What's in a name?

Sehar keeps on coming with funny notions. Like the other day she asked us why we named her Sehar. Then she asked what was her name before she was born? Was she nobody?  And before we could say anything she wanted to change her name to "Sparkles". Funny, eh? 

For most of us, our children's names are stories stolen from moments spent discussing probabilities. Stories of those earnest aunt's suggestion, her stare at the bump, her own desi ultrasound. "Its going to be a boy/girl", hail the oracle. Or perhaps a distant well-meaning friend who called with her list of suggestion. Grandparents' musings on the dining table and the हमारे ज़माने में  (in our times)... And those endless hours surfing the internet, a book read or a song heard. Stories in motion.... 

So that day as we sat in the balcony, the radio station replayed our story for us. It was perhaps an evening in July 2006, MG road, Gurgaon. We were headed to Delhi in our little Alto. The song was "Pal pal pal har pal" and the moment, "Raat kate na kabhi ho Sehar". And on that hot day of July, 2011, Sehar's ears were glued to the i-pad waiting for her name to be sung, The story unfolding in slow rhythms. She smiled and hugged me tightly. 

And as if on a whim, I told her she kicked me in the tummy when we named her "Sehar". Sehar's joy knew no bounds. "Mumma, Sehar is my favorite name in the whole wide world", and the smile grew wider.

Yes, some stories are true; but the more important ones are the ones created to keep them alive, forever.........