A Tale of Two Nicknames

Bee

@Bee222

This is a fun OS  Was supposed to post on the 10th, but got busy with the other celebration threads and then bogged down by work  Late hi sahi, enjoy it 

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Raghav finished the meeting, shut his laptop, then got up and stretched languidly. He was about to go make himself some coffee when he saw something that shocked him out of his senses.

His beloved wife had entered, looking just as beautiful as she always did. However, for the first time since their marriage, he found his eyes locking not on her, but on what she was carrying.

In her arms was a mewling, crying baby.

"Pallavi!" He rushed to her, looking alternately between her and the baby. "Tum pregnant bhi ban gaya aur ma bhi ban gaya? Aur mereko khabar tak nahi kiya!"

Pallavi who was in a good mood so far, found herself fuming at his words. She felt an intense urge to throw something at him, but the only thing in sight was a tiny rattle the baby was playing with. She grabbed it from the baby and started hitting her husband with it.

"Arey arey, kya kar raha hai tum Saree ka dukaan!" came his response.

She was about to launch a lecture, but the baby started crying.

"Dekha, usko bhi rona aa raha hai apne nana pe domestic violence hota dekhkar!"

"Chup karo tum! Wo tumhare liye nahi, apne khilaune ke liye ro raha — rahi hai!" she said, trying to free the rattle which had got stuck to one of his shirt buttons. As the baby's cries grew in intensity, she gave up on her attempts and dangled her pallu in front of the baby. Fascinated, she tried to grab at it, all previous cries forgotten. She had found her new toy.

Raghav was amazed. "Ye baccha to bilkul mere pe gaya hai Saree ka dukaan!" he said excitedly. "Dekho usko bhi mere tarah tumhara pallu se pyaar hai!"

"Raghavvvv..." Pallavi sighed, seriously considering which of the two babies in front of her she should focus on. For all his sharpness, her husband could be incredibly dumb at times. "Raghav, ye humara baccha nahi hai."

"Arey, aisa kaisa humara baccha nahi! Kaisa amma hai tum, just because ye baby thoda mera side pe gaya hai, tum isko disown kar raha hai? Tum ladies log bhi na... chota chota baato ka bada bada punishment dena hai humesha!"

"Hey deva, iss veda manus ko kuch akkal do please! Hum ladies log jaise bhi ho, at least tum gents ki tarah apni saali ki bhaateeji ko apna baccha nahi maan lete!"

"Bhajji? Yaha hum itna serious topic pe baat kar rahe hai, aur tumko khaane ka chinta hai Saree ka dukaan! Haan waise maine suna tha, pregnancy ke waqt ladki bhukkad ban jaata hai—"

"Ae, bhukkad kisko bol rahe ho tum Ghamandi Rao?" If she wasn't carrying a baby, she would've put her hands on her hips and charged towards him. For now, she just narrowed her eyes and waited.

"Arey tum bura kaiko maanta? Ladkiyan kaafi mota ban jaata hai pregnancy ke time pe, mera amma bhi bana tha. It's natural, Pallavi! Par maanna padega tumko..."

He ran a quick glance down her body, then looked up with a smirk. "Bas thoda hi mota hua tum."

"Tum— tum—" she spluttered in rage. How dare he! In the span of a minute, he had called her both a glutton and fat. "Tum couch pe— nahi, tum guest room mein souge do hafte tak! No, actually... Reddy! Reddy!"

Glaring daggers at Raghav, Pallavi began shouting for their trusted househelp. As he came running, Pallavi said, "Reddy, apne anna ka bag pack kar do. Wo kuch dino ke liye hotel mein rukenge." She sent another glare towards Raghav.

Poor Reddy looked at his boss, who dismissed him with a jerk of his head. Relieved, he tried to escape, but Pallavi's voice stopped him.

"Reddyy..." she said in a warning tone.

Suddenly, a chuckle sounded beside them, turning into a wholehearted laugh. It was Raghav. His entire body shook with his laughter, his eyes crinkling as his face shone with joy.

The sight was Pallavi's favourite, and it melted her instantly. She found herself smiling with him — almost — when she remembered she was supposed to be angry.

What was the reason again?

Whatever. If she couldn't be angry, she could at least be annoyed. "Reddy," she began again, turning back to finish her orders, but the man had cleverly seen his opportunity and sneaked out. Ugh.

Damn Ghamandi Rao and his beautiful smiles.

She looked at Raghav, who was advancing towards her with an amused smirk on his face.

"Ab Reddy ko chhod bhi do Saree ka dukaan," he said, circling his hands around her waist. "Apna jhagda hum khud hi mita lenge."

He whispered the last words in a low husky voice, then leaned forward and kissed the back of her ear. A shiver ran through Pallavi. For a moment she was afraid she'd drop the baby, but Raghav smoothly took it from her hands and turned around, making his way towards the sofa. He emptied the basket of fruits lying on the table, then grabbed two little cushions and put them inside. After fluffing up the sides and denting the middle, he placed the baby on the makeshift bed, careful not to wake her.

"Mera Keerti bhi aisa hi chota sa tha..." he said, a fond smile on his face as he watched over the sleeping baby.

Pallavi who had been quietly observing his actions with the baby, came and sat beside him on the sofa. Although Raghav was closer to his sister now, their childhood was still a sentimental topic. She took his hand in hers and gave it a little squeeze. He squeezed back, accepting the support.

"Raghav," she began. "Ye baccha—"

"Krishna ka bhai ka beti hai. I know."

She looked at him, surprised. "Tumhe pata hai?"

He snorted, turning towards her as well. "To tumko kya laga, main sach mein apna saali ka bhajji ko apna baby maan lega?"

She rolled her eyes. "Bhajji nahi, bhateeji. Matlab niece. Dono bohot alag baatein hai."

"Jo bhi ho, mereko same hi lagta hai. I swear, tumhara hindi language bohot difficult hai. Telugu mein kitna simple, menakodalu."

"Kya—kya bola tumne? Meena Koda what?"

"Menakodalu, saree ka dukaan. Matlab niece."

"Aur tumhe ye simple lagta hai?!"

"Of course! And simple ho na ho, at least koi food item jaisa naam to nahi hai na! Varna tum logo ka kya bharosa, abhi bhajji par naam rakha hai, kal ko dosa sambhar idli sab par naam rakhega karke."

"Oh please, as if tum log kuch alag ho! Medu vada pe naam rakh diya bacche ka!"

"What nonsense! Medu vada nahi, menakodalu."

"Whatever. Mereko same hi lagta hai." She mimicked him.

"Cheee, kitna ghatiya voice nikala tum mera! Listen, main Raghav Rao hai. Mera attitude koi bhi copy nahi kar sakta, ardhamainda?" He smirked.

She raised a hand. "Bas, haan? Bada aya Raghav Rao ka attitude dikhane. Amma ke samne to muh tak nahi khulti tumhari."

"Arey... k-kyun-kyunki wo amma hai!"

She snickered, her eyes falling on the baby again.

"Accha ye batao..." She looked back to Raghav. "Tumhe pata kaise chala ki ye Krishna ki niece hai?"

"Uska phone aya tha subah ko. Bol raha tha ki ek din ke liye agar hum uska bhajji ko sambhal le karke. Usko pata tha ki tum to ek jhatke mein maan jayega, isliye mere se poochke alag se confirm kiya."

It was true. With his wife's arm injured in an accident and him working long hours, Abhijeet — Krishna's brother — was in a tough situation. Krishna had volunteered to babysit his daughter while he worked, and the arrangement had worked out well so far. But today she herself had fallen sick, and requested Pallavi to take over. Pallavi of course was very happy to help, but the fact that Krishna had confirmed with Raghav before, irked her a bit. Was she her friend or Raghav's? The two of them were getting increasingly close these days — they even had inside jokes of their own!

"Badi ayi jiju ki saali," she muttered.

"Huh? Kuch bola kya?"

"Kuch nahi!" She scowled and looked away.

Raghav smirked. "Aha! I know that face! Tumko phir se jealousy ho raha hai na?"

"What?" Her head snapped up again. "Jealousy, aur mujhe? Kis baat ki jealousy?"

"The same one jo mereko feel hota hai tumko aur Farhad ko dekhkar! Mera bhai ko apna devar banake rakh diya tum!"

"Oh please! Tumhara bhai mere samne bhi apna anna jaap bandh nahi karta!"

"To tumhara Saree ka assistant bhi kuch kam nahi hai! Har time bas 'mera didi yeh, mera didi wo' karke mera dimaag khata hai!"

"Agar itni problem hai to baat hi kyun karte ho usse? Wo meri dost hai, use mere paas hi rehne do!"

"Haan to shaukh se rakho na tum! Par pehle mereko mera Farhad wapas hona!"

Thwip!

The baby had found a lone grape in her basket-bed, and shot it at Raghav with all the strength in her tiny arms. She chortled and waved her legs, celebrating her accomplishment.

Pallavi giggled. "Dekha, ye choti si medu vada bhi tumhare baaton se pak gayi. Ise bhi meri tarah tumhe chup karana aata hai."

"Maine to pehle hi bola, ye bilkul mere pe gaya hai. Isko bhi tumhara jeet se hi khushi milta hai, jaise mereko milta hai." He smiled at her, a genuine one, and Pallavi felt a warmth of happiness rush through her. He always expressed his love in these little ways — and she knew he meant every single word.

She cleared her throat a little. "Waise tum acting kaafi acchi kar lete ho Raghav," she told him. "Mujhe sach mein laga ki tum serious ho... pata hai kitna gussa aa raha tha tum pe!"

He rolled his eyes. "Tum bhi na Saree ka dukaan, tumko to bas bahana chahiye mere pe gussa hone ka."

"Gussa kaise na hoti? Tumne mujhe bhukkad aur moti bulaya!"

"Main to bas ched raha tha tumko! Tum to mereko sidha hotel bhej raha tha!"

"Tumne kaha main tumhe bina bataye pregnant ban gayi! Aisi bakwaas kaun karta hai?" Her earlier annoyance was back in full form.

"Pallavi..." he grabbed her hands, looking into her eyes intently. He had meant it as a joke, but the words seemed much more serious now that she put it like that. "I'm really sorry. You know I'd never..." he trailed off. I'd never disrespect you like that.

Damn, she hadn't even thought of it that way. Losing all flame, she grabbed his hands in her own. "Tumhe sorry kehne ki zaroorat nahi Raghav. Mujhe waisa wala gussa nahi aya tha..." she said softly.

Then she made a face, glaring at him. "Main bas tumhari ulti khopdi ko seedha karna chahti thi! Tum kuch bhi bol dete ho Ghamandi Rao!"

He brought up her hands and kissed them. "Main jaisa bhi hai, tumhara hai, Saree ka dukaan. Jhelna to padega hi." He grinned.

Her heart fluttering again, she laid her head on his chest. "Jhel to main lungi, par tum thode samajhdaar ban jaoge to naak tedi nahi ho jayegi tumhari!"

"Hmm... waise ek baat to hai, jisme main kaafi samajhdaar hai," he said with a smirk.

"Accha?" She looked up. "Aur wo kya?"

"Babies. And the process of making them." He winked, flirty and unabashed.

Thwip!

Another grape came hitting his face. Pallavi started laughing, while Raghav grew annoyed at the culprit — the bundled up baby in front of him.

"Ae bhajji, tu kaiko mera piche pad gaya? Chupchap sone ka aur miya-biwi ko romance karne dene ka, ardhamainda?"

Controlling her laugh, Pallavi chimed in, "Arey, tum kaun hote ho meri Medu Vada ko sikhane wale? Wo to vahi karegi jo use karna hai... aur use koi nahi rok sakta! Hai na meri Medu?" She started tickling the baby, who giggled in response.

"Excuse me!" Swatting away her hand, he pulled the basket to his lap. "Ye tumhara Medu nahi, mera Bhajji hai." He glared at her.

Pallavi glared back. She reached out to tickle the baby again, but Raghav turned so she couldn't see her anymore.

"Raghav, mujhe do—"

"Nahi dega—"

"Tum aise nahi kar sakte—"

"Mera bhajji—"

"Meri Medu!"

They twisted and turned, Pallavi reaching out for the basket and Raghav hiding it from her view. Finally, he stood up and tried to walk away, but the baby started crying. Her tiny hands had grabbed on to the pallu again.

Raghav softened. "Sorry bhajji, main bhool gaya... tu to mere pe gaya hai na. Saree ka dukaan se door kaisa rahega?"

With a soft smile he sat down again, placing the basket between him and Pallavi this time.

"Dekha, aa gaye na line pe! Pallavi Rao se kabhi takkar mat lena!" she smirked, caressing the baby's hairs.

"Zyada udo mat. Mera bhajji tumko pyaar karta hai isliye adjust kar raha hai main."

"Bhajji nahi, bhateeji!"

"Same difference, Saree ka dukaan."

A few hours later, Krishna got a call from Abhijeet, informing her that he was home with her daughter.

"Kaisi hai meri Radha? Acche se dhyaan rakha na meri didi aur jiju ne uska?"

"Dhyan to acche se rakha... but nicknames kaafi ajeeb se diye."

"Matlab?"

"Ek use... Bhajji bula raha tha. Aur doosra... Medu jaisa kuch. Aise weird nicknames kaun dete hai Krishna?"

Krishna laughed. "Wahi do log jo ek doosre ko Ghamandi Rao aur Saree ka dukaan bulate ho anna! Chhodo unko, aap unhe nahi samjhoge!"

Back at the mansion...

Raghav and Pallavi were both sitting at the sofa. He was staring at the empty basket in front of him. She was glumly rolling a grape in her hand.

"Wo kitni cute thi na?"

"Hmmm.. bohot hi cute tha, aur sweet bhi."

"Tha nahi, thi."

"Wohi."

"...I miss her."

"Me too."

Suddenly he turned, his eyes gleaming. "Mere paas ek idea hai."

"Kya?"

"Agar humara apna baby ban jayega, to wo 24x7 humara samne hi ghoomega. What say Saree ka dukaan?"

...Thwip!

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I honestly have no idea what this turned out to be  Please let me know how it was! Flying chappals will be dodged but accepted