There is rejoicing all around in the village house when JandA return home with their newborn. Much to their surprise, almost the entire village turns up to congratulate them.
Armaan: (looking around at the milling crowd) Oh my……mujhe toh pata hi nahin tha ki hum itne logon ko jaante hai..!
Bua: (beaming) Arre beta, inn sab ne toh aana hi tha….hamare pind mein jab aisa koi khushi ka mauka hota hai, toh aas-pados kya, poore ka poora pind aata hai mubarakbad dene!
Ila: Yeh toh kuch bhi nahin hai…..just wait till we get back home, Armaan…….poora Mumbai hamare saath celebrate karega!
(Quite clearly, there is an element of competition between Bua and Ila about who knows more people!😉)
Bebe is very happy with the name. Cradling the baby in her arms, she tells Jassi, "Jaanti hai, Jassi puttar, ek din main Granth Sahib leke baithi thi, aur tumhare hone wale bachche ke baare mein soch rahi thi…..aur isse sanjog kaho ya Babaji ki marzi, lekin mere nazar jis shabd par sabse pehle padi, wo tha 'Ashish'!" 👏
Jassi: (delightedly) Sach Bebe! (hugs her tightly)
A very jittery Raj picks up his phone in Gulmohur. "Kya hua…….main tere call ka kab se wait kar raha hun….sab theek toh hai na…..Jassi ko hospital mein admit kara diya kya….?"
Armaan: (jauntily) Yaar, admit toh kiya tha, lekin hospital walon ne usse aaj ghar waapas jaane ko kaha…!
Raj: (indignantly) What? How can they do this……usse iss haalat mein wo discharge kaise kar sakte hai….Armaan tu…
Armu: Don't worry, waise bhi wo ab ghar par hi theek hai….
Raj: Tu paagal toh nahin ho gaya hai….uss village mein kaisi facilities hai, tu jaanta hai na…..aur phir bhi…..
Armu: (coolly) Just a minute Raj….main tujhe kuch sunaana chahta hun….
He picks up Ashish and brings the phone close to him. Then he looks imploringly at his son to let out one sound, any sound. The child obliges with a sudden wail that makes Jassi glare at Armaan and snatch back her darling son. Armaan chuckles and returns to the phone. Apparently, Raj has been struck dumb.😃
Armu: So….kaisi lagi mere bte ki awaaz?
Raj: (staggered) Yeh….yeh tumhara baby……but….but mujhe toh pata hi nahin…..
Armaan: (laughing) Apne Papa pe gaya hai na…..bilkul unpredictable! So…..Mr.Raj Malhotra…..how do you like Mr.Ashish Suri?
Raj: (recovering) Agar yeh sachmuch tujh pe gaya hai, toh ab mera farz banta hai ki main Mumbai mein agle kuch saalon tak paida hone wali, saari ladkiyon ki Mummyion ko alert kar dun….. "Beware….Ashish Suri aapki beta ka dil churaane aa raha hai!"😆 (pause) Arre yaar main toh kehna bhul hi gaya……Congratulations!!
At night, when Armaan enters his bedroom, he stops short:
Jassi is rocking Ashish to sleep, gently humming a lullaby under her breath. Next to her on the bed, Vedika is lying down, her eyelids drowsy. He smiles blissfully at the sight.
Tiptoeing in, he sits down next to Jassi. She smiles warmly at him. He gently eases out a finger and runs it lightly over his son's head. Ashish is asleep, looking angelic.😊 Both his parents gaze at him for a few minutes. Then Jassi gets up softly and lays him in his cradle. When she comes back, she sees Armaan leaning over Vedika. He motions to say that she, too, has fallen asleep.
They talk in whispers.
Jassi: Kaisa lag raha hai Armaan?
Armu: (cupping her face in his hands) Ye batane ki zaroorat hai? Iss waqt, main duniya ka sabse lucky adami hun.
Jassi blushes, looks down and fumbles with her dupatta. Then she takes out the miniature Armaan had given her. "Dekho Armaan…..ab hamari family poori ho gayi, bilkul iss painting ki tarah."
Armu looks at her for a long time, and even in the moonlight the ardour on his face is unmistakable. "Nahin Jassi…..hamari family abhi poori nahin hui hai…."
She looks quizzically at him. Taking hold of her finger, he guides it to the tiniest girl in the picture. "Isme hum dono hai, aur hamare Vedika aur Ashish….lekin abhi mujhe apni Mannat ka intezaar hai!"😳
Jassi glares at him. "Armaan Suri…….behave yourself! Abhi-abhi toh Ashish iss duniya mein aaya hai, aur tum already next baby ki baat…."
Armu: Look Jassi…..mujhe toh apni Mannat har haalat mein chahiye….so why waste any more time? 😉
He starts leaning over her, but the blushing Jassi gives him a push so that he nearly falls off the bed. Then she checks anxiously on Vedika, who (thankfully!) is still sound asleep. Armu regains his balance and sits down on the edge of the bed, pouting. She shakes her head lovingly at him.
"Good night, Armaan Suri!"😛
Monday: Raj on the trail
