I'll Love You Longer Than Forever

Chapter One Hundred & Twenty Two

"Riddhima Didi, aap mere baal braid kar doge?" Navneeta asked, as she lounged in Riddhima's room along with the other girls. Anjali, Muskaan, Nikki, Keerti, Naina, and even Tara were in Riddhima's room, helping her get ready. They had hired a make-up artist, but Anjali insisted on doing most of Riddhima's make-up herself, wanting to help her sister look her best the day she took the most important step of her life.

"Navu," Keerti reprimanded. "Riddhima Didi ko pareshaan mat karo. Unhe tayyaar hone do."

"Mumma, Didi sabse achche se braid banati hain!" Navneeta whined.

"Of course," Riddhima replied. "Aa jao," she gestured to the empty space in front of her. "Rehne dijiya na, Bhabhi," Riddhima said, looking at Keerti, addressing her with the moniker for the first time. While Armaan had been doing it increasingly outside the hospital, she had not been comfortable enough before. But now that she was getting married to Armaan, things would change. "Do minute lagenge."

Keerti looked at Riddhima, completely taken aback. She had not expected that the wedding would change the equation between them. While it was true that Shubhankar was extremely close to Armaan, the same was not the case between Keerti and Riddhima. They were definitely not just colleagues, but they weren't family, not really. Keerti categorized herself firmly as a friend for Riddhima, but not one as close as Muskaan or Nikita. A mentor, perhaps. But not family. And now, to hear herself be addressed as such from Riddhima, while definitely a surprise, was a pleasant one.

"Navu," Riddhima started, making conversation as she braided the girl's hair. "Aaj shaadi mein aap kiske side se ho? Meri ya Armaan Bhaiya ki?"

"Main toh dono ki side se hoon," Navneeta replied promptly.

"Dono ki side se kaise ho sakte ho?" Riddhima asked. "Aapko ek side toh choose karni padegi na?"

"Lekin main choose kaise karu?" Navneeta pondered. "Aur waise bhi... choose karna itna important kyu hai?"

"Agar aap choose nahi karoge, toh yeh kaise decide hoga ki aap shaadi ke time joote churaoge ya bachaoge?" Muskaan questioned, indulging in their mindless talks.

"Joote bachane ke bhi paise hote hain kya?" Navneeta wondered out loud.

"Kli," Nikki clicked her tongue. "Uske koi paise nahi hote."

"Toh main aapki side se Riddhima Di!" Navneeta exclaimed immediately. "Armaan Bhaiya se bohot saare paise nikalwaungi."

Her words sent a peal of laughter throughout the room. "Very good," Riddhima praised. "Bohot saare paise nikalwana. Lekin phir, thode mere saath share karogi na?"

"Ridz?!" Nikki cried, surprised.

"What?" Riddhima asked. "Tum sabke sab uske joote churake paise kamaoge, aur main nahi? Need I remind you ki tumhe yeh mauka hi sirf meri wajah se mil raha hai? Thoda kuch toh haq mera bhi banta haina?"

"Waise... baat toh tune pate ki hai," Muskaan agreed. "Agar tu Armaan se shaadi karne haan nahi bolti toh humein itne paisa kamaane ka mauka hi nahi milta."

"Yes, exactly!" Riddhima cried triumphantly. "I feel I should be compensated."

"Waah, yeh kya baat hui?" Nikki asked. "Matlab ab har cheez ka credit khud hi? Tu kabse aisi ho gayi, Ridzy? Sab Muskaan ki sangat ka nateeja hai! Aur tu..." she added, turning to Muskaan. "Tu kya uski side le rahi hai? Usko paise diye toh humein kam milenge! Khudka hi nuksaan karwa de."

"Woh nuksaan ki nahi, faayde ki baat soch rahi hai," Riddhima clarified. "Taaki jab iski baari aaye, toh humein isse bhi paise dene pade!" Nikki's mouth dropped at Riddhima's words. Of course, Muskaan was being calculative about this. That was just like her.