Hi all!
I just caught up with the last 2 episodes and I just couldn't resist writing something quick for my favorite character. It's not the greatest but I hope it makes sense!
Please do leave a comment 😊
What's in a name?
Lavanya Kashyap never really liked her name. Not her family name- she didn't think she could be picky about that. But her actual name- Lavanya. What was mom thinking? she grumbled as she sat behind her desk waiting for her first day of classes to begin. At the age of 7, she was excited about her new school. She was a big girl now, finally in grade 1. So when the teacher started asking everyone to stand up and introduce themselves to the class, she didn't think too much about it until it was her turn.
"And your name is...?"
"I am Miss. Kashyap," she replied with all the haughtiness she could muster in her petite frame.
"Very well Miss. Kashyap, you may take your seat again," the teacher responded with mock seriousness, smiling at her precocious behavior. To the young Lavanya however, it was further proof that her name, much as she disliked it, was useless.
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At age 16, she was one of the most popular girls in her high school. Flowing hair, green eyes, a flirtatious dimpled grin and a fabulous fashion sense made her the 'it' girl. She had boys panting after her, some offering to park her car, hold her books, escort her from class to class- you name it. She absolutely loved the attention. Everyone knew who she was. The only times her pretty face would have a scowl is when someone called out to her by a name that she had stopped using for years.
"The name is Love. L.O.V.E. Please Mr.DeLoch, can't you change my name when you have to announce the dance competition winners today?" she pleaded, hoping that her drama teacher would consent. He was one of those people who annoyingly insisted on everyone using their full and proper names. And she detested it!
"Why? It's such a unique name. Lavaanyaa," he said it again as though testing it, his accent making her name drag out longer than usual.
"Unique? It's traditional," she complained.
"And what's wrong with that?"
"It's old fashioned!" she shuddered, as though it was explanation enough.
"So?"
"So?" she repeated incredulously after him. Gesturing to her teen magazine attire, "it doesn't go with the image Mr.DeLoch. C'mon!"
At her teachers' blank expression, she rolled her eyes. Sighing loudly, "What's the big deal?" She threw her hands up dramatically as she whined in exasperation- "What's in a name anyway?!"
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"Please go in ma'am. Sir will see you now for the interview."
"Thanks."
Stepping into the spacious office, she stared at the man who was currently snapping orders into the phone. "So this is the much talked about Arnav Singh Raizada? Hmm.."
"Take a seat," he ordered. She obeyed.
Looking up at her, she felt him size her up based on how she was dressed. She may be new to living in Mumbai but she was no novice when it came to fashion. Dressed in elegantly cut cream trousers and a dark emerald silk blouse, she knew she looked amazing. She hoped to make a good impression on the famous fashion house owner.
"Name?"
"Love..."
"What?" he looked at her with a mixture of distrust and impatience.
"La..vanya," she amended, trying to control her urge to make a face when she said it. "Lavanya Kashyap."
In the matter of an hour, she had walked away with a coveted position, not just in terms of her job - she was the lucky one who had an opportunity to work very, very closely with the popular Arnav Singh Raizada.
In the span of a month, she had grown from having a simple crush to being determined in making her good looking boss notice her.
In less than a year since then, she was officially his girlfriend. So it was at the age of 24 that she convinced herself that ASR and she were destined for each other. Why else would she actually like it when he said her name?
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"How could you not remember that it will be our engagement in a few days?" she questioned him, trying to keep calm.
"Oh..right. I don't know how I forgot, I've just been so busy..." he trailed off when he saw the disappointed look on her face.
"I know I've made a lot of mistakes and I've hurt you a lot," he went on, turning his back to her. "Even though it was unintentional, I know I have a lot to apologize for Khushi. I'm sorry."
In a tone that was at once eerily quiet and shockingly clear- "My name," she said, pausing to take a deep breath "is Lavanya."
She saw him turn around, surprise, shock and regret marring his handsome face.
"Lavanya," she repeated, pointing to herself. "It may not be the name of the person you love," she continued, her eyes filling with tears as she realized what this was leading to, "but please don't call me by someone else's name."
He had the grace to look shameful.
"My name... is Lavanya," she said again, her pain overwhelming her ability to think of anything else, fixating on just that one point- the proverbial straw that broke the camel's back. "Lavanya," she whispered, her heart crushing as she finally understood at the ripe age of 25 what a simple name meant to her. For her.
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"But it's so hard to say mom!" Khushi grumbled as her mother brushed her hair out.
"Says who?"
"Says my new friend, Alexis," she informed.
"Well, tell Alexis that it is a special name. For a very special person. Did you know that you were named after.."
"..your best friend," she finished. "Mom, you've told me the same story before. I am six, not stupid. I remember, ok?"
Lavanya grinned at her cheeky daughter. "Okay okay! You've heard it before."
"I don't know why you keep telling me this story Mom. I don't even know if it is true," she complained, trying to turn around to see her mother face-to-face.
"Of course it's true!"
"Then how come I have never met her?" Khushi felt her mothers' grip on her hair loosen. She turned around and looked up at her mom. With a small smile that was neither fully happy nor sad, her mom replied, "she is far away. Maybe someday you'll meet her. Maybe I'll get to meet her again too."
"Tina is my best friend and if she leaves, I will miss her. Do you miss your best friend?"
"Of course I miss her. But that's why I have you!" her mother exclaimed happily.
"But Khushi is still a hard name. Even Paul who is good at names told me that!" Khushi insisted. She may be young, but she was tenacious. "I mean I know it's your best friends' name and all," she nodded, hoping to tactfully criticize the name her parents had chosen without hurting her mothers' feelings. She loved her mom best, just a little bit more than dad. Besides, it was her moms' 34th birthday.
"But did it really have to be such a hard name? It could have been anything in the world and not Khushi."
"No," her mother said firmly. "It had to be Khushi."
"Why? What's in a name anyway?"
"A lifetime of memories, sweetheart. And the discovery of an identity," her mom replied with a secret smile, kissing her cheek and wishing her goodnight before leaving the room. Khushi tiptoed to her door after a few minutes to see her dad kiss her mom as he helped her into the coat. She shook her head tiredly at their juvenile behavior- her mom was blushing as though they were going on their first date.
"Let's go Mrs. Mehra," her father dramatically opened the door for his wife. Her mom smiled widely at him. "I love it when you call me that, Mr. Mehra," she said walking out the door with her husband in tow.
As little Khushi snuggled into her bed with her favorite teddy bear, Ben, she sighed the sigh of an old woman. She had no idea what her mother had meant. What memory? What identity? I will never understand grownups and their confusing talks, she thought, shaking her head again.
It's just a name.
Thanks for reading! For PMs for future writing, please add me as a buddy 😊
Cheers😎
Other works:
Arhi SS: Reflections and Revelations
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