Safar...A Journey of First Love

Chapter 12 - Shaadi

...The wedding day had finally arrived and lots of last minute preparations were taking place. Everyone had woken up very early and was moving around the house. Shashank and Vikram were out in the garden keeping an eye on the Khushi Events team; their employees; who were doing up last minute preparations in the tent.

The bride was up in her room away from all the rush with Natasha while Riddhima was in the dining room with her cousins having breakfast; after some time Aagam and Radha left her as they both rushed off to see who would get to the bathroom first. Riddhima smiled at them and was about to go into the kitchen but she stopped suddenly as she heard serious voices; she moved closer to hear what they were saying.

"Padma tumhe nahi lagta ke woh log yahan par hona chahiye...?" (Padma don't you think that they should be here) Nani had asked her.

"Ma...maine aapko bohot baar keh chuki hain...unhone mana kiya hain unke bare main baat karne ki...aur mujhe lagta hain ke hume iss bare main nahin baat karna chahiye...agar Anjali ne yeh baat sunli to woh bohot mayuse hogi...issliye please..." (Mum...I've told you many times...he's told us not to speak of them...and I don't think that we should be talking about this now...if Anjali hears us she will be very upset...) Padma replied.

"Theek hain...main kuch nahi kahongi..." (Okay I won't say anything else) Nani told her.

"Padma...where did you leave the garlands...?" Neha walked into the kitchen.

Padma thought for a moment; "They're upstairs in my room..." she said.

"Okay I'll get it when I go up..." she took a glass of water and sat on a chair to take a sip then looked up at the ladies; "...sach main Padma...it's so good to have the wedding at home...imagine having to take all of this stuff to the venue..."

"I know...I'm so happy Anjali gave this idea of having the wedding at home...she said she wanted something small...and her bidaai (farewell) to be done from the place she grew up..." Padma said tearfully then continued with a smile; "...and I'm happy that she's going into a lovely family...they also agreed to a small wedding..."

"Haan yeh baat toh tumne bohot sahi kahi hai...yeh log bohot ache hain...Atul bhi aur unke ma baap bhi...bohot seedhe log hain...agar koi aur hota toh patta hain kya baate hoti... (Yes what you said is so true...they are very nice...Atul as well as his parents...they're very straight/down to earth...if it was anyone else you know what kind of things they would say) ...they would say you can't have a home wedding...it needs to be in a grand venue..." Nani added.

"Yeah that's right...she's really lucky...and Padma...you don't have to worry about Anjali...they really are nice people..." Neha put a comforting hand on to her shoulder as she had now become tearful; she nodded.

"What's going on down here...?" Natasha walked into the kitchen with a frown; "...There's a wedding happening in less than a few hours and you three are standing here gossiping...?"

Neha smiled; "We're not gossiping..."

"Aur ek yeh ladki hain...shaadi ka naam hi nahi leh rahi hain..." (And then there's this girl...she doesn't even want to hear the word marriage) Nani frowned.

"Mum...aap please shuru mat kijeiye..." (Mum...please don't start now) Natasha frowned.

"Natasha...main kyun na shuru karoon?" (Why shouldn't I start?) Nani asked her; "...Tumhari saari friends ne shaadi karli...yahan tak Nishi ne bhi aur ab Anjali...sirf tum hi reh gayi ho..." (All of your friends are married...even Nishi and now Anjali...you're the only one left)

Riddhima walked out of the dining room with a smile; "Nani...when she finds the right person she will get married..." she made her way towards Natasha and put her elbow onto Natasha's shoulder; "...right masi?"