That banter continued for quite some more time till Mike got a call from David about the arrival of the priest.

He disconnected the call and looked at Akira and taking a deep breath he said,

"It's time," and saying that he extended his hand for he was the one who was going to walk the bride.

Akira held on to his hand gingerly and then looked at Katherine nervously and asked, "Do I look ok?"

"You look perfect my dear," said Katherine and looked at Akira with eyes filled with warmth, for she was not just a girl who was going to marry her brother, she was also a dear friend who stood next to her during the toughest phase of her life. So seeing her a bit nervous, Katherine said,

"My mother would have loved to see you. Gosh, if she was here now..." and then came forward and clicked a picture of Akira quickly.

"Seriously Katherine! Are you going to cave in?" asked Akira.

"Oh, please!" I am not going to send this to Raymond. It's for my mom.

Both Akira and Mike stood there perplexed. Rose had been dead for years, so they couldn't understand how Katherine was sending a picture and most importantly to whom and seeing them all astonished, Katherine said,

"Oh, don't get baffled up!"

"I am just sending it to my mother's old Gmail account. Might sound crazy to you, but that's how I live. Clinging to just a thread of hope that's alive. Hoping against hope that she can somehow read my mails and know what's going on.

"Kind of twisted! Isn't it?", she asked, wiping away an unruly tear away from her face.

No one could understand her pain better than the two people standing in front of her, who had also lost their parents and who were also yearning for them to see this day. Before Akira could take a step ahead and say anything to Katherine, Mike acted up like a perfect gentleman and offered his pocket kerchief to Katherine and said,

"Your mother is seeing everything up from above. And you know that. She would not like to see tears in your eyes on such a day."

The agony of the past strangely was acting like a glue that was binding them together. They had considered each other as their own for long, but at this very moment, they could feel the profound depth of love and understanding that they had for each other. It was not just a marriage of two people, it was now a marriage of two families. A family of togetherness that was going to stand next to each other through sickness and in health.

They all looked at each other and then suddenly burst into a laugh.

"We are nuts, aren't we?", said Akira and tapped the corners of her eye with the tip of her ring finger.

"This wouldn't have been possible without you all," said Katherine. Deep in her heart, she felt like cuddling up with the two, but that was going to ruin her dress and the brides too. She was about to say something more when she heard the best man,

"Come on guys! It's time. People are waiting for you like crazy!"

"Oh, David! David! Don't you look dashing today!" said Katherine as gave out a gentle appreciating smile in his direction to which David blushed a bit before asking,

"Are you ready Akira?"

"Umm... I am," she said and walked towards David all by herself. Before David could understand why she was coming towards him, she *opened up her arms and hugged him tightly.

"I can't tell you how indebted I am to you," she said and then pulled herself back slightly.

"Ahh.... never mind Akira!" said David, trying his best to hide his emotions.

"I mean it David," said Akira, and looking into his eyes she said, "It's because of good people like you and Jaby, we could have this day. We owe this day to you David."

Taking a deep breath, David started looking at the wall, trying his level best not to let the emotions surface up.

So she gently tapped on his shoulders and changed the topic,

"Where is Jaby by the way? Hasn't he come back from the seminar that he has gone to? What is wrong with his phone? Will he not come? I mean, it's my wedding day David."

Taking a deep breath David said, "Even I am unable to reach him. But don't worry. He is not going to miss your wedding at any cost and I know that. He will make it here in time. Don't you worry about it."

Hearing her words, Mike looked at Katherine as he was asking what was wrong, to which Katherine just shrugged her shoulders, as she had no clue what was going on.

So after his phone buzzed with a text message, Mike walked ahead and said,

"Akira! Your man is going to die if you keep him waiting any longer!"

[Background music suggestion - Please listen to 'A thousand years' by Christina Perri while reading the chapter]

.

And then taking a deep breath, the bride walked out of her room, towards the backyard.

The moment Mike opened the door, a gentle breeze welcomed Akira.

A mellow waft of rose and plumeria welcomed her.

"Oh my God!" was all that she could say after seeing the beautiful decoration. She had seen the flower vendors going in and out and knew that there were going to be flowers in the backyard, but she didn't expect this.

There were arches made of flowers that harmoniously assimilated with each other. The entire path through which she was going to walk was strewn with carnations. Everything was so white and dainty, just the way she had wanted her wedding to be.

"Shall we?" asked Mike looking at her, before giving her a moment to absorb and gave a nod at the band to start the music.

"No, wait," yelled someone from behind.