A bright smile, radiating wonderment, innocence, and joy, all rolled up into one broke across Chandra’s face. Amma smiled too, a toothless one, and basked in her granddaughter’s beauty and youthful exuberance. Her luminous green eyes, the color she shared with her younger brother, her blossoming womanhood, and lustrous skin. Such radiance washed over her and pushed back the solar dial if only a few rays. 

Chandra was made in her mother’s image in looks, spirit, and temperament. She was still too young for a preliminary betrothal, but her father would make arrangements with one of the families from the Preena. The rainbow color would suit Chandra, and her love of herbs and spices made the selection a fitting one.