What was his name? We wondered…..But "What's in a name?”
Though he is not on the dot punctual but every morning around 7 the bell would ring and without asking who it was one us would scream “coming”. My mother opens the door most often for him and in case he is not on time, she will ask chantingly “Bhaiya got late today?” I never heard of any response. I guess the time he took thinking for some excuse the simultaneous task of refilling the milk cans got over. And my mother without realizing that she asked him a question would collect the milk cans and shut the door.
Once in two or three years when he will ask for a price hike my mother would use her bargaining skills efficiently and say “Bhaiya you are serving us since ten years(hearing this since I was five), we deserve some discount.” Authoritatively she will quote a price for the monthly bill to which he will agree submissively.
I sometimes wondered did he acknowledge that in last 20 years I have grown from the little girl who used to rush to open the door at 7 in the morning to collect milk cans from him to young and independent (or rather semi-dependent) lass.
Last Saturday I was busy reading newspaper (obviously gossip column) bell rang which I completely ignored and dedicatedly continued reading newspaper. My mom first completed the ritual of screaming “Coming” and then opened the door.
“Bhaiya got late today?” she asked. But this time I heard a reply
“Didi, Aafreeda is getting married” he said.
“Aafreeda?”
“My daughter” presenting a box of sweets he said “Nikah is on 29th”
“Congratulations” said my mother
After shutting the door she asked"did u know his daughter's name is Aafreeda?"
Obviously I knew what she meant. within a split sec she asked "What is his name?"
We wondered....22years..and we never knew his name..But ironically enough...."What's in a name?”
