[57]AVIRAJ
The room was wrapped in deep winter quiet, only the soft tick of the wall clock and the gentle rise and fall of breathing.
Abhiraj was fast asleep on his back, one arm flung over his head, the other resting on the empty space where Amisha had been.
Exhausted from the day, he was out cold.
Amisha lay curled on her side, half-dozing, when the soft knocking started.
When whole family had played with baby baby was sleeping on dadi's arms.so amisha tried to take him he was crying so they let him sleep with dadi so now he was there.
Amisha was slight nervous or uneasy that how will be baby hungry.comafortable.but not much worry after all she knows family was there to take good care but still...
Tap... tap... tap.
She stirred immediately (mother's instinct), sat up slowly, and slipped out of bed.
Abhiraj didn't move.
She wrapped her shawl around her shoulders, opened the door a crack.
Megha stood there, hair in messy braids, eyes wide, holding the baby who was fussing softly.
"Bhabhi... lagta hai bhook lagi hai.
Rone laga tha, main uth gayi."
Amisha smiled tiredly, took baby instantly.
"Shh... aa ja."
She stepped out, closed the door softly behind her so Abhiraj wouldn't wake.
The two women walked to the wide corridor couch near the balcony (moonlight spilling through the arches, cool but peaceful).
Amisha sat, adjusted her shawl and pallu for modesty, and opened the front clips of her night-kurti (easy access for feeding).
The baby latched immediately, hungry little mouth working, eyes closing in relief.
Megha sat beside her, watching with a soft smile.
Then she leaned closer, whispering.
"Bhabhi... mujhe aapse ek question poochhna tha."
Amisha glanced at her, still rocking gently.
"Haan, poochh."
Megha fidgeted.
"Agar main naam rakhoon baby ka... aur kisi ko pasand na aaye toh?"
Amisha smiled, adjusting the shawl so everything stayed covered.
"Arre aisa kyun hoga?
Tum bua ho, tumhara haq hai."
Megha bit her lip.
"Nahi... agar kisi ko pasand na aaye toh?"
Amisha chuckled softly.
"Toh dusra rakh denge.
Aisa thodi hota hai."
Megha took a deep breath.
"Waise... main aapse poochh loon naam ke baare mein?"
Amisha raised a brow, amused.
"Haan, of course. Poochh sakti ho."
Megha leaned in, excited but nervous.
"Agar naam bhaiya jaisa ho...
matlab A se start ho aur peeche 'raj' ho...
toh chalega na?"
Amisha paused, then her eyes widened in understanding.
"Matlab... Aviraj?"
Megha's mouth fell open.
She whispered-shouted, "Aapko kaise pata?!"
The baby, startled by the sudden noise, bit down lightly on Amisha's nipple.
Amisha hissed softly, gave Megha a playful glare.
Megha slapped a hand over her mouth.
"Sorry sorry!"
Amisha adjusted the baby, still smiling.
"Abe gadhi...
A se start, peeche raj... toh Aviraj hi hoga na.
Aur kaunsa naam?"
Megha laughed nervously.
"Haan... shayad main thodi pagal hi hoon."
Amisha chuckled, looking down at the baby who was now feeding calmly again.
"Naam toh achha hai-Aviraj.
Gaon mein kisi ka nahi hai.
Aur Abhiraj jaisa bhi hai."
Megha beamed, practically glowing.
"Pakka? Sabko pasand aayega?"
Amisha nodded.
"Pakka."
The baby finished, eyes drooping, milk-drunk and happy.
Amisha gently wiped his mouth with the edge of her shawl.
He gave a big, toothless smile (cheeks round, eyes bright).
Amisha whispered, testing it.
"Aviraj..."
The baby smiled wider, kicking his little legs.
Amisha raised her eyebrows, laughing softly.
"Dekha? Isko bhi pasand aa gaya."
Megha squealed quietly, kissed the baby's forehead, then stood.
"Main sabko bataati hoon kal subah!"
She bounced away, happier than ever.
Amisha sat a moment longer, rocking the sleepy baby.
"Aviraj Shekhawat..." she murmured.
He yawned, snuggled closer.
She kissed his forehead.
And carried him back to the bedroom,
where his father slept on (dreaming, no doubt, of the little king who now had the perfect name).
The haveli settled back into quiet.
A new name whispered through its walls.
Aviraj.
It fit perfectly.
Amisha slipped back into the bedroom, closing the door with the softest click, shawl wrapped around her shoulders.
Abhiraj was still fast asleep, one arm flung out, breathing deep and even.
She smiled at him, then looked down at Aviraj in her arms (wrapped snugly in his little blanket inside her shawl).
The baby's big hazel eyes were wide open, staring at her like the night was the most fascinating thing ever.
No sign of sleep.
Amisha sighed, face turning ??.
She whispered, "Aviraj... tu nahi so raha hai.
Ab mujhe bhi neend nahi aa rahi."
The baby kicked happily, as if agreeing.
She didn't know yet-he was an owl.
In the hospital, she had slept through most nights, exhausted from labour.
Abhiraj had handled the night feeds, the rocking, the crying.
So this was her first real taste of her son's nocturnal habits.
She wrapped the shawl tighter around both of them (no cold would touch her baby, or her), and tiptoed out to their attached balcony.
The winter night was crisp, stars bright, moon full.
She sat on the cushioned swing, rocking gently, humming a lullaby.
Aviraj stared at the moon, then at her, then at the stars (wide awake, fascinated).
After twenty minutes of trying everything (patting, singing, walking), Amisha gave up.
Both mother and son were now officially wide awake owls.
She looked at him, deadpan.
"Tune toh doodh pi liya...
ab mujhe bhookh lag gayi hai.
Chalo, kuchh khaate hain."
Aviraj cooed, kicking his legs (as if saying, "Adventure!").
Mother and baby exchanged a serious nod.
Secret mission: midnight snack.
Both wrapped in the big shawl (cheeks chubby, eyes wide, looking ridiculously similar), they tiptoed out of the room.
Down the dark corridor (past sleeping doors), down the stairs (slow, careful, no creaks).
Into the kitchen.
Moonlight spilled through the windows, enough to see.
Amisha opened the fridge with one hand (baby secure in the other arm).
Found the bowl of kheer Minakshi Ma had made for dinner.
Perfect.
She grabbed a spoon, sat on the kitchen counter (because reaching a chair felt too far), and started eating.
Cold, sweet, delicious.
She teased the baby, holding a spoonful near his mouth.
"Tu khaayega?
Haan?
Nahi na... tu chhota hai.
Aur abhi hi toh piya na tune."
Aviraj watched, fascinated, kicking happily.
She finished half the bowl, then paused.
"Ab... meetha kha liya.
Kuchh teekha bhi chahiye."
She looked in the fridge (nothing spicy).
Irritated, she stood, started searching the high shelves for the achar or chilli pickle dibbas.
But they were too high.
She tried to reach (one hand holding baby, the other stretching).
No luck.
She jumped a little (tiny hops).
Still no.
Jumped again (Aviraj bouncing with her, giggling silently).
Impossible.
She bit her lip in frustration, glaring at the dibba like it had personally offended her.
Then suddenly-she felt herself lifted.
Hands under her thighs, raising her effortlessly.
Baby and all.
She looked down.
Abhiraj.
In his pyjamas, hair messy, eyes sleepy but amused.
Holding her up like she weighed nothing (so she and the baby were level with the high shelf).
"Kya kar rahi ho itni raat ko?"
His voice was low, rough with sleep, but warm.
Amisha smiled guilty ??, cheeks pink.
"Woh... mujhe kuchh khaana tha..."
He raised an eyebrow at the empty kheer bowl on the counter.
She grinned wider.
He shook his head, reached easily, took down the spicy mango pickle dibba, and handed it to her.
"Okay okay."
Then he lowered her gently, but kept holding (her, the baby, everything).
Amisha opened the dibba with one hand, scooped a little achar with her finger, ate.
"Mmm..."
Aviraj watched, fascinated.
Abhiraj stood there, arms full (his wife, his son, and now a pickle dibba), smiling at his two owls on a midnight mission.
The kitchen stayed quiet.
But the love in it was loud enough to wake the stars.
And the secret mission continued (successfully, with a little help from the sleepy but ever-ready king).
The kitchen raid had been successful.
Amisha sat on the wide windowsill in the bedroom now (back safely in the room, door closed, moonlight pouring in).
She had the spicy mango achar dibba open on her lap, spoon in hand, eating small bites with pure satisfaction.
Aviraj was nestled between them on the sill (propped safely against her chest, wrapped in the shawl, wide hazel eyes staring at everything like the world was brand new).
Abhiraj sat beside her, one arm around her shoulders, the other supporting the baby's back.
Amisha scooped a tiny piece of achar, turned to Abhiraj with a mischievous smile.
"Lo... taste karo."
She held it to his lips.
He didn't open his mouth.
Instead, he leaned in, kissed her deeply (slow, teasing, tasting the spice straight from her tongue).
When he pulled back, he licked his lips deliberately.
"Better this way."
Amisha's cheeks flushed.
She glanced down at the baby, who was staring up at them with huge, unblinking eyes.
"Arre Abiraj... aviraj dekh raha hai.
Kya sochega yeh?"
Abhiraj looked down at the baby, then at her, pretending confusion.
"Kon Aviraj?"
Amisha bit her tongue (literally, in surprise).
"Bahar nikal gaya..."
He raised an eyebrow, smirking.
"Kon Aviraj?
"
She laughed, swatting his chest lightly.
"Aapka beta... Aviraj!"
He looked at the baby again, eyes softening.
"Aviraj... tumne naam rakha?"
She shook her head, still smiling.
"Nahi... Megha ne rakha."
He nodded slowly, thumb brushing the baby's cheek.
"Bilkul mere jaisa hai."
Amisha tilted her head.
"Bachha bhi toh aapke jaisa hai."
He looked at her, then at the baby, voice warm.
Cheeks tumhare jaise... lips bhi.
Eyes mere, nose bhi thoda mera.
Par yeh round face... poora tumhara.
"Hal me to tumhare jaisa hi dikh raha hai"
She smiled, tracing the baby's cheek.
"Shamiksha naam toh rakh nahi sakte...
to Aviraj hi sahi hai."
He chuckled, kissed her forehead.
"Okay okay... jo tumhe pasand ho."
She leaned into him, eyes shining.
"Mujhe toh Aviraj hi pasand hai."
He pulled her closer, baby safe between them.
"Toh Aviraj hi rahega."
Aviraj yawned, blinked slowly, and finally closed his eyes.
Mission complete (achar eaten, name confirmed, family whole).
The three of them stayed on the windowsill a little longer,
wrapped in moonlight and quiet love,
before carrying their sleeping son back to bed.
Aviraj Shekhawat.
Perfect.