MARRY YOUR KILLER
Chapter Ninety-Four: The Haldi
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The morning came bright and golden.
The sun rose over the palace gardens, painting the fountains in shades of amber and honey. The flowers were fresh. Marigolds. Roses. Jasmine. The air was sweet. The birds were singing. The palace was awake.
Percy was in the courtyard before the sun. He had been waiting for this day for weeks. The fourth ceremony. The haldi. The turmeric. The yellow. The blessing.
Honey found him sitting on a bench, his hands in his lap, his face turned toward the sky.
"You're up early," Honey said.
Percy looked at her. "I couldn't sleep."
She sat beside him. "Nervous?"
He shook his head. "Excited."
She took his hand. "The haldi is for the brides and grooms."
Percy smiled. "I know. I'm excited for them."
Honey kissed his cheek. "You're sweet."
He pulled her close. "I'm yours."
---
The ceremony was in the courtyard.
The walls were white. The floor was marble. The fountain was blue. The chairs were gold. The canopies were yellow. The cushions were gold. The bowls were brass. The paste was turmeric. The scent was sharp. Earthy. Warm. The scent of weddings. The scent of blessings.
The family gathered. All in yellow. Every shade. Every tone. Every color of the sun. Percy in mustard yellow, bright and loud. Honey in lemon yellow, soft and steady. Aries in pale gold, delicate and warm. Ella in butter yellow, soft and gentle. Alex in deep gold, rich and strong. Lyra in marigold, bright and fierce. Cole in honey yellow, warm and steady. Care in sunflower, bright and bold. Ci N in amber, deep and rich. Rakki in goldenrod, fierce and bright. Calix in straw yellow, light and calm. Mica in dandelion, soft and focused. Erdix in bronze gold, dark and steady. Freya in champagne, light and sharp. Denzel in mustard, bold and strong. Grace in saffron, deep and royal. Ion in pale cream, soft and warm. Kuya Angelo in old gold, steady and timeless. Tita Gemma in soft yellow, gentle and warm. Tita Rachel in golden cream, soft and steady. Keiran in bright yellow, eager and bright. Keigan in deep gold, dark and steady.
Jay in soft gold, like the first light of morning. Keifer in amber, warm and steady, like the sun at noon.
The brides sat in the center. Lyra in marigold, bright and fierce. Care in sunflower, bright and bold. Rakki in goldenrod, fierce and bright. Mica in dandelion, soft and focused.
The grooms stood behind them. Alex in deep gold. Cole in honey yellow. Ci N in amber. Calix in straw yellow.
The priest spoke. His voice was ancient. His words were soft. "Turmeric is the color of the sun. The color of life. The color of blessings. It purifies. It protects. It prepares. The haldi is the last ceremony before the wedding. The last day of being separate. The last day of being one. Tomorrow, you will become two. And then you will become one."
---
Lyra sat in the center. Her saree was marigold, bright and fierce. Her hands were in her lap. Her face was blank. Her eyes were on the bowl of turmeric paste. The paste was yellow. The smell was sharp. The blessing was waiting.
Alex knelt beside her. His kurta was deep gold. His hands were in his lap. His face was steady. His eyes were on her.
"I'm going to put this on your face," Alex said.
Lyra's face didn't change. "I know."
He dipped his fingers in the paste. His hands were steady. His eyes were on hers. He touched her forehead. The paste was cool. The scent was sharp. Her skin was warm.
"For the bride who came back from the dead," Alex said.
Lyra's eyes were wet. He touched her cheeks. Her nose. Her chin. Her neck. Her hands. Her arms. Her shoulders. His fingers were gentle. His touch was light.
"For the woman who taught me how to love," Alex said.
Lyra took his hands. Her fingers were yellow. His fingers were yellow. She dipped her fingers in the paste. She touched his forehead.
"For the man who waited for me," Lyra said.
She touched his cheeks. His nose. His chin. His neck. His hands. His arms. His shoulders. Her fingers were gentle. Her touch was light.
"For the man who made me real," Lyra said.
He pulled her close. His arms were around her. His face was in her hair. The paste was yellow. The blessing was given. The love was real.
---
Care sat beside Lyra. Her saree was sunflower, bright and bold. Her hands were in her lap. Her face was soft. Her eyes were on the bowl of turmeric paste.
Cole knelt beside her. His kurta was honey yellow. His hands were in his lap. His face was steady. His eyes were on her.
"You're going to get yellow everywhere," Cole said.
Care laughed. "So are you."
He dipped his fingers in the paste. His hands were steady. His eyes were on hers. He touched her forehead. The paste was cool. The scent was sharp. Her skin was warm.
"For the woman who stopped running," Cole said.
Care's eyes were wet. He touched her cheeks. Her nose. Her chin. Her neck. Her hands. Her arms. Her shoulders. His fingers were gentle. His touch was light.
"For the woman who found her home," Cole said.
Care took his hands. Her fingers were yellow. His fingers were yellow. She dipped her fingers in the paste. She touched his forehead.
"For the man who caught me," Care said.
She touched his cheeks. His nose. His chin. His neck. His hands. His arms. His shoulders. Her fingers were gentle. Her touch was light.
"For the man who held me," Care said.
He pulled her close. His arms were around her. His face was in her hair. The paste was yellow. The blessing was given. The love was real.
---
Rakki sat beside Care. Her saree was goldenrod, fierce and bright. Her hands were in her lap. Her face was bright. Her eyes were on the bowl of turmeric paste.
Ci N knelt beside her. His kurta was amber. His hands were in his lap. His face was soft. His eyes were on her.
"You're going to look like a banana," Ci N said.
Rakki grinned. "You're going to look like a mango."
He dipped his fingers in the paste. His hands were steady. His eyes were on hers. He touched her forehead. The paste was cool. The scent was sharp. Her skin was warm.
"For the woman who threatened to kill me," Ci N said.
Rakki laughed. He touched her cheeks. Her nose. Her chin. Her neck. Her hands. Her arms. Her shoulders. His fingers were gentle. His touch was light.
"For the woman who gave me two and a half," Ci N said.
Rakki took his hands. Her fingers were yellow. His fingers were yellow. She dipped her fingers in the paste. She touched his forehead.
"For the man who stayed," Rakki said.
She touched his cheeks. His nose. His chin. His neck. His hands. His arms. His shoulders. Her fingers were gentle. Her touch was light.
"For the man who annoyed me into loving him," Rakki said.
He pulled her close. His arms were around her. His face was in her hair. The paste was yellow. The blessing was given. The love was real.
---
Mica sat beside Rakki. Her saree was dandelion, soft and focused. Her hands were in her lap. Her face was focused. Her eyes were on the bowl of turmeric paste.
Calix knelt beside her. His kurta was straw yellow. His hands were in his lap. His face was bright. His eyes were on her.
"The chemical composition of turmeric is curcumin," Mica said.
Calix laughed. "You're analyzing the haldi paste."
Mica adjusted her glasses. "I'm appreciating it."
He dipped his fingers in the paste. His hands were steady. His eyes were on hers. He touched her forehead. The paste was cool. The scent was sharp. Her skin was warm.
"For the woman who threatened to shoot me," Calix said.
Mica's face didn't change. He touched her cheeks. Her nose. Her chin. Her neck. Her hands. Her arms. Her shoulders. His fingers were gentle. His touch was light.
"For the woman who let me sit in her chair," Calix said.
Mica took his hands. Her fingers were yellow. His fingers were yellow. She dipped her fingers in the paste. She touched his forehead.
"For the man who annoyed me into loving him," Mica said.
She touched his cheeks. His nose. His chin. His neck. His hands. His arms. His shoulders. Her fingers were gentle. Her touch was light.
"For the man who made my equations more beautiful," Mica said.
He pulled her close. His arms were around her. His face was in her hair. The paste was yellow. The blessing was given. The love was real.
---
The family moved through the courtyard. Yellow on yellow. Sun on sun. Light on light. Percy chased Honey with turmeric on his fingers. She ran. He caught her. She was yellow. He was yellow. They were laughing.
Aries painted Ella's face with gentle hands. Ella painted Aries's face with soft fingers. They were yellow. They were gold. They were light.
Freya painted Erdix's forehead. He painted her cheeks. They were yellow. They were silent. They were steady.
Grace painted Denzel's nose. He painted her chin. She almost smiled. He almost laughed. They were yellow. They were happy.
Kuya Angelo painted Ion's face with careful hands. Ion painted Kuya Angelo's face with steady fingers. They were yellow. They were calm. They were home.
Tita Gemma painted Tita Rachel's cheeks. Tita Rachel painted Tita Gemma's forehead. They were yellow. They were crying. They were together.
Keiran ran through the courtyard, his hands yellow, his face yellow, his voice loud. "KEIGAN! KEIGAN! LOOK!"
He touched Keigan's face. Keigan's face was cold. His cheeks were yellow. His nose was yellow. His forehead was yellow. His ears were red.
Keiran laughed. Keigan's face didn't change. His eyes did.
---
Jay stood at the edge of the courtyard. Her saree was soft gold, like the first light of morning. Her hands were in her lap. Her stomach was flat. The twins were moving. Keifer was beside her. His kurta was amber, warm and steady. His hands were yellow. His face was yellow. His eyes were on her.
"Your turn," Keifer said.
Jay looked at him. "I'm not getting married."
He dipped his fingers in the paste. "You're still my wife."
She smiled. "I am."
He touched her forehead. The paste was cool. The scent was sharp. Her skin was warm. His fingers were gentle. His touch was light.
"For the woman who took a bullet for me," Keifer said.
Jay's eyes were wet. He touched her cheeks. Her nose. Her chin. Her neck. Her hands. Her arms. Her shoulders. His fingers were steady. His touch was warm.
"For the woman who came back to me," Keifer said.
Jay took his hands. Her fingers were yellow. His fingers were yellow. She dipped her fingers in the paste. She touched his forehead.
"For the man who threw mud at me," Jay said.
She touched his cheeks. His nose. His chin. His neck. His hands. His arms. His shoulders. Her fingers were gentle. Her touch was light.
"For the man who caught me when I fell," Jay said.
He pulled her close. His arms were around her. His face was in her hair. The paste was yellow. The blessing was given. The love was real.
---
Keiran tugged Jay's saree. His face was yellow. His hands were yellow. His voice was loud. "Ate Jay! Ate Jay! My turn!"
Jay looked at him. "Your turn?"
He held up his hands. "I want to bless you."
She knelt. Her face was level with his. Her hands were in her lap. Her eyes were on his.
Keiran dipped his fingers in the paste. His hands were small. His face was serious. He touched her forehead. The paste was cool. His fingers were warm.
"For my Ate Jay," Keiran said. "Who saved my Kuya. Who saved our family. Who loves us."
Jay's eyes were wet. He touched her cheeks. Her nose. Her chin. Her hands.
"For my cousins who are coming," Keiran said. "I'm going to be the best cousin. The best."
He grinned. Jay pulled him close. Her arms were around him. Her face was in his hair.
"You're the best," Jay said.
Keiran held her. "I know."
---
Keigan stood at the edge of the courtyard. His arms were crossed. His face was cold. His cheeks were yellow. His nose was yellow. His forehead was yellow. His ears were red.
Jay walked to him. Her hands were yellow. Her face was yellow. Her saree was gold. Her eyes were on him.
"Keigan," Jay said.
He looked at her. "Hipag."
She dipped her fingers in the paste. His face didn't change. His eyes did.
She touched his forehead. The paste was cool. His skin was warm. His face was still.
"For my brother," Jay said.
Keigan's eyes were wet. She touched his cheeks. His nose. His chin. His hands.
"For the man who protects us," Jay said.
Keigan's face didn't change. His eyes did. He pulled her close. His arms were around her. His face was in her hair. He was yellow. She was yellow. They were family.
---
The sun was high. The courtyard was yellow. The family was yellow. The brides were yellow. The grooms were yellow. The blessing was given. The love was real.
Percy stood at the center of the courtyard. His face was yellow. His hands were yellow. His kurta was mustard. His voice was loud.
"TOMORROW IS THE WEDDING!"
Honey pulled his arm. "Tomorrow is the wedding."
He pulled her close. "Tomorrow is the wedding."
She kissed him. "Tomorrow is the wedding."
---
The night came. The palace was quiet. The family was sleeping. Percy was dreaming of elephants. Honey was beside him. Aries and Ella were curled together. Lyra and Alex were in each other's arms. Care and Cole were holding hands. Rakki and Ci N were tangled together. Mica and Calix were arguing in their sleep. Freya and Erdix were silent. Grace and Denzel were still. Kuya Angelo and Ion were reading. Tita Gemma was crying. Tita Rachel was holding her hand. Keiran was asleep, his face yellow, his hands yellow, his dreams bright. Keigan was awake, his eyes on the window, on the garden, on the fountains, on the place where his family was happy. His face was still yellow. His ears were still red.
Jay stood at the window of her room. Keifer was behind her. His arms were around her. His face was in her hair. They were still yellow. The twins were moving.
"You're thinking," Keifer said.
She leaned against him. "I'm thinking about tomorrow. About the weddings. About the brides. About the grooms. About—"
He turned her to face him. His face was yellow. His eyes were gold. "About the twins."
She touched her stomach. The twins moved. Two small flutters. Two small lives. Two small hearts.
"They're coming soon," Jay said.
He knelt. His face was level with her stomach. His hands were on her skin. "Hello," he said. "Today was the haldi. The turmeric. The yellow. Your aunts and uncles are yellow. Your cousins are yellow. Your family is yellow. Tomorrow is the wedding. The first wedding. Lyra and Alex. And then the rest. And then we go home. And then you're born. And then you're loved. And then you're everything."
The twins moved. Two small kicks. Two small lives. Two small hearts.
Keifer looked up. His face was yellow. His eyes were gold. "They know."
Jay pulled him up. Her arms were around him. "They know."
He held her. "I love you."
She held him. "I love you too."
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END OF CHAPTER NINETY-FOUR