#Fun Fact - The name 'Hindustan' combines Sindhu and Hindu and thus refers to the land of the Hindus.

Punjabi Weddings are characterized by their boisterous celebrations that are a reflection of their exuberance towards life in general. The Punjabis, known for their zest for life, vivaciousness and of course, the bhangra, know how to pull all stops when it comes to celebrating. However, the Oberoi never got an opportunity to celebrate shaking their legs on their eldest scion of the family. Nevertheless of that, the family members were full of enthusiasm to welcome their eldest daughter-in-law as she deserved.

Shivaay wrapped up his eyes shut as his badi ma came forward and smeared the auspicious red vermillion on his forehead in the vertical direction. A small smile sprawled through his lips, eyes twinkled as Jhanvi did that same to Annika and happily blessed for a happy life along.

Standing at the bay of the wide-opened doorstep with interwoven fingers with her husband, Annika released the breath she was holding which she didn't realise, looking at the happy faces flashing at them. The copper rice grain and silver coins-filled pot 'Kalash' was a few inches ahead of her, which was meant to be tilted with her right foot. As the rice grain stretch over with spill, it signifies that similar to that of rice grains and coins, prosperity and happiness will be able to spread in the household with daughter-in-law's entry.

"Annika push the Kalash gently with your right foot," Jhanvi instructed Annika as she passed the puja thali to Pinky and gesture her to be prepared for next.

Nodding at her Annika gripped her husband's arms for corporal assistance as she raised her right foot to push the copper pot. Her toes sensed the sudden cooling surface of the pot and she shivered. Rudra whistled with a huge genuine grin flickered as the pot was pushed lightly and albeit to this the rice grains and coins were evenly scattered.

"Annika chal bheege hue sindoor ki thaali mein paanv rakh aao aur yahaan saphed kapade par kadam rakh." Pinky guided her in the next ritual whilst others stood gaping at the sweetest mother-in-law Pinky had formed into.

[Trans- Annika now set your foot on the watered red vermillion and walk on the white cloth, over here.]

Primarily Tej, of all people. Till this morning he saw that Pinky prevailed sobbing not wishing a daughter-in-law, in her terms a white-skinned. Regardless of her, previous actions, Pinky functioned too joyous and encouraging to welcome Annika. Making his mind go insane.

Pinky and her tantrums. Now that Ms hotheaded girl will join her, I will have to handle Pinky's sharp tongue.

Tej sighed out of the total relief and exhaustion with the happenings of today. Scrubbing his intentions away from his revolving mind he swirled around his attention to the newly found couple. By now they both had wrapped up all the 'Griha Pravesh' rituals and were near the praying corner, lighting up the lamps.

[Trans- homecoming. Here welcoming of the bride.]

•••••

"Annika puttar will you be comfortable in our kitchen? You just have to prepare a small portion of the sweet dish. Whichever is convenient." Shivaay coughed as he choked on his favourite lemon sharbat additionally seasoned with ginger, cardamom and fresh mint leaves.

"Are you alright?" Tej tensed up and stood over him rubbing his back. Bobbing at him Shivaay thanked him for helping and attempted successfully to avoid the murderous glares from his wife.

"I don't - I have never- don't know what to address you." Fiddling with the hem of the saree Annika mumbled lowly.

"You are my granddaughter-in-law. I'm your dadi. However, you can address me with any fancy name of this generation." Kalyani tried to ease her nervousness with her behaviour and a wink.

"You are so cool! I like you." Tej rolled his eyes at Annika's enthusiastic yelling. Within no second Annika crushed Kalyani in a huge bone-crushing hug, suffocating the old woman.

"That's the reason I asked you to learn cooking. Pati ki ghar par halwa banaana bhee nahin janatee." Arundhati smacked her daughter's head with disappointment that her daughter never gave ears to her words.

[Trans- You don't even know to make halwa at husband's house.]

"Haan Sonu, you should listen to her." Arundhati whipped her head in direction of her ex-husband and ratified a look of gratitude in helping her parenting Annika. However, her jaw dropped the second hearing his sarcastic taunts which were mean to her. "Tumhare maa ne pahale rasoee ke lie apane pati ke lie halwa taiyaar kiya tha. How lucky her husband must be to taste brunt halwa."

[Trans- your mother had prepared brunt halwa as her first kitchen ritual to her husband.]

Shivaay pursed his lip tight sealed smuggling his growing laugh to see the separated couple but his in-laws who were no less than the couple itself. Tej and Jhanvi were amazed to see these changes when Annika explained about her parents co-parenting her they had not believed in her words.

"You-"

"Aru. Stop I was just stating a fact."

"Don't call me that. Today we are here for our daughter so don't make my mood spoil it."

"Okay, Aru." Harsh obediently nodded with his not so innocent wicked lopsided smile.

"Urgh!" Harsh yelped in pain as his ex-wife yet considered beloved wife stomped his foot while sitting beside him on the dining table.

"Go to hell!"

"Arundhati stop this nonsense. And you Harsh beta? Are you joining this angry headed old lady?" Vaidehi softened her looks whilst speaking to Harsh which particularly irked her daughter.

"I'm not aged. I have a great fan following." Twisting her mouth she attempted batting her eyelashes wanting to control her anger.

"It's not fan following. It's criticism, all politicians have a great opposition team." Harsh chuckled. Tej laughed out louder holding his cramped stomach, who was unable to regulate his laughter.

"Harsh I love your moods. You definitely need to teach me a few of them. Need to test on my wife." Shakti giggled watching his ever cool and composed sister-in-law stench with wrath.

"Definitely bro!" Harsh and Tej first bumped from their respective places and snickered with unknown justification.

On the other hand, Pinky grabbed her husband's arms not liking him to join the gangs of rowdies. Her husband was kind, sweet and jovial and these things would never suit him shortly.

It would be a hell of a change.

"Tej Ji if you join with Harsh you breathe with chaos and confusions. He and his daughter are the same." Arundhati commented earning Annika and Harsh's eyes broaden with her accusations.

"I see, Ms Hotheaded is progeny of these crazy and weird people."

"Sarur Ji? Did you just mumble something? I didn't quite get it?" Annika plastered a fraud full stretched smile and enquired him.

"Nothing Ms Hotheaded." He simply shrugged his shoulder making Oberoi genuinely smile at his welcoming personality. He has a different opinion of her however he didn't want that to affect the relationship between Annika and Shivaay with his stagnant anger.

"We were at halwa topic. Remember?" Rudra stood pushing his chair back and clicked the steel tumbler with the spoon gaining others' attention.

"Rudy you have become liable. I'm proud of you." Om patted his shoulder wishing not to concentrate on the couple opposite to him.

"Thanks, O."

"Yeah, my baby will make halwa tomorrow morning," Pinky exclaimed with her energy overboard.

"Tomorrow? Her principal has summoned us, her parents." Harsh piped in the conversation.

"We are not going. It's her responsibility now." Annika looked at her husband pleading, asking him to do something in the matter.

"Aai-" Shivaay started only to be curtailed by his mother-in-law.

"No Shiv. You won't support her this time. It's her father's attitude that always creates blunders and gets stuck. This is not the first time college authority I called us."

"But Aai I promise this the last time-"

"It's final Shiv. I nor Harsh are visiting the principal tomorrow."

"Aru-" Harsh stopped his track as his ex-wife glared intensively at him.

"Forget that you both had a daughter. From the day she married my lad, she is our daughter. I will go with her tomorrow." Harsh proudly glanced at Tej who was determined yet differentiated.

"You aren't that bad," Annika whispered kicking off Shivaay's legs under the table which were quite disturbing.

"I was always this good." Tej arrogantly boosted his goodness and Kalyani sighed at her son's personality.

"We are off the topic." Rudra again intervened.

"Yup."

"Haan."

"I don't even know to boil milk." Annika started with a humourless chuckle.

"She only understands spreading blueberry jam on bread," Shivaay added with air quoting the words specifically. "It's an art. An art of spreading."

"But those are too good. I love them." Shakti added with a delightful expression.

"That's the reason I ask you to learn cooking." Arundhati was again back to square one with her needle stuck over Annika's cooking.

"You are embarrassing me in front of my husband and family, Aai."

"It's okay Annika." Tej gritted his teeth watching his lad consoling his wife by peppering kisses on her forehead.

"Ahem."

"My son. He is so much romantic. Awe." Pinky gushed like a fan girl looking at her son soothe his wife.

"It's alright puttar. I was spoiled, the only daughter of my parents and with this, I was uneducated in cooking skills. My husband taught me." Dadi spoke remembering her memories with her late husband?

"I will help you."

•••••

Don't you all think that Om deserves his share of happiness.
:-P