3 Part 2

“Get into a contract marriage for this surrogacy? Are you crazy, Ms. Khanna? Nothing of that sorts is going to happen. I hate marriages and that is exactly why I am doing this but you are trying to bind me to the thing I have been escaping. Remember that you are being paid for this and I have the choice of not choosing you too. Your conditions will not be fulfilled, Ms. Khanna and now the ball is in your court.”

Arjun ’s voice reverberated in the living room of Ranawat Mansion while everyone turned their faces to face Arjun Ranawat, the man for whom this contract was being signed.

" Jyotsna, stop...” Varun began speaking only to be shut by Jyotsna’s hand sign as she rose up to express her views,

“There’s money in every profession, Mr. Ranawat. But equating the position of a mother, the relation of a mother to money is just completely wrong. Do you even know that a woman undergoes a pain of 20 bones of her being broken when she delivers a child? You would sulk in despair even if one bone breaks, but she still smiles seeing her child for the first time. That is the love which is filled in the heart of a mother. Surrogate or otherwise, a mother is a mother. And no amount of money can equate what a mother experiences during pregnancy. Call it non-professionalism but these are my thoughts and they will not change to impress anyone. What do you think? I have a liking towards contract marriages that I am asking for a contract marriage or I want special benefits from you? None of the above, Mr. Ranawat. I demand nothing but the money you have promised and the respect we currently have in the society right now. When you want conditions of your side to be fulfilled then why doesn’t the other side have the right to place their own conditions?”

Arjun clenched his fists tightly, trying to ignore the surging emotion through his veins: admiration. The woman in front of him was standing in his territory in which he was the ultimate rule-maker, even his family did not dare to argue with him in the way she was. He also admired the calmness and serenity which materialized in her face as she began speaking. But undeniably he was going to retaliate after all he was Arjun Ranawat.

“Ms.Khanna..”

Seemingly Ms. Khanna had sent across the power to voice their opinions in the whole family which glared down at Arjun to stop as Nani began speaking,

“We accept your conditions, Bitiya. You have as many rights as Golu to place conditions in front of us and your conditions are perfectly justified so we have no reason to decline them. We can meet the doctor at the earliest to proceed with this and before that we will arrange for the legal documents too.”

“But Nani...” Arjun began speaking while glaring at the girl who gave his family the courage to speak against him. How wouldn’t they, they just wanted to marry me off anyways, thought Arjun while fuming.

Nani raised her hand asking him to stop while Varun stood amazed by his sister who seemed to possess a great deal of diplomacy and orating skills to convince the Ranawats of something Arjun Ranawat didn’t want. But he cared less as he was getting what he wanted; a huge sum of money by literally selling off his sister.

“Thank you so much, Nani Ji for understanding my situation and accepting my conditions. Please let me know when I would have to come for the checkup and the contract signing.” Jyotsna joined her palms in a formal namaste with her expressions still remaining formal and sober while it tugged at Nani’s heart somewhere as she felt that Jyotsna still was not happy with the whole setup.

“You call me Nani and you thank me, Bitiya? Please don’t. You are doing so much for us then this is the least we can do to you. Sure, Bitiya. It will be done at the earliest possible.” Nani’s affectionate voice and compassionate eyes were threatening to break down Jyotsna’s cold facade as she felt herself losing the affection by the strangers which was absent in her own family for her.

Jyotsna faked a smile for Indumati Ranawat and cast a look at the fuming Arjun Ranawat who was just waiting for Varun and Jyotsna to leave so that he can pounce like an angry lion on his family. Jyotsna made her way out and was closely followed by Varun who took leave from Nani and others formally.

“What the hell did you do Nani? You just agreed to a random girl’s condition ignoring your own grandson?” Arjun Ranawat roared like a hurt lion once Varun and Jyotsna were out of sight.

“It is not about your side or her side, Golu. It is about which side is correct and which side is wrong. I never wanted this option for your child, but you overruled our choice which we accepted and now when I overruled your choice you are angry? How fair! And where else would get a girl like Jyotsna who would love the child. You wouldn’t know but a mother loving the child and taking care of it in a proper manner matters a lot. Moreover, she is so beautiful that even the child would turn out to be beautiful. And if you have a problem with my decision, you would not sign a contract with her, you would sign marriage registration papers, Golu. This is the word of Indumati Ranawat!” Nani was in her dramatic avatar for once to convince her Golu while her grandson looked flabbergasted with her performance.

“Do whatever you want but make sure that you escape the eye of the public, Nani. Or else not just me but even Ms. Khanna will have to suffer in the hands of the media.” Arjun warned before proceeding towards his room while Namita and Nani gave high-five to each other seeing their plan succeed.

Outside Ranawat Mansion,

“What was that Jyotsna? What was the need to take risk in front of Arjun Ranawat by going against him in his own house?” Varun held Jyotsna’s elbows in a vice-like grip as he questioned her while Jyotsna’s sober expressions didn’t seem to leave her after all she wanted to let go of every emotion which she held dear to as the people who were dear turned out to be money-thirsty at the cost of her own happiness and the pain she received was only due to those emotions which she wanted to forget.

“You must be happy that they agreed instead of thinking this, Mr. Khanna. That way or this one, you just want money which you are getting, and I am getting what I have wanted. And you have lost all the rights to question me, the minute you had asked me to get into this contract so please keep your questions to yourself.” Jyotsna pushed him away as she looked at him with the same intensity of coldness while her actions shocked Varun but as she said, he thought he didn’t care if she was happy or not.

Someone who never realized the beauty of love and someone who never wants to be in love ever again; will cupid manage to strike the love arrow at these hearts?