Family is Everything [COMPLETED]

Chapter 10

...A few days later Riddhima had a big breakfast and was placed to sit on a low cushioned stool in the courtyard which was now fully decorated and within no time she was surrounded by all her cousins, aunties and other distant relatives who were arriving in groups throughout the day. At one side of the courtyard some older ladies of the family sat with dolaks and spoons taping and clapping away and singing traditional wedding songs; this was the beginning of the Sangeet Ceremony while Riddhima was waiting for the Haldi rituals to start.

"Come on...what's taking you guys so long?" Riddhima complained as she was already tired of sitting on such a low stool.

"Someone's in a rush..." Naina teased her.

"No...I just want this to be over already...this was the only ritual I wasn't looking forward to..." she moaned.

Muskaan shook her head at her with a smile; "Have some patience Ridzi..."

Before Riddhima could reply she heard; "We're here Ridzi..." Tamana said coming into the courtyard with Padma carrying a large aluminium bowl on a tray.

"Finally..."

"She just can't wait for this all to be over and she can finally be with Jiju..." Khush teased as he looked at her through his video camera.

"KHUSH!" she shouted at him; "...I said I want to get this ritual over...you guys are just twisting my words...and you better turn that camera off for this function if not ill cover it in haldi..." she warned with a frown and he stuck his tongue out at her.

"Okay...let's get started..." Padma said and slowly applied some Haldi on Riddhima's cheek; she noticed her mother's eyes welling up with tears and she felt emotional.

"Mama...please don't cry..." she whispered.

Padma nodded with a smile and wiped away her tear then allowed Tamana to go next. From the side she heard the ladies singing "Lathe di chadar" and Naina stood up to dance along with Suvarna, Muskaan and the boys who were already trying to dance; or more so making everyone laugh.

Natasha, Neha and Keerti were the next to apply haldi to her arms and legs along with teasing her about her future husband and family...

...Nikita walked down the stairs and into the courtyard; the place was a little busy with a few more guests and distant relatives hanging around watching the rituals taking place and little kids running around chasing each other; she noticed her brother and cousins trying to dance and giggled; "These guys are mad..."

She heard her name being called and she looked over to see that it was Riddhima who had called for her. She smiled and walked over to her; "Hey Riddhima...how's it going so far?" she asked.

Riddhima pouted; "It's going on long enough and almost everyone has already covered me in this stuff but I still have to stay here until these guys apply it to me...but they're all busy dancing..."

They looked over at the gang who were now dancing to the ladies singing "Kala Doriyaan".

Nikita smiled at her then dipped her fingers into the bowl and rubbed it onto Riddhima's forehead; "There you go...I wish you a very happy life..." she said but inside her heart felt like it was being squeezed.

"Aww...thank you..." Riddhima smiled at her; "...that's really sweet..."

Before she could reply or do anything she was being dragged away by Ronit and Naina who pulled her into the dancing circle; she didn't want to dance but before she knew it she was having a lot of fun with the rest of the gang.