Learning The Alphabet... Arshi Style! [COMPLETED] - Page 17

N for... Naam Kya Deinge Iss Bacche Ko?

"Phatti Saree! Hum kahat rahe tumse! Tumhri Bitiya ka namewa hum deciding karat hain. Hum to naam bhi sochat rahe hai! Moti Jalebi!" Mamiji laughed away. (Phatti Saree! I have already told you! I will decide the name of your daughter. I have already thought of it! Fat Jalebi!)

"Manorama!" her mother-in-law stern reprimand killed her amusement right away and she blushed in embarrassment.

"Humra matlab ee hai, saasu ma," she stuttered, "ke Phaati Saree ka favourites to jalebi hai aur ooka sizewa dekhke-"(I mean, mother-in-law, that Phatti Saree loves jalebi and seeing her size-)

Nani's warning glare made her shut up, stuffing a large laddoo in her mouth.

"Khushiji," NK reassured her as he plopped down on one side of her. "Maine na, apne bhaaji aur bhaaje ke liye naam socha hai."(...I have thought of names for my [niece] and [nephew].)

Anjali burst out laughing. "Bhaaji aur bhaaja nahin, NK bhai! Bhaanji aur bhaanja!"(*corrects him*)

He chuckled, holding his ear. "Sorry, same thing. To suniye, agar ladka hua, to Ranbir aur ladki huyi to Sonam."(... If it's a boy, Ranbir and if a girl, Sonam.)

"Excuse me?" Lavanya spluttered from the other side of Khushi with a look of pure disgust. She had just landed from London and she had already fought with NK over a thousand times. "Tum kya film industry ya agency kholne ki soch rahe ho? Chamkili, tum meri baat maan, iss monkey ki nahin. Tumhaare aur ASR ke bacchon ke naam cool hone chahiye. Really modern you know, like Shanaya and Aarav. See, it's kind of sophisticated."(... Were you thinking of opening a film industry or agency here? Chamkili, you listen to me, not this monkey. Asr and your child's name should be cool. ...)

"Oh! Miss Kashyap!" NK frowned. "Tum shaayad Khushiji ki best makkhi ho, lekin Khushiji meri bhabhi hain, okay? Voh meri baat maanegi, kyun, Khushiji?"(... Maybe you're forgetting that Khushiji is my sister-in-law, okay? She'll listen to me, right, Khushiji?)

"Ji nahin, NK bhai," Anjali pouted. "Humaara sujhaav sab se achha hai aur Chhote ke hone waale Chhote ki Bua hain, iss liye humaara ziaada hak banta hai!"(No, Nk Bhai! My suggestion is better and I'm the aunt od Chhote's Chhote, so I get that right!)

Khushi's eyes danced frantically from one person to the other as the argument for choosing her baby's name travelled about. In some way, she felt relieved that her jiji and jeejaji had gone to America for a few days else she was sure they would enter this boxing match as well. He Devi Maiyya! Where was Arnavji? Had he found this particular day to take longer for his jogging?

Ah! Speak of the devil...

"Will you guys stop it?" Arnav's command drifted in as he stood in the doorway, incredulously looking at his crazier-than-usual family, along with the new guest, Lavanya. They started again, this time pleading for him to side with one of them but he firmly lifted a hand to silence them. "Stop!"

He walked in to give his wife the chane he bought her every day when he went on his rounds before he turned to his Di, NK, Lavanya and Mami again.

"Yeh kya paagalpan laga rakkha hai, aap logon ne? Aur voh bhi itni subha-subha?"(What's this madness now?)

"Nannav, mere bhai! Hum bas tumhaare hone waale baccha ka daam discuss kar rahe the!"(... We were just discussing the price of your child!)

"What?" Arnav spat. Seriously? The price of his baby?

Khushi jumped to her feet immediately while the others tried to hide their laughter. "Arnavji, Nanheji ka matlab hai, humaare bhacche ka naam!"(Arnavji, Nanheji means the baby's name!)

NK grimaced guiltily as he realised his mistake. Arnav sighed, noting the anxiety on Khushi's face. This daily soap was doubtlessly unsettling her. And he knew his wife. There were times when she didn't want to say yes, but she didn't have the guts to refuse either.

"Usski koyi zaroorat nahin hai," he announced.(There's no need for that.)

Manorama's eyes opened wide as saucers. "Kaahe? Meaningwa to bataao, Arnav bituwa!"(Why? Tell us the reason!)

Setting his jaw together rather rebelliously, he shrugged. "Humne naam soch liya hai!"(We already have thought of a name!)

Nearly everyone gasped in the room, apart from his wife who began choking on her chane, instead. They had thought of a name already? Well if they had, Khushi knew nothing about it. she had talke to him about this just once and she was not sure he had paid attention because he had been busier... uhm, doing other things...

She felt his hand rub her back gently as he continued speaking. "Yeah, Khushi aur maine naam decide kar liya hai."(Yeah, Khushi and I have decided a name already.)

"Achha?" Anjali teased, smelling the lie. "Kya naam chuna hai tumne, Chhote?"(Really? And what is it, Chhote?)

Khushi glared at her husband. That ought to teach him, for lying to the family and for not listening to her when she had important things to discuss! However, his sister's words brought no change to his expression. It remained as indifferent as ever.

"It's a surprise, Di!"

Anjali raised her eyebrows but Arnav was already dragging Khushi to their room.

"Aapne sab se jhooth kyun bola?" she hissed once he had closed the door.(Why did you lie?)

Arnav stared at her. "To save you, Khushi, what else?"

"Lekin humne naam nahin socha hai!"(But we have not thought of a name!)

"Haan... to?"(So what?)

"To naam kya denge iss bacche ko?" she almost screamed.(So what name will we give to this baby?)

He smirked wolfishly at her while slipping his arms around her waist. "Naam miljaaega, Khushi, tum pareshaan kyun hoti ho?"(We'll find one, Khushi, why are you so worried?)

"Naam aise hi nahin milega, Arnavji!" she told him crossly. "Humein sochna padega!"(We won't find it like that, Arnavji! We have to think!)

"To hum sochleinge, na? Kya jaldi hai?"(So we'll think, won't we? What's the hurry?)

Khushi's eyes widened and her mouth fell open in that little delectable 'o' shape. "Kya jaldi hai?" she gasped. "Kya jaldi hai? Aapko pata bhi hai ke sirf teen mahine baaki hain? Aap-"(The hurry? What's the hurry? Do you realise we just have three months?)

"Shh!" Arnav pressed his index against her soft lips to stop her even as he hugged her closer with one arm. "Don't worry, Khushi. Main sambhaal lounga. Maine kaha tha, na? Naam mil gaya hai."(... I handle it. And I have said it, right? I found a name.)

"Aapne naam dhoondh liya?" she mouthed in disbelief. (You found a name?)

He gave her a little smile and nodded. "Kuchh soch rakkha hai."(Thought of something.)

She stared at him, dumb-founded by his revelation. This was totally out of her understanding. Arnav Singh Raizada? Had thought of a name for their baby alone? She couldn't possibly trust that. But the sincere look in his eyes told her otherwise and she felt her heart start to melt. Well, maybe he had found something... but what if it was some dumb name? Like 'Percent'? Or 'Survey'? Or worse, 'Contract'? He Devi Maiyya! What would she do then? Because that was her Arnavji's language! Everything that came out of his mouth was most of the time a business-language. He couldn't even speak Hindi without one English word in it.

Khushi narrowed her eyes at him. "Kya naam socha hai, aapne?"(What name?)

Arnav grinned at her. "Surprise hai, Mrs Raizada! Aapko wait karna padega. Anyway, mujhe nahaane jaana hai. Want to join me?" he asked casually, making her gasp and blush scarlet all over again.(... You'll have to wait. Anyway, I have to take a shower. ...)