When morning arrived, Larra and Riley, as if connected by a unique spirituality, opened their doors simultaneously and found a calm Shirley leaning against the opposite wall, as if waiting for them to wake up. Larra and Riley exchanged confused glances.

"I don't know what happened yesterday or what's brewing between you two, but today is my wedding, and I don't want any sulky faces. So, you'd better make up right now or wear some masks," Shirley said, her tone calm and composed, without a hint of threat.

Larra and Riley looked at each other, their expressions blank, before forcing sweet smiles at one another. Shirley rolled her eyes and walked away, followed by the two.

They hurried through breakfast and returned to their respective rooms; it was time to get ready. The stylists were already waiting with dresses and accessories.

Tyler had already left for Ron's room to prepare, giving the ladies some privacy.

In Ron's room, Tyler put on his white shirt and brushed his hair. He noticed his friend standing by the window, holding his own white shirt, lost in thought.

Ron's eyes betrayed him, filled with pain.

Tyler attempted to get Ron's attention by making noise-placing the brush on the table and opening the drawer several times-but got no response.

"You okay?" Tyler finally decided to ask.

"Huh?" Ron flinched slightly, realizing someone was next to him.

"You okay? You seem lost," Tyler pressed.

"Um, yeah. I'm fine," Ron replied, masking his inner turmoil. But Tyler knew that smile was just a facade.

"Did you talk to Larra?" Tyler inquired. Ron's eyes widened at the mention of Larra, and he nodded slowly.

"Is everything okay between you.. two?" Tyler asked.

"Yeah, we're good. She was just saying goodbye to me," Ron said with a deep sigh. Tyler looked at him, puzzled.

"Oh, she's leaving today." Tyler's eyes widened at this revelation.

Today?! Did Riley know about it?

Just as Tyler opened his mouth to ask more, his phone rang. Seizing the opportunity, Ron slipped away to the washroom.

"Hey babe," Tyler answered, recognizing Riley's voice.

"Hey! Are you ready?" she asked.

"Almost. What about you?" Tyler replied.

"Me too. Just a little touch-up remaining," she said.

"I can't wait to see you," Tyler exclaimed, smiling as he heard Riley giggle from the other end.

"Just wait a little longer, my man. I'm coming to you," she said before ending the call.

"Bab-" Tyler started to ask if she knew about Larra's departure, but she had already hung up. He looked around, noticing that Ron had disappeared.

Meanwhile, Larra was doing her hair when her mom and Rayan's mom entered her room after checking on Shirley and Riley.

"Oh my God! Look at my girl! Why did God give us angels like you?" Lilly said dramatically, dabbing at her fake tears. Larra chuckled in response.

"We're anything but angels, Lilly," she said while straightening her hair.

"Don't be so rude, Larra. My girls are looking like princesses! Shirley and Riley are almost ready and looking stunning, just like you," Lilly said, standing behind the chair, admiring Larra's reflection.

"You look gorgeous, my baby," Larra's mom added fondly.

"Thank you, my pretty ladies," Larra replied, smiling.

"I can't believe I'll be gaining another daughter today! My boy is getting married!" Lilly exclaimed, earning smiles from the others.

"Joking aside, Lilly, if you play that cliché mother-in-law card with my girl, I'll haunt you in your sleep," Larra warned with narrowed eyes.

"Larra!" her mom shot her a disapproving look.

"Oh please! I'm worried she'll use that daughter-in-law card on me," Lilly retorted, rolling her eyes. Larra nodded in agreement. "I doubt that too," she chuckled, thinking about Shirley.

"Hey, Larra!" Winnie chimed in enthusiastically, entering the room.

"Oh my God! Look at this goddess!" Larra gasped, taken aback by how beautiful Winnie looked.

"You too," Winnie replied, hugging Larra.

"You should start wearing the lehenga; it really suits your curves," Larra flirted unabashedly in front of her mom and aunt. Winnie smiled shyly and winked at her.

"Could you take a photo of me? I want to show it to Stacy," Winnie asked.

"Of course!" Larra smirked as she began snapping pictures.

"Thank you so much! I've fallen in love with Indian weddings," Winnie declared, making the elder ladies chuckle.

"Then you should come here more often," Larra's mom suggested with a sweet smile.

"Thank you for including us, aunties. I'm going to miss you all," Winnie said.

"Rayan mentioned you guys are leaving tomorrow?" Lilly asked.

"Yes, Aunty. We can't stay for long, you know," Winnie replied.

"Riley said she's leaving with you guys," Lilly said, giving Larra some new information.

"Oh! I'll go and see her," Winnie said before dashing out to the next room.

"Um, Mom, Lilly, I need to tell you something," Larra began nervously.

Lilly and her mom looked at Larra, their approval clear in their eyes.

“Um, I… I have to go back today,” Larra said, dropping the news like a bomb and widening the ladies’ eyes.

“Huh?” Lilly asked, surprised.

“Today?” her mom echoed.

“Yes. You know I got promoted, and I can’t take too many days off now because there’s a project going on. So I have to take the night flight,” Larra explained nervously, aware that both ladies would be hurt by the news.

Just as she expected, her mom’s eyes began to well up with tears.

“Mom…” Larra hugged her, trying to comfort her.

“It’s okay, baby. We understand. You’re not our little girls anymore; you have jobs and lives to live. We understand,” Lilly said, patting Larra on the head.

“Thanks, Lilly,” Larra murmured, still hugging her mom, who held her daughter tightly.

“But you have to promise us that you will come to see us every year,” Lilly warned her, tears in her eyes.

“I promise,” Larra replied, gently pulling away from her mother. Upon hearing this, Lilly looked at her in surprise.

“I promise I will come to see you often,” Larra reaffirmed, trying to reassure her. Larra’s mom nodded and kissed her forehead.

When Riley was all set, she went to Ron’s room to see him, but he wasn’t there. She was about to call Tyler when Winnie came in.

“There you are! Shirley is asking for you. It’s time!” Winnie informed her. Riley nodded and followed her. When she entered Shirley’s room, she found her fully ready to tie the knot.

Shirley looked like a dream bride in her huge red lehenga. A veil was draped over her head, partially covering her lovely face.

Riley couldn’t find the words to praise her beauty, so she simply hugged her cousin with teary eyes.

“I know, Jenner,” Shirley said sassily, earning an eye roll from Riley.

“And look at you, you look like a Bollywood heroine,” Shirley complimented her, which made Riley pull a face. Soon, Larra entered the room, cursing at her dupatta, which wasn’t staying properly on her shoulder.

“Damn it! Why the fuck did I pick this one? This fucking piece of shit is driving me crazy. Can someone help me?”

Shirley sighed, exasperated with her cousin, while Riley rolled her eyes.

“Damn, Larra. You look beautiful,” Winnie tried to uplift Larra’s mood.

“Thanks, Winnie. But can someone find a solution for this? It keeps pulling my hair,” Larra said, still confused about what was wrong with the fabric. Winnie nodded and helped her.

“If you’re done cursing at that poor thing, can you check me out and give me some compliments? Because I am Miss Bride, thank you,” Shirley said sarcastically. Larra chuckled, while Riley gave her a look that clearly said, 'how dramatic.'

“What’s there to compliment you on? You’re always beautiful,” Larra said with a smug smile, which made Shirley blush unexpectedly.

“I hate you, but you’re right,” Shirley pretended to be unfazed.

“Yeah, yeah. I know,” Larra agreed.

“Girls, it’s time,” Riley’s mom announced as she came in. They nodded in unison, and Shirley slowly walked, struggling with her huge lehenga.

“I don’t know how I’m supposed to walk down the aisle without tripping over this skirt,” Shirley said anxiously as they reached the runway for the bridal entry.

“Don’t be so dramatic now,” Larra chided, irritated.

“You’re not helping me,” Shirley replied, looking ahead with a forced smile.

“Just look at Rayan and walk,” Riley said as she tapped Shirley’s shoulder to encourage her. Shirley took a deep breath and focused on the aisle where her man was waiting, tears welling in his eyes. Just as Riley had said, all her negative thoughts vanished, and she smiled wholeheartedly.

She was marrying the love of her life! They were going to start a family!

Shirley’s eyes filled with tears as she took slow steps toward Rayan, who looked like a handsome devil in his black shimmering sherwani. Each step reminded her of the beautiful memories they had shared, from the moment they met to their wedding day.

When she reached the aisle, Rayan gently lifted the veil to reveal her face to him and the crowd. Shirley chuckled when he took her hands in his, tears flowing down both their faces and those of their close family.

“You are the prettiest bride I’ve ever seen in my life. My bride,” Rayan said proudly, kissing her forehead. Shirley chuckled through her happy tears.

“My lady,” Riley’s partner, Tyler, said as he stood beside her, taking her hand and kissing the back dramatically. Riley giggled at his antics.

“My queen is looking absolutely stunning. I’m not sure I can focus on anyone else today,” Tyler flirted openly, making Riley’s face turn an even deeper shade of red.

“You look dashing, my king,” she replied, kissing his cheek with all her love.

Meanwhile, Ron’s gaze was fixed on a certain brunette still struggling with her dupatta.

The wedding ceremony unfolded beautifully as the bride and groom exchanged vows and rings, sealing their love with a long kiss!

After the ceremony, when the couple sought blessings from their elders, Larra approached Rayan and hugged him.

“Congratulations, my idiot,” she said, ruffling his well-set hair.

“Uhh… idiot,” he said, stopping her playfully.

"Congratulations Shirl" Larra hugged her also, making her confused. Riley watched the scene with a frown.

"What's going on Larra?" Shirley asked with a confused face.

"Nothing baby, nothing. You just enjoy your wedding and bless me with my God Child" Larra said like a priest.

"Larra?" Rayan also felt something was wrong.

"Guys, relax. My off days are over and I have to go back. I came to see this moment in person" Larra said, trying to ease the tension.

"You are going back already?" Shirley asked with wide eyes.

"Yeah. Sorry guys" Larra said guiltily. Shirley nodded as understood while Rayan blinked his eyes to save the tears.

"Rayan", knowing what was going on in his head, Larra called him softly.

"Just go already. I am nothing to you." He said with a hurt face.

"Rayan"

"You didn't want me to come to your trips; you didn't want me to come to the US. Now, you came and going back just like that. We didn't even sit for a few minutes" Rayan complained like a kid. Larra sighed in defeat.

"I promise I will come back.. and you can come to see me if you want. I am not gonna run away anymore, I promise" Larra said with an assuring face. Rayan stared at her for a moment before pulling her into a tight hug.

"I will miss you" he mumbled.

"I will miss you more, my idiot " Larra patted his back and retreated. She hugged Shirley one more time and went to her dad to say goodbye.

"What's going on with that bitch? What's with the whole drama?" Riley murmured confused.

"Um, baby, do you know Larra is going back today?" Tyler asked her.

"WHAT?" She snapped in his direction.

"Okay. You don't know yet" Tyler confirmed.

"Today?! Who said?" Riley asked with wide eyes.

"Ron. Remember,they talked yesterday" Riley nodded in realisation and looked at Larra. But, by then, Larra wasn't anywhere in sight. Riley huffed in annoyance.

"That bitch is going to run away, again"

Tyler also looked around and couldn't see Larra anywhere. He side-hugged Riley and caressed her arm in a comforting way.

"I am gonna kill her this time"

"Shhh. It's ok baby"

Realising nobody paying attention to him, Ron sneaked out from the group and went to his room. From the window, he can see the front yard and entrance. After half an hour, he saw Larra getting inside a taxi in a casual dress, with her luggage.

And just like that, she went away from them, again! Not even bothered to say goodbye this time.

*****

End of wedding season!