Chapter 4 - The mouse incident

Everyone's eyes sparkled with determination.

No matter how cruel the world considered them, there was one thing they never tolerated-crimes against innocent people, especially women.

Just as they were discussing their plan, a loud scream echoed through the mansion.

"AAAAAHHHH!"

Everyone immediately stood up.

"Yeh awaaz..."

"Pragati ki hai!"

Without wasting a second, they rushed downstairs.

They found Pragati standing outside her room, looking terrified.

Rahul frowned.

"Itna kyun chilla rahi ho? Kya hua?"

Pragati pointed towards her room with trembling hands.

"W-Woh... wahan kuch hai."

Rahul looked at Karan.

"Jaakar dekho."

Pragati immediately stopped him.

"Nahi! Dhyaan se jaana. Aapko kuch ho gaya toh?"

The moment Rahul heard that Pragati was worried about Karan, he frowned.

"Karan, ruko. Main dekhta hoon."

Rahul walked towards the room.

As soon as he entered, Pragati whispered,

"Inhe darr nahi lagta kya?"

The others exchanged amused looks.

Virat laughed.

"Sab inse darte hain. Yeh kis se darenge?"

Everyone chuckled.

A few moments later, Rahul came back.

"Bas ek chuha tha."

The entire mansion fell silent.

"Chuha?" Rahul repeated.

"Usmein darne wali kya baat thi?"

Pragati looked shocked.

"Kya matlab? Chuhe se kaun nahi darta?"

Karan immediately burst out laughing.

"Main Karan hoon. Aur main toh chuhe se nahi darta, lekin tumhare gusse se zaroor darne laga hoon."

Everyone laughed.

Karan was the entertainer of the group. No matter how serious the situation was, he always found a way to make everyone smile.

Rohit shook his head.

"Ignore him. Main Rohit hoon."

Unlike Karan, Rohit was calm and mature. Whenever the group got into trouble, he was usually the one who handled things sensibly.

Virat folded his arms.

"Virat."

Pragati blinked.

"Bas?"

Virat nodded.

He was a man of few words. Quiet, serious, and always focused on work.

Seeing Pragati's confused expression, Vidhit smiled.

"Main Vidhit hoon, Rahul ka bhai."

Unlike Rahul, Vidhit was friendly and easy to talk to.

Pragati's face lit up.

"Finally koi normal insaan mila."

The room went silent.

Everyone slowly turned towards Rahul.

Karan immediately covered his mouth to stop himself from laughing.

Rahul narrowed his eyes.

"Tumne kya kaha?"

Pragati quickly looked away.

"Kuch nahi."

Everyone burst out laughing.

Rahul simply shook his head.

"Pagal ladki."

For the first time in years, the mansion didn't feel cold and empty anymore.

And for the first time in years, Rahul's friends saw something they had never expected-

Pragati dining table ki taraf dekhte hue man hi man sochne lagi,

"Ab kya karun? Khana serve karun ya khane baith jaun? Agar serves karungi toh kahin Mr. Crocodile phir na kuch keh dein. Aur agar baith gayi toh pata nahi phir kis baat par daant denge. Waise bhi inka gussa toh hamesha naak par rehta hai. Ek kaam karti hoon, chupchaap room mein chali jaati hoon."

Jaise hi woh uthkar jaane lagi, Rahul ki awaaz aayi,

"Kahan ja rahi ho? Chupchaap baith kar dinner karo. Teen din baad procedure shuru hone wala hai."

Pragati ruk gayi.

"Woh... mujhe bhookh nahi hai."

Rahul ne bhawein chadhayi.

"Khaya kya hai tumne jo bhookh nahi hai? Subah se kuch nahi khaya tumne."

Rahul ki baat sunkar Rohit, Virat, Karan aur Vidhit sab uski taraf dekhne lage.

Rahul ko ehsaas hua ki sabki nazrein us par hain.

"Kya dekh rahe ho? Apna khana khao. Main bas apne bachche ki health ke baare mein soch raha hoon."

Phir usne Pragati ki taraf dekha.

"Tum bhi chupchaap baitho aur khao."

"Theek hai."

Servant ne Pragati ke saamne salad aur protein-rich food rakha.

Pragati ne plate ko dekha aur muh bana liya.

"Pata nahi Mr. Crocodile mujhe aur kya-kya khilayenge."

"Protein food."

Rahul ki awaaz sunkar Pragati chauk gayi.

"Hey Bhagwan! Yeh meri mann ki baat bhi sun lete hain kya?"

Karan apni hansi rokne laga.

Rahul ne seedha jawab diya.

"Muh band rakho aur khao."

Pragati ne gusse mein ek salad ka tukda uthaya.

"Ek din main aapko bhi sirf ghaas khilaungi."

"Try kar lena."

Sab hans pade.

Kaafi dino baad mansion mein itni hansi sunai de rahi thi.

Dinner khatam hone ke baad sab apne-apne rooms mein chale gaye.

Rahul bhi apne room mein gaya aur shower lene laga.

Lekin aaj pata nahi kyun uska dhyaan baar-baar Pragati ki taraf ja raha tha.

"Ms. Pagal..." usne dheere se kaha.

Rahul aksar use man hi man isi naam se bulata tha.

Shower ke baad woh paani peene ke liye bahar nikla.

Tab uski nazar Pragati ke room ke aadhe khule darwaze par padi.

Anjaane mein usne andar dekha, lekin agle hi pal nazar hata li.

Woh turant wapas mud gaya.

Apne room mein aakar woh khud se hi pareshan ho gaya.

"Rahul, tumhe uske baare mein itna sochna hi nahi chahiye. Woh sirf tumhare bachche ki surrogate mother hai. Bas."

Lekin jitna woh khud ko samjhata, utna hi uske dimaag mein Pragati ki baatein ghoomti rehti.

Aakhir kaafi der baad uski aankh lag gayi.

Aur dekhte hi dekhte teen din beet gaye.

Aaj procedure ka din tha.

Na Rahul chain mein tha.

Aur na hi Pragati.

Dono ki zindagi badalne wali thi.

To Be Continued...

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