OS - Naamkaran
Raizada house was filled with guests as the Raizadas were celebrating the name giving ceremony of a very spezial new member to the family. Nani was literally in tears when she held the little one in her arms.
"Kitna pyaara hain, haina?" Nani asked Anjali, who nodded dutifully. The guests were eager for the ceremony to start but they were still waiting for one main member of the family to come.
"Akash, sara dekho toh chote kaha hain." Anjali asked her cousin brother nad he left hurriedly. On his way, he came across Khushi, who rushed in with her sister.
"Arre, Akash ji. Maaf karna hum late hogaye. Bacche ka naam rakh liya?" But Akash was lost in the lady standing next to Khushi, who was looking at the ground shyly. Khushi sighed.
"Akash ji", she said a little louder. Akash came out of his trance and was slightly embarrassed. He explained how everyone was waiting eagerly for the name giving ceremony to start as the auspicious time was soon to pass and Arnav was still not home.
"Ek kaam karte hain. Aap Jiji ko leke jao aur main Laad' mera matlab hain Arnav ji ka intezaar karti hu. Jaise hi wo ajaenge, main ajaungi." Akash didn't need telling twice and he left with Payal following shyly.
Khushi kept looking at her watch every two seconds and prayed to her Devi Mayya to bring that spoilt brat name Arnav Singh Raizada back home soon.
Inside, Nani had told the pundit to start the ceremony. The pundit looked into the kundali and said:
"Inki kundali ke anusaar inka naam akshar A se ho hona chahiye. Jadi kishi bhi aur akshar pe rakha to unki jeewan rekha kat sakti hain.
"Nahin nahin, aisa nahin hoga." Nani gave the small one a kiss and told everyone to find a name starting with A. For this task, they had 15 minutes time, then they would collect all names and find the best one.
Meanwhile, Arnav was driving back home and he was purposely taking his time. He had no interest in taking part in the ceremoney. Nani had told him to come back soon but he knew she would continue anyways even if he didn't turn up. But he had to reach home at the end because all guests were expecting him and he had to show his face at least once.
At the gate, the security opened up and he pulled up the car right infront of the main door. He could hear that everyone was discussing something so he tought to wait.
Khushi was torn between waiting for Arnav and going inside and taking part in the ceremoney. Finally, when Arnav did not appear, she went inside and heard Nani annouce that everyone was to suggest one name with A. The list was huge and Aryan, Abhinav, Armaan, Ayushmaan, Atul were just few of them. At the end, they were highly confused especially since Nani could not decide.
"Nani, kyun na hum Khushi ji se pooche? Unke paas to humesha acche ideas hote hain, haina?" Anjali said to Nani who agreed whole heartedly.
"Sahin kaha Anjali bitya. Khusi bitya, aap jo naam bologi, wohin hoga is bacche ka naam." Khushi was over joyed and closed her eyes tight to think of a nice name with A.
Her mind came up with many but her thoughts were disturbed by some comotion in the croud. She opened her eyes and saw Arnav entering. Out of instinct, she jumped up and remebered her task.
"ARNAV JI" she yelled to call him.
"Ji accha, aaj se inka naam Arnav hua." The pundit wrote the name in the kundali and the ceremoney was hence concluded.
It took everyone a few minutes to realise what had just happened. When Mami started laughing, followed by Anjali, Khushi closed her eyes at the blunder that had happened due to her.
Arnav suddenly realised what had happened and strode angrily towards Khushi. He was about to yell when he realised that he was in the presence of guest. But he still glared at Khushi who avoided his stare. The guests congratulated the family one last time and left.
Even Khushi and Payal left with Akash who drove them back. Arnav went straight to his Nani.
"Nani, aap iska naam change karlo." Nani gave him a serious look but her mouth did form a small smile.
"Ab kuch nahin hosakta. Ek baar naam rakhne ke baad naam badla nahin jaata."
"Lekin yeh kaise hosakta hain?"
"Kyun, Arnav to accha naam hain aur usse suit bhi karta hain." Arnav was near having a breakdown.
"Nani, aap ne ek BAKRI KE BACCHE ko MERA naam dediya?"
"Arre, yeh koi aisi waisi bakri nahin hain. Yeh baccha Lakshmi ka hain aur aap jaante hain ke wo bhi is parivaar ka ek hissa hain. Lakshmi to unsko janaam dete hi margae aur wo ab aap ko hi apni maa manti hain." This was enough and Arnav went back to his room and sat down on his bed. He heard a little sound and saw Arnav junior comfortably lying on his own bed.
"Oye, hato yaha se, naam chor." Arnav yelled and the little goat baby looked up. It might be his stress and anger but Arnav found that the was he was turning his head made him look very sad. Arnav mellowed down a little.
"Dekho, tum yaha nahin so sakte, yeh mera bed hain." But the sad look continued. Arnav gave up and sighed. He changed and went to bed. Shortly before he fell asleep, he felt the baby goat lick his face in appreciation and he instinctively put his arm around the little one.
"Kya samaana agaya hain, Arnav Singh Raizada ke din itne bure ke usse ek bakri ke bacche ke saath bed share karna parraha hain." The baby licked his face again and both fell asleep, snuggling up to each other.
~~~ The End ~~~
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