. "I'll stay here. Away from the chaos."
"WISE CHOICE!"
---
Sixth: GROOM ATTIRE.
Chethan looked at Mithun. "We should coordinate."
Mithun nodded. "Separate but complementary."
Chethan grinned. "Like our brides."
Mithun almost smiled. "Exactly like our brides."
Percy jumped in. "I CAN HELP! I HAVE OPINIONS!"
Honey grabbed him. "Percy, no."
"PERCY YES!"
"You'll make them wear matching neon."
"...That's a GREAT idea!"
"NO."
---
Seventh: MUSIC.
Akshi wanted Bollywood. Shreya wanted classical.
They compromised.
Bollywood for the reception. Classical for the ceremonies.
Percy was thrilled. "BOLLYWOOD DANCING! I'VE BEEN PRACTICING!"
Honey stared at him. "You've been practicing?"
"In my room! Every night!"
"Show us."
He demonstrated.
It was... something.
Everyone clapped anyway.
---
Eighth: FLOWERS.
Tita Gemma took over. "I'll handle flowers. Both color schemes. Both ceremonies. Don't worry."
Akshi hugged her. "TITA GEMMA! YOU'RE THE BEST!"
Shreya joined the hug. "THE ABSOLUTE BEST!"
Tita Gemma beamed. "I know."
---
The planning continued for hours.
Every detail debated. Every decision made. Every moment filled with laughter.
By evening, they had a plan.
One month.
Two weddings.
One family.
---
Percy raised his glass at dinner. "TO AKSHI AND SHREYA! TO CHETHAN AND MITHUN! TO DOUBLE WEDDINGS!"
"TO DOUBLE WEDDINGS!" everyone echoed.
Jay leaned against Keifer.
"One month," she whispered.
"One month."
"Two weddings."
"Two weddings."
"Our family keeps growing."
"The best kind of growing."
She touched her stomach.
Still a secret.
But soon.
Soon.
---
That night, Akshi and Shreya sat on the balcony together.
"Sister weddings," Akshi whispered.
"Sister weddings," Shreya echoed.
"Can you believe it?"
"I can't. But I love it."
"Me too."
They hugged.
The stars watched.
Another chapter beginning.
---
End of Chapter One Hundred Twenty Three