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“Advice on marriage? Oh, I’m sure I’m not the best person to ask,” she said.

“You’re Hania’s sister, and you’ve been married for five years,” Ambreen said, quite reasonably.

“Right. Well, I guess my top marriage tips would be . . .” She trailed off, thinking. Well, kids, if you really want to make it, don’t cheat on your spouse was probably not what Hania wanted to hear. She doubted Don’t marry a narcissist would be welcome, either. Better stick to generic platitudes. “Um, I guess I would say don’t forget to compromise. And, ah . . . buy flowers and be nice to each other . . . stuff like that,” she said, trailing off.

Ambreen stared at her, and her eyebrow twitched slightly, in a totally judgmental way, Dina was sure. Lucky looked at her, a question in his eyes, one he mercifully didn’t ask. The social media manager turned to Lucky and asked him the same thing.

“Samir, don’t mess this up. Hania is the best thing that happened to you, and you know it,” Lucky said, smiling at the camera with so much natural charm, Dina had to look away. “As for marriage advice, though I remain tragically single, I guess . . .” He paused, a pensive expression on his face. “Love is the most powerful force in the world, which means you have to handle it carefully. Neglect it and it will die. Feed it and it will nourish you for the rest of your life. Never stop growing together, or else you’ll grow apart, and that would break my heart. I love you, Samir. Be kind to him, Hania.”

Ambreen was almost smiling by the time he came to the end of the message. “That’ll do,” she said before drifting off to corner one of the other guests.

Dina turned to Lucky. “How did you do that?” she asked.

Lucky shrugged. “It’s what I’ve always believed, but of course my experience is only theoretical. Did I get it right?”

Yes, she wanted to blurt out. You captured in one sentence what Arshad failed to grasp in almost five years of marriage. Which is why he is now my ex-husband.

“I need to talk to Lisa,” she blurted out instead of answering his question, and hurried away before she did something truly foolish, like ask Lucky to run away with her.

Her friend was chatting with the guests at her table when Dina ran up. Mika, dressed in a pink mini sari looped over one shoulder, put her arms up at the sight of Dina. She scooped up the little girl and held her close. Rick, dressed in an immaculate and expensive-looking suit, waved at her and then disappeared to make a call, leaving the women to talk.

“I nearly asked Lucky to run away with me,” Dina said, trying her hardest to keep her voice down.

“I knew you’d cave and climb that man like a tree. How was it?” Lisa said with approval.

“I’m at my sister’s wedding, Lisa. Nothing happened. He’s just so . . .” She trailed off, thinking about Lucky’s smile, his hands, his hair, the way he looked at her. She shook her head. “That’s not why I’m here. I think Arshad is up to something.”

Lisa reached across the table for another appetizer from the plate in front of her—like Dina, her friend loved anything crispy and fried, especially the Malabar fish pakoras. “So what else is new. That man breathes conspiracy.”

“I overheard him on the phone at the mehndi, talking to someone about needing more time. And then today, when I asked him about it, he tried to gaslight me,” Dina said.

“Predictable. He did the same the entire time you were married.” Lisa paused, a fish pakora halfway to her mouth. “I never brought this up before, but I always wondered why he didn’t challenge you on the prenup during the divorce.”

Dina nodded. “At the time I thought maybe he felt badly for all the cheating and lying.”

Mika wanted to return to her mother and started to play with Lisa’s hair. “You always gave that man the benefit of the doubt. Big mistake.” Lisa brightened. “Want me to snoop through his office while you’re in Chicago next week for the wedding reception? You know he’s the kind of ‘hot/dumb’ who would leave evidence of his evil plot just lying around. Plus, it will make me feel less terrible about missing out on all the fun.”

“Yes,” Dina breathed. “Call me if you find anything.” She spotted her mother waving at her, indicating that her presence was needed for pictures. She rose to her feet and leaned over to kiss Mika and hug her friend. “Love you both. Let me know if you find any evidence of unlawful conspiracy!”

Chapter Eighteen

When Lucky returned to the banquet hall, he deposited two cups of tea in front of his mother and sister-in-law.

“Lucky, why did you bring me chai?” his mother asked. “You know I can’t have caffeine after four p.m. or it will keep me up all night.”

“And I’m a coffee girlie,” Jiya said, passing her tea to Saleem, who was seated beside her.

Lucky barely heard them, his mind spinning. He knew Dina wasn’t a fan of being put on the spot, or of public speaking, but her marriage advice had felt . . . exceptionally strange. Her behavior with Arshad over the last two days, her comments at the diner—it all pointed in one direction, and yet he couldn’t be sure. It also wasn’t his place to jump to conclusions.

His brother interrupted his reverie. “What were you doing outside for so long?” Saleem asked.

“Nothing. Bathroom. Nothing,” Lucky said, the excuse coming automatically to his lips. Saleem and Jiya exchanged a knowing look. He hated when they did that. His brother rose to his feet.

“Let’s go check out the appetizers,” Saleem said.

“I was just outside,” Lucky protested. His gaze traveled around the room, settling only when he spotted Dina. She was standing in the corner, posing for a picture with one of the numerous interchangeable young women who fluttered around Hania. He wasn’t sure why everyone wasn’t staring at Dina. Despite her understated cream lengha and simple makeup, she was obviously the most beautiful woman in the room, outshining even the bride.

“Let’s go, Bhai,” Saleem said, pulling at Lucky’s arm and manhandling him outside.