“Are you sure about this?”

“Very sure.”

“Life is difficult without a wife.”

“That depends.”

“On what?”

“Drop it. Are you coming with me or not?”

“Are you a fool? What kind of an idiot asks that?”

“You are coming.”

“Of course I am.”

This was the conversation between Neha and Jeet. Jeet, an author of about 30 years of age and Neha who was a doctor about four years younger to him.

They had met 18 years back in school. Within the first three years, the entire school used to tell their tales. Nearly every mouth mentioned their names together daily. Even the teachers were fed up of this duo. And the reason behind their constant popularity wasn’t their friendship.

Their fights were gruesome.

Both of them, Jeet and Neha used to fight daily. Any ordinary issue, any small talk would lead to fights. And the fights were genuinely gruesome. Once a month, Jeet was seen dragging Neha on the rough ground holding her by the hair. And Neha was no different. She would return the favour every time he did that. Jeet had equally long hair then.

But that was for three years only.

Nobody knew what changed it, but they became inseparable. Every year Neha, who had no brothers of her own, used to tie a rakhi on Jeet’s wrist. Jeet loved her more than anyone.

Even after school was over and both of them had chosen different fields to work upon, there was not a single day when they wouldn't meet. 

But this was not it.

At the age of 25, Jeet was diagnosed with a deadly tumour inside his head. And within a month of the diagnosis he was abandoned by his own family. The only one standing behind his back was Neha. She had been there for him. They had fought the tumour together and Jeet had healed.

The conversation resulted because Jeet had told Neha about his decision. Jeet wanted to adopt a child, a girl child. He was unmarried, but was sure that he could raise the child. And Neha knew that he could, too.

The next day Neha and Jeet were supposed to be in the orphanage for an entire day. The warden had asked him to observe the girls for a day and then make a decision. They were there early in the morning and the whole day they did what they were instructed to.

All the girls were wonderful, kind and humble. But a girl of around four years caught their attention. Almost for the entire day she was found playing alone. She would answer anyone who would approach her very politely but it seemed she was avoiding company.

But this was not what they were attracted to. When the food was being served to the girls, Jeet saw that she had deliberately left the last piece of sweet so that the girl behind her could have it. Surely, the next girl took the sweet.

“It is my favourite!” she had exclaimed when she saw it.

And that girl simply smiled and walked away with her plate in her hands.

Inside the warden’s office later in the evening, Jeet confirmed which girl he wanted to adopt, Neha holding his hand all the time. She was tearful. She knew this was Jeet’s entire life.

“What is her name?” Neha asked the warden after all the formalities were finished.

“Well, I was waiting for this question to come.”

“Why?” Jeet asked.

“She has no name. We had named her but she refused to take it. She said her dad will name her.”

Jeet and Neha had nothing to say to this. They were mesmerised.

“Tell her she has a date with her father tomorrow.” Neha smiled and told the warden.

“I will.” The warden replied and the two left the office.

“You are really lucky Jeet.” Neha said once they were outside.

“Wait here, I’ll be back in a moment. I forgot something inside.” Jeet said and went in once again.

Alone with the warden now, Jeet was talking in a hushed voice.

“Inform her that her dad will come tomorrow. And tell her I have a name for her.” He said handing the warden a folded piece of paper.

“Tell her that this is her name and tomorrow onwards she will be addressed by it. The first person to call her by this name will be me.”

“Sure sir. I will tell her.” The warden said with a broad smile.

“What was it?”

“Nothing, just the keys.”

The next day Jeet dressed up in his best suit. He wanted to look good on his first date with her daughter. Neha helped him with everything, again.

They reached and the anxiety on Jeet’s face was clearly visible. They stepped off the car and went straight to the warden’s office.

Jeet had a bouquet of red roses in his hands along with a huge box of chocolates while Neha stood holding his hand.

The warden showed them to the lawns where a table was set-up and the girl stood facing the other side.

“Does she know?” Neha asked the warden.

“That her father is coming? Yes, she does. Call her by her name and she will turn.”

“But you told she had no name.”

Jeet was not listening to this conversation any longer. He was heading straight towards the girl. Ten feet from her he stopped. Within a few seconds Neha caught up.

“She has no name, has she?” Neha whispered.

“Neha.” Jeet spoke loudly and the girl turned.

Both his sister and his daughter were looking straight towards Jeet, tears brimming from both of their eyes.

“She had to be named Neha.” Jeet said in a small voice. He was saying this more to himself than to the other two. He was assuring himself. For years Neha had been everything to him. Now, Neha was his daughter as well.

Both, his sister and his daughter came closer to him, hugged him and cried.