Chapter 20

Pebblez

@Pebblez

reserved**

Armaan held Riddhima's hand all the way as they walked down the stairs. The whole hall was packed with people: most of it his own family. Riddhima looked beautiful in the saree, and Armaan looked extremely handsome. Together, as they descended the stairs, they looked like a beautiful couple, whispering to each other and smiling. Padma looks at her son and daughter-in-law and smiles, happy that her son had made the right choice.

Riddhima: (whispering to Armaan) Armaan, please let me go back...please, please pleasee.....(faking a smile on her face as she saw Divya)

Armaan: (speaking between her teeth) you can NOT back out now...you have to go down now, see everyone is looking at us...

Riddhima: (holding her sarri and lifting it a bit) i am going to FALL in this...its coming in between my feet....please let me go and changee...!!!

Armaan: you wont fall, i am holding you....come on now...everyone is here...(saying that, they descended the stairs)

Everyone came forward to meet the new, happy couple. It was Riddhima's first time introduction to all of Armaan's extended family. Plastering a smile on her face, she met everyone pleasantly, bent down and touched every elder's feet, holding her sarri lest it fell down. By the end of the meeting session, her head was reeling.

Riddhima dragged Armaan to a corner and exhaled loudly. With one hand on her hip, she looked at him.

Riddhima: MY GOD!! What a huge family you have...do you even know half of these people?

Armaan giggles

Armaan: honestly telling you, no....i am meeting most of them for the first time myself...they are like, all in my extended family...they came to meet the nayi naveli bahu...(winks at her)

Riddhima: hah!! seems like half of India is here....(rolls her eyes) why cant we have simple, small gatherings, like people in the west do??

Armaan: (puts an arm around her) cuz this is India, love...now come on...lets go...Mom's calling us over...

They walked over to Padma who looks at them and kisses Riddhima's forehead. Then, she puts a finger to her eye and then puts something behind Riddhima's ear, who looks at all of this, confused.

Padma: kisi ki nazar na laggay...bohatttt sundar lag rhai ho...

Armaan: akhir biwi kis ki hai Mom...(hugs Padma from behind)

Divya, whose standing next to Padma, sees Riddhima's confused look.

Divya: its done to ward off the evil eye...its an old tradition...

As Riddhima nods in understanding, she sees Nikki coming and standing next to her.

Nikki: Riddhima, you are looking beautiful...

Riddhima: thanks Nikki...

Padma: Nikita...aj to tumhainn chor rahi hun kyunki ghar per pooja hai...next time aogi to khub khabar lungi...(nikita makes a sorry face as Padma looks at her sternly)

Armaan: kyun Ma, iss ne ab kia kar dia?

Padma: arey, jab se tu gya hai...milne hi nai ati thi...aj 5 mahinon baad shakal dikha rhai hai, hum bhi iss ke kuch lagte hain...

Nikita: (holds her ears) sorry Auntie....ab se pakka aungi...aur wese bhi...(naughtily) Armaan ko to shayed ab bhi fursat na ho mujhse milne ki, par ap se milne to ati rahungi...

Padma: kyun, Armaan ko kyun fursat nahi hogi?

Nikita: bhayi ab Ridddhimmmaaaaa idhar hai tooo....humari value to kamm ho gai na...(winks at Padma, who smiles as Armaan slightly blushes, aww) aur wes ebhi, in ko kamre se bahar nikalne ka dil hi nahi krta, kyun Armaan?

Armaan suddenly starts coughing as Nikita makes him remember the embarassing situation of a few minutes ago. Riddhima at once rubs his back.

Riddhima: you okay?? (concerned)

Armaan: yeah...i will...just be back...

He makes his escape as Nikita starts laughing, and Padma joins in. Riddhima then understands that Armaan had been faking it.

Riddhima: ho gai Mr. Mallik ki nautanki shuru...(folding her arms)

Padma: arey Riddhima...tum to bohat achi Hindi bolti ho...

Riddhima: (laughs) nee Aunty...yeh to jitni ati hai, its all thanks to Shahrukh!!(in a matter-of-fact-way)

Nikita: Shahrukh? (looks at her)

Riddhima: (widens her eyes) SHAH RUKH KHAN!! Who else...?

Armaan comes back by this time

Armaan: OmG!! Please dont tell me we are discussing the stuttering man again...?

Riddhima shot him a look that culd kill

Riddhima: ARMAAN...!! One more word and...(points a finger at him)

Armaan: okay okay...peace...!! (making the peace sign at her, laughs, and puts an arm around her)

However, Riddhima jerks away his arm, still fuming. Padma ad to leave, and Nikita is busy in seeing the display of emotions by AR.

Nikkita: woaah!! seems like we ave quite a big fan here...huh?? (smiles at Riddhima)

Armaan: yeah..Ragz is MAD about Shahrukh...she has a DVD collection of all his movies...ranging from Guddu to Chak de!....and believe me, one word said against him in front of her and you are dead meat...

Nikita: really??

Armaan: yeah...my termite's a mighty possessive fan, isn't she...??(pinching Riddhima's nose)

Riddhima smiles, puffs her cheeks and speaks in a baby-ish tone

Riddhima: do not call me a termite,Armaan!!!(bats her eyelashes at her)

Nikita laughs, and leaves as AR continue their silly banter.

...................................

Some time later.

All are gathered in front of the temple, that is situated in the room. Padma, Beyjee and Divya are standing in the first row with Shubhankar, Arjun holding Aravh, and Da-jee standing with them. Behind them are Armaan, Riddhima, Nikita, Shubhankar, Atul and Aditi, and Keerti.

The pooja begins. First of all, Bey-jee and Da-jee do the pooja, then Padma and Suraj, then Divya and Arjun. Divya looks behind and beckons Shubhankar forward.

Bey-jee: beta, tujhe aur bahu ko saath saath puja kerni chahiye....Keerti, beta aagey ao...

Keerti, whom Riddhima had met and found to be a nice, sweet lady, walks forward and holds the pooja thalli together with Shubhankar and does the pooja. In the meanwhile, Aditi and Nikita are explaining the rituals to Riddhima.

Shubhankar and Keerti hand over the pooja thalli to Padma and walk bak to their positions. Padma turns to beckon Riddhima and Armaan forward, and is surprised to find Riddhima yawning loudly. She stifles a giggle.

Padma: Armaan...Riddhima...beta ao...(smiling slightly)

Armaan nudges Riddhima and she stops yawning.

Armaan: chalo na...kharri kyun ho...

Riddhima: (whispers to him) no no no...i am not doing this...this saree thing will catch fire...

Armaan: arey dont worry...main hun na...chaloo!!

Holding her by her forearm, he pushes her forward and they both walk towards the front. Padma hands the thaal to Riddhima, who holds is gulping. She was really scared of fire.

Her hands were a bit shaky, but they steady themselves as Armaan holds on to them. She smiles at him gratefully and they both start revolving the thalli together.

Riddhima is enjoying the whole religious pooja and doing the aarti stuff when she is jostled out of her thoughts with a shriek followed by a loud voice calling her name: Lidhimaaaaa!!!

She turns around in shock, still holding the thalli, as does everyone in the hall. Her jaw drops and her eyes pop out as she sees Rahul standing at the door, full baggage in his hands, a rucksack behind him, as a young boy of around 8 and a small baby girl of around 3 stand next to him. She looks from the kids to Rahul to Armaan, who has a glint of happiness in them. Instantly she gets to know its his doing. Handing over the thall to him, she practially runs over to the door and envelops both the kids in a big, bear hug.

Armaan follows her and kneels down too, hugging first the young boy tightly, and then picking up the baby girl in his arms, who flung her arms around his neck as he kisses her cheek, exclaiming: Almaan!!!!

Riddhima, in the meanwhile, has side-hugged the guy and stands up to hug Rahul, whispering 'thank you' to him. She then turns to Armaan and with slight tears in her eyes, whispers a grateful 'thanks' to him too, as he holds the baby girl and Riddhima hugs the young boy, who was now clinging to her legs. As they round up to look at their family, they are met with surprised, kind of accusatory looks. In their happy reunion, they had forgotten the whole family around them.

Aditi was the first one to speak up.

Aditi: (in a shocked tone) YOU GUYS HAVE KIDS???

Armaan looked at Riddhima in shock, recognizing what the arrival of the kids was going to mean now.Riddhima gulps: uh-oh!!!

,.......................

THATS IT FOR TODAY GUYS.

Whoosh, that was long. Hehhe...getting bakc to this story after so long was hectic. A lot of catching up had to be done. Sorry to have kept u guys waiting for so long, hope u guys like this part. Any guesses who the kids are...?? ehehhee...too obvious. Rhea n Ryan are here....next part will disclose their relation to AR, promise.

So, see you on Saturday. I need loads of comments guys!!
Loads of love

Kiran