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and i do mean that .
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if it were n't for you and emma , i never would have met megan , '' pesh said .
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aidan grinned as he clapped pesh on the back .
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`` you 're more than welcome , man .
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i 'm just so glad you two finally realized how good you were for each other . ''
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he turned back to the door before motioning them .
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`` come on , let 's go tell the others .
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i think this calls for a celebration , but just not the kind that you two were partaking in . ''
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megan shook her head .
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`` we were n't going to tell anybody yet . ''
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pesh nodded .
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`` she does n't even have a ring . ''
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aidan snorted .
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`` do you really think anyone out there is going to give two shits about whether or not you have a ring ? ''
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`` we just want to do it the right way , '' pesh replied .
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holding up his hands in surrender , aidan said , `` all right , i 'm not going to argue with you anymore .
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but i will say that there is no right way .
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hell , look at me and em .
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in the end , you have to go with the flow and appreciate the moments that are bigger than you could ever imagine . ''
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he then turned and strode out of the bedroom .
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pesh stole a glance at megan who appeared to be processing aidan 's words .
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`` come on , we better get back out there before they send someone else , '' she finally said .
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with a smile , he took her hand and led her down the hall .
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when they got back to the dining room , everyone glanced expectantly at them .
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even though he knew he should n't , pesh blurted , `` we 're engaged ! ''
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he did n't have time to worry about megan 's anger about him blabbing because he realized she had said it at the same time he had .
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cheers went up over the room , and he was hugged and kissed by megan 's aunts .
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when megan 's father , paul , stood before him , pesh felt like he 'd been kicked in the groin .
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`` mr. mckenzie , i apologize .
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i intended to come to you and ask for megan 's hand-to show respect to you and your wife .
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i 'm so sorry . ''
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paul shook his head and smiled .
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`` please do n't apologize .
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i 'm just grateful that she 's met such a wonderful man who will be a good husband to her and a good father to mason . ''
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`` i swear to you that i will . ''
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he and paul shook hands to seal the vow .
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in the absence of champagne , wine was poured to celebrate .
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at the head of the table , patrick held up his glass .
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`` to my granddaughter and the good doctor , i give you an irish marriage blessing .
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'may god be with you and bless you .
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may you see your children 's children .
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may you be poor in misfortunes and rich in blessings .
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may you know nothing but happiness from this day forward . ' ''
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he smiled .
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`` to megan and pesh . ''
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the others raised their glasses .
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once pesh tasted the rich bouquet of the wine , he leaned over and kissed megan .
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he did n't even mind the cat-calls and whistling-he was too happy to care .
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chapter twenty-one standing in front of the lighted hotel mirror , megan surmised her appearance .
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it was the first time she had n't been encircled by pesh 's mother , sister , and aunts since she had stepped inside the suite an hour ago .
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when she had agreed to an indian engagement party , she had n't quite known what she was getting into .
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she thought it would just be a great way to get their friends and family together .
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she did n't know that pesh 's family did n't do anything on a modest scale .
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without her input , the plaza ballroom of the ritz carlton in atlanta had been booked .
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when she had dared a peek inside earlier , it had been transformed into something out of a bollywood movie .
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she had wanted to honor pesh 's culture by dressing just as a true indian prospective bride would , so she had gone sari shopping with lavani and shveta .
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what she had n't bet on was how gorgeously intricate the outfit would be .
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now as she gazed at herself in the mirror , she was almost blinded by the glittering stones and beading on the deep purple and gold sari .
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the outfit put even the blingiest miss america pageant dress to shame .
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the top part was sleeveless , and it ended just below her br**sts .
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while the front part appeared to be plain satin , the back was encrusted in beading and gems .
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the skirt , with its beaded waistband , started just beneath her belly button and fell to the floor in the most exquisite silky material .
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it was hard imagining she was going to be baring her mid-drift , as was the fashion of the sari .
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thankfully , she had a jewel encrusted drape that slung across one of her shoulders and down one side .
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earlier after one of pesh 's aunts had done her makeup , lavani and shveta did her hair .
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the long strands were swept back and pinned on the side in loose curls .
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a gorgeous purple orchid adorned the curls .
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all that was missing from her ensemble was the jewelry that pesh 's family had requested that she wear .
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apparently , it was all heirloom pieces and kept in a safe at a bank .
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although the necklace and earrings were to come , her arms were heavy laden with bangle bracelets that lavani and shveta had put on her .
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they both had tears in their eyes when they finished .
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`` you look absolutely breathtaking , my dear , '' lavani said .
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megan smiled .
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`` thank you .
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and thank you so much for making tonight happen . ''
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lavani cupped her cheek .
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`` i look forward to seeing many happy years between you and my alpesh .
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i 'm grateful that you make him so happy .
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it had been so long since i had seen a light in his eyes .
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but when you came into his life , you brought back that light . ''
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at lavani 's words , megan felt tears stinging her eyes .
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`` thank you , '' she murmured .
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when she felt like she could speak without crying , she brought her hands together as if she were praying and then bowed her head as was the sign of respect in pesh 's culture .
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`` i want you to know that before pesh , i was in darkness , too .
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he has become my light as well .
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i can assure you that i will spend the rest of my life honoring him and making him happy .
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i am very thankful for the amazing man you have raised . ''
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lavani 's dark eyes filled with tears , and she brought a handkerchief up to dab her eyes .
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`` thank you , my dear . ''
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shveta stepped into the bathroom , her face lit up in a broad smile .
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`` alpesh is here . ''
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gathering up the bottom of her skirt , megan walked out of the bathroom and into the bedroom .
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her heart stopped at the sight of him .
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she had never seen him in kurta-pajama , as they were called .
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basically , it was a long , tunic like shirt that came to his knees .
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underneath he wore loose cotton-like pants .
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but his top was made much like hers .
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it was gold in color and encrusted in gems and beading .
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she did n't want to begin to imagine how much it cost .
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when she brought her gaze back to his , she shivered under his heated stare .
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