chapter 3 - The rules

Neither of them knew that this agreement was about to change their lives forever.

Chapter 3: The Rules

The cabin fell silent.

Neither Rahul nor Pragati was in the mood to talk. Both sat quietly, avoiding each other's gaze.

The doctor looked at them and sighed.

"Alright, now both of you listen carefully."

He picked up the agreement file and turned towards Pragati.

"Miss Pragati, according to this agreement, you will have to stay in Mr. Rahul Suryavanshi's mansion throughout the pregnancy. You will have to follow the doctor's instructions and a proper diet plan. Anything that could put the baby at risk will not be allowed."

Pragati's eyes widened.

"Excuse me? Yeh surrogate agreement hai ya jail ki saza?"

The doctor awkwardly adjusted his glasses.

Rahul leaned back in his chair.

"Mujhe pata tha tum yahi kahogi."

Pragati glared at him.

"Dekhiye, main aapke bacche ko janam dene ke liye ready hoon. Lekin iska matlab yeh nahi ki main apni poori zindagi aapke hisaab se jeeyun."

Rahul's expression hardened.

"Tumhare paas choice hai. Agar conditions pasand nahi hain, toh agreement cancel kar dete hain."

Suddenly, her father's face flashed before her eyes.

The operation...

The hospital bills...

The money she desperately needed.

After a long silence, she lowered her head.

"Theek hai... main ready hoon."

The doctor smiled in relief.

"Good. Then the formalities are complete."

A few minutes later, everyone stood up to leave.

Rahul and the doctor were about to leave when Pragati hesitantly spoke.

"Ek minute..."

Both men looked at her.

"Kya main aaj hi aapke saath chal sakti hoon?"

Rahul raised an eyebrow.

"Kyun?"

Pragati looked down.

"Mere paas rehne ki koi jagah nahi hai."

For a moment, silence filled the room.

Finally, Rahul sighed.

"Theek hai. Apna samaan le aao."

Within a few minutes, Pragati returned with a small bag.

"Bas itna sa samaan?" Rahul asked.

Pragati smiled weakly.

"Mere paas itna hi hai."

Inside the bag were only a few clothes and her father's photograph.

Soon, both of them headed towards Rahul's mansion.

---

As soon as the car entered the mansion gates, Pragati's eyes widened.

"Yeh... itna bada mansion aapka hai?"

Rahul didn't reply.

Pragati continued anyway.

"Aapki family bhi yahan rehti hai?"

Rahul sighed.

"Mujhse zyada baat mat karo."

Pragati immediately lowered her head.

"Theek hai."

As they entered the mansion, all the servants were shocked.

In all these years, Rahul had never brought a woman home.

Everyone knew how much he disliked women.

Rahul pointed towards the staircase.

"Tumhara room upar hai. Left side wala room."

Pragati nodded.

"Aur mere floor par aane ki koshish mat karna. Wahan mera room hai."

"Haan haan. Mujhe bhi koi shauk nahi hai."

Rahul narrowed his eyes.

"Kuch kaha tumne?"

"Kuch nahi."

Without waiting for another argument, Pragati quickly headed upstairs.

A few minutes later, Rahul went to take a shower.

Meanwhile, Pragati entered her room.

The room alone was bigger than her entire house.

She carefully placed her small bag on the bed.

Inside it were only a few clothes and her father's photograph.

She gently picked up the photo.

"Bas Papa theek ho jaayein."

---

A little later, the room door suddenly opened.

Karan walked inside casually.

The moment he saw Pragati, he froze.

"CHOR!"

Pragati screamed.

"AAAH!"

Both stared at each other.

"Tum mere room mein kya kar rahi ho?"

Pragati immediately became angry.

"Aap mere room mein ghus kar mujhse pooch rahe hain?"

"Tum kaun ho?"

"Pehle aap batao aap kaun ho?"

Within seconds, both started arguing.

Their shouting attracted everyone's attention.

Rahul came running upstairs.

"Kya ho raha hai yahan?"

Karan immediately pointed towards Pragati.

"Bhai! Yeh ladki kaun hai?"

Rahul looked at both of them.

"Chillana band karo."

Karan's eyes widened.

Suddenly, a huge grin appeared on his face.

"Ruk... mujhe sab samajh aa gaya."

Rahul frowned.

"Kya?"

"Tu shaadi kar chuka hai!"

"What nonsense?"

"Bhabhi ji ko ghar le aaya aur humein bataya bhi nahi?"

Pragati almost choked.

"Bhabhi ji?"

Karan ignored her.

"Rahul Suryavanshi! Hum itne saalon se dost hain aur tune humein apni shaadi mein bhi nahi bulaya?"

"Karan."

"Kam se kam reception hi rakh leta."

"KARAN!"

The entire mansion fell silent.

Karan immediately stopped talking.

Rahul pointed towards Pragati.

"Yeh meri wife nahi hai."

"Oh."

A few seconds later, Karan smiled again.

"Fiancée?"

Rahul threw a cushion at him.

"Karan!"

Pragati couldn't stop herself from laughing.

For the first time that day, a smile appeared on her face.

---

A few minutes later, Rahul dragged Karan into his room.

The moment the door closed, Karan burst out laughing.

"Bhai, sach bata. Tune shaadi kar li na?"

Rahul glared at him.

"Chup ho ja."

"Toh phir woh ladki kaun hai?"

Rahul sighed.

"Woh mere bacche ki surrogate mother hai."

For the first time, Karan became serious.

"Oh."

Then he suddenly remembered something.

"Waise Rohit, Virat aur Vidhit bhi aane wale hain."

Rahul shook his head.

"Mujhe bahut kaam hai."

Karan smirked.

"Ya phir tum kisi aur wajah se busy ho?"

Rahul grabbed another cushion.

"Nikal yahan se."

---

That evening, Rohit, Virat and Vidhit arrived.

Downstairs, Pragati was sitting on the floor with her plate.

She was used to eating while sitting on the floor, just like she did at home.

The three boys stopped when they noticed her.

"Arre?"

"Yeh kaun hai?"

Virat whispered,

"Rahul ne nayi servant rakhi hai kya?"

Pragati immediately stood up.

"Main servant nahi hoon."

Before anyone could say anything else, Rahul walked into the dining hall.

The moment he saw Pragati sitting on the floor, his expression darkened.

"Tum yahan neeche kyun baithi ho?"

Pragati looked confused.

"Main toh hamesha neeche baith kar hi khaati hoon."

Rahul clenched his jaw.

"Tumhe itni bhi samajh nahi hai?"

The entire room fell silent.

"Table par baith kar khana khaya jaata hai."

Pragati quietly lowered her gaze.

"Ji."

She slowly got up and sat on a chair.

Meanwhile, Rohit, Virat, Karan and Vidhit exchanged surprised looks.

They had never seen Rahul behave like this.

Yes, Rahul hated women.

But there was something different about the way he reacted whenever Pragati was involved.

And for the first time, all four friends noticed it.

To Be Continued...

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