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They turned to face each other under a floral arch, and the priest read blessings, provoking soft, approving murmurs from the guests seated on the floor and cushions around them. Jamie watched, transfixed, as rice was sprinkled and a ceremonial flame lit, which the new couple circled four times. He couldn’t understand any of the mantras or melodic chants that seemed halfway between song and prayer, but he felt them deep in his soul, the rhythm, colour and reverence of the ceremony coming together to overwhelm him.

He choked up a little as the groom daubed bright red powder onto the bride’s hair and draped a heavy gold necklace around her throat. Then everyone cheered, clapped and whistled as they waved to the crowd, and he realised two had become one, bound by love, anticipation and promises. They were married. He felt slightly tearful at the moment. The customs and words had been beyond his comprehension, but he recognised the feeling: sacred, joyful and filled with hope for the future.

He looked down, overwhelmed, and when he looked up again, Amrita met his gaze – smiling gently, though her eyes seemed overly glossy.

* * *

The DJ started the hype a full three minutes before announcing the newly-weds like they were headlining WrestleMania, and the room exploded with music, confetti and fireworks. The couple danced through the flower arch and along the red carpet to the cheers of their adoring fans, while Jamie whistled and clapped, whooping and caught up in the excitement and joy of the day.

He ducked out of the way as another relative nearly smacked his ear with a camera in their eagerness to capture the moment forever.

‘Having fun?’ Amrita was grinning at him, bits of golden confetti sparkling in her hair and against her skin, achieving what he thought was impossible and making her look even more beautiful than usual.

‘It’s incredible. Is every wedding like this?’

‘Pretty much.’ She laughed. ‘But we’re really only just getting started. I hope you brought your dancing shoes!’ She hesitated, her brow crinkling for a second. ‘You can dance, right?’

‘A bit.’

‘We’ll see.’ She smiled back. ‘After food, and photos, and more photos and speeches… that’s when the real fun starts.’

The food was incredible, though his mouth burned a few times, and his eyes watered – much to the amusement of the cousins, who he was sure weren’t deliberately feeding him the spiciest things available until Amrita shooed them off. He loved every bite. And he loved how welcome everyone made him feel.

Then tables were abandoned in favour of a lively dance. Jamie tried his best to keep up with the dancers, and Amrita, but he really didn’t have much hope. Even the kids were doing better than he had, but he supposed they’d had years more practice with the expansive gestures, bouncy steps and solid isolations. Far less smooth and without the nicely predictable eight beat he was more familiar with.

‘Here, like this.’ A girl shyly demonstrated a better arm position. He tried his best to copy, but she tutted. ‘You’re too stiff. Relax. Dancing should be fun.’

‘Right. Thank you.’ He bounced a couple of times, wriggling his shoulders to try and loosen them.

‘Ha! That’s the best he’s done it all night!’ one of the boys called, triggering a round of laughter at Jamie’s expense.

‘Stop dancing like a scarecrow,’ another advised. ‘Your spine should move.’

Before he’d realised what was happening, Jamie was surrounded by the wedding’s youngest members – all with their own advice, which he tried to follow, laughing the whole time.

* * *

Amrita finished helping Kiran touch up her make-up and came back to the dance floor and automatically looked around for Jamie. She smiled when she saw him in the midst of a group of her younger cousins. Encouraged by them, he leapt into the air a few times, a slightly chaotic attempt at flying jumps. He caught her looking and stopped, took a couple of steps towards her, but was stopped as Arjun and his younger cousins blocked his way. Even with their backs to her, she could guess they were pleading with him to stay. He held his hands out to her – what could he do without disappointing them?

Something deep within her twisted and squeezed as she watched him, caught up in their laughter and teasing, his arms not quite right as he tried to keep up with them and the music – a stranger only hours ago, but now welcomed and woven into her family.

The realisation hit Amrita hard: Kiran was right. The feelings she had for Jamie were serious. She more than liked Jamie Collins. A lot more.

She was saved from having to work out what to do with that thought by the sudden change in music, and the DJ ramping the crowd up. Jamie looked around, confused as the dancers shuffled to the edge of the dance floor, clapping and stamping their feet. A few seconds later they appeared, skipping and dancing around the newly formed circle, encouraging friends and family to holler and clap more loudly.

* * *

What followed was like nothing Jamie had ever experienced before. It was magic. Nothing like Hudsbury’s – no mischievous pixies or interfering birds or cats – but magic nonetheless.

The groom started dancing – a relatively simple pattern of steps that he repeated, adding flourishes and beckoning to other men to join in, copying the steps and adding their own flourishes until they came together in an almost perfectly in-step dance troupe. After a few more rounds of beats, a couple of the men peeled off to face each other, their moves becoming showier as the music swelled, turning the party into a seriously impressive dance-off.

When the music changed, the bride and her bridesmaids – including Amrita – danced forward, and fell into step with each other. Jamie watched, heart thumping, as the music and dancers picked up pace, spinning and twirling in one of the most beautiful choreographies he’d ever seen.

Their arms moved in perfect arcs, hands flicking and clapping in time with the rhythm of the music, wrists circling with effortless grace that made their bangles shimmer. Skirts flared with each turn, spinning waves of colour rippling across the dance floor as their feet tapped and bounced in tight, practised patterns that were strong and elegant at the same time, making bangles jingle and glisten.

The bride laughed, eyes sparkling with the joy of the day and energy of her loved ones, and the bridesmaids mirrored her movements, echoing and multiplying her joy to share it throughout the room.

Every step, spin and clap was in sync – perfect. But what really made it for Jamie were the little improvisations – a shimmy here, an extra spin Amrita threw in, and the glances and smiles between them that made it feel beautifully alive and utterly celebratory.