PrAja- New Beginnings Disguised As Painful Endings

Chapter 1: The Birth Of A Prince

15 May 2001, Udaipur

In the palace, Rajmata Kalyani sat in front of the small Radha Krishna temple within the ancestral home. While everyone else was at the hospital, Vidya and Rajkumari Drishti of Jaisalmer prepared the baby's room, including the baby cot, clothing, and other essentials needed for the newborn and its mother.

Drishti was one of Kalpana's close friends. Although she was older than Kalpana, they shared many common interests. Along with Sagar and Vijay, Drishti had formed a trio in their youth. However, as they grew older and the men found their respective partners, their friendship took a backseat, and the spark they once shared faded. Despite this, Drishti continued to wish them well and always prayed for their happiness and success.

In the hospital, Vaibhav and the Punwars were seated in the waiting room, each finding different ways to pass the time. They frequently glanced at the closed door leading to the delivery room. It had been six hours since Maharani Padma had gone into labor, and they knew that the newest heir of the Sisodias would arrive any minute now.

Rani Rajeshwari sat in front of the hospital temple, lighting a diya for the child's well-being while knitting the baby's first sweater. Her fingers moved deftly through the yarn, and her eyes sparkled with excitement each time she looked up to meet the gaze of others in the room, who smiled knowingly at her.

On one of the benches, he sat Yashwant, tapping his foot impatiently. He feigned nonchalance, but a grin kept creeping onto his face as he reminisced about childhood memories with his deceased playmate. He recalled how they had talked about this day—witnessing their children's greatest joy. It was bittersweet, as he felt the unfortunate twist of fate that denied him the chance to share this happiness with his friend.

Across from them, Vaibhav, Mayank, and Kalpana exchanged childhood stories while placing bets on the baby's weight and whom he would resemble the most. Laughter erupted every few minutes as they reminisced about their fond memories, adding to the warmth in the room. Leaning back with a smirk, Vaibhav declared, "The new kid is on Mayank's and my team. We're already calling dibs; we're in for some real fun. Unlike you bores, I can't wait anymore! I will be the best uncle in the whole wide world." 

Kalpana rolled her eyes and responded, "Bhaisa, let the baby come first. He'll decide for himself which team he is on," as she gave them her "iconic" hair flip. Vaibhav and Mayank exchanged glances before bursting into laughter.

In one corner of the room, Aradhana sat with her notebook, jotting down baby names that came to her mind while discussing her favorites with her husband, Sagar, who was sitting beside her. "I'm telling you, if it's a boy, the name will be Jitendra, and if it's a girl, it'll be Jaya. I can feel it!" she insisted, her voice a mix of excitement and impatience. Sagar laughed at her enthusiasm. "My dearest wife, do you want to be the baby's favorite Kaakisa or the least favorite Kaakisa?"

Aradhana gasped in shock. "Of course, I want to be the most favorite! By the way, I will be Maasi, not Kaaki!"

"Hey, that's not fair! I know the father before you know the mother..." he said, but he stopped when he saw her cute puppy face. "Okay, fine! Let's find some middle ground—you can be Maakisa." 

"Ugh, Maakisa? Fine, let's call it a truce. You will also be Maakusa." 

"Okay, fine—let's agree that the baby will call you Maakisa. But the main question is, the names you've chosen are so old-fashioned that the baby might end up despising you for giving it such a boring name!" 

"Hey, listen! Those names sound warm and homey, so just shut up!"

"Alright, I give up! But you don't know which letter will come up in the Naamkaran ceremony, right? You're worrying over nothing."