Shankarnath is excited. LD and Radha are coming home today with his great granddaughter. He almost travelled down to Mumbai to see her but Sadhna Bahu said that the young couple wanted to bring her to her real home and get everyone's blessings. The naming ceremony would be held in Mathura they had insisted.
He waits in the hall but with his eyes fixed on the entrance. Muralidhar has gone to pick them up from the railway station. Radha and LD had preferred to travel by train since the baby was small. Some of the neighbourhood women had also gathered at home. Shankarnath was too happy to take note of their gossip. But when one of the ladies passed a comment that it was unfortunate that Leeladhar's first child was a daughter, that sons carried the family name and looked after the family responsibilities, Shankarnath got angry.
"Gowrieji, what are you saying? That daughters do not fulfil family responsibilities? Radha, came into our home from the city. She looks after our family and also her parents. She took the effort of learning our traditions and she has understood them better than any son in the family. Although she and Leeladhar live in the city, Radha Beti ensures that they follow all the traditions that we follow here at Mathura. Today, Leeladhar is a successful businessman. But he is successful because Radha Bahu is with him, supporting and complementing his work. Daughters may have different responsibilities but they are as important as sons for a family."
They hear the car arrive. Jayshree is ready with the thali for the aarthi. Janvi stands behind everybody. LD comes carrying the baby and as they reach the doorway, he passes her to Radha. Jayshree steps forward with the thali. Radha looks for Janvi. "Janvi, please come and do the aarthi for us with Chachiji." "Bhabhi, I am considered to be a childless woman. I should not even be here." "Says who? You are this baby's aunt. Her father's sister. You will do the aarthi for her."
The women who are there start whispering. Gowrie stands up and says, "Radha Bahu, we know you are from the city and don't care about these things but we do. Janvi should not be doing the aarthi. It will be bad luck for the child. We even saw Leeladhar carrying the baby in. Are you not ashamed of making him do a woman's work?"
"Gowrie Chachi, what are you saying? She is my daughter too. Why can't I carry her? I already feel it is unfair that Radha had her to herself for so many months and now you are saying I shouldn't be carrying her? I am sorry Chachi but I am going to be very involved with my daughter's upbringing. And if Radha feels that Janvi should do her aarthi, then my sister will do the aarthi. Come Janvi do the aarthi for your baby niece. We have been waiting long enough."
Janvi takes the thali and does the aarthi. They all go in. Radha takes the baby to Dadaji and he blesses them both. The baby is then passed on to Dadibua who also blesses her and puts a gold chain on her. The twins demand that they too be allowed to hold their baby sister. So Shamili makes them sit on the couch and puts the baby on both their laps keeping a cautious hand on the baby.
Sadhna takes the baby and tells Radha and LD to freshen up and rest for a while. The guests will be coming in the evening and once the function starts they will not get any time to rest. Taking her advice, they go to their room and have an argument about who will use the washroom first. Sadhna comes in with the baby and finds them arguing. "I cannot believe this. You are still quarrelling the way you used to three years ago. You even have a child now. When are you going to grow up? LD let Radha use the washroom first. She will need to feed the baby."
It is late at night. The naming ceremony had been beautiful. Radha thought that it was too lavish but Dadaji and LD had wanted a grand ceremony. Radha would not allow LD to have grand parties for birthdays or anniversaries and she never had a wedding celebration so she should indulge them on this one. Charumathi, as the baby had been named, was a perfect angel throughout the ceremony but now was hungry again and she let her parents know this very clearly.