Anamika and Ishika share a moment after which Anamika asks Ishika to be a surrogate mother. Maybe, she expected too much from Ishika and the girl denied it. Vineet also gets angry with Anamika for talking about it to Ishika. Okay! They feel a void, but they can’t ruin someone’s life for their own good.

No! They can’t do it.

Anamika is disheartened at Ishika’s denial. She thought that the girl will agree, but why will she? There’s nothing that she will get benefitted from. Anamika sits still at her place, maybe, her hope to be a mother is shattered. Vineet is also not talking to her at the moment. She needs to do something about it.

Meanwhile, Ishika is in dilemma. She knows Anamika has done a lot for her, she has been of immense help to her, otherwise, she’d have been sleeping on the footpaths, maybe. But, this doesn’t make it compulsory for her to follow the commands that Anamika gives her.

Okay! She shouldn’t have been straightforward. But, what else had she done?

Ishika sighs deeply when she realises something. She looks at herself in the mirror, maybe asking her own conscience about the decision she just made. Assuring herself, she runs towards Anamika’s room.

*****
Anamika is sitting on the bed. She is lost in her thoughts when there is a knock on the door. She is astonished to find Ishika at the door. She calls her inside and pats on the bed near her, asking her to sit. Ishika sits on the bed and begins to speak when Vineet enters the room. He sees Ishika and is confused.

“Ishika, I am sorry on Anamika’s behalf. Lekin tumhe kuch karne ki zarurat nahi hai. I am sorry, Ana ne tumse wo baat ki jo usey nahi karni chahiye thi. Usne emotionally wo sab keh diya, please tum bura mat maanna.” Vineet apologises.

“I know tumhe bura laga hai, aur main nahi chahta ki is wajah se tumhare mann mein hume lekar koi baat rahe. Humne tumhare liye jo bhi kiya pure dil se kiya. Lekin tum is baat ko unse mat tolna. Please!” Vineet looks at her hopefully.

“Main toh kuch baat karne hi aayi thi. Aap ne mujhe bolne hi nahi diya.” Ishika looks at him and says cutely.

“Han bolo! Kya hua? Lekin ek baat toh tay hain, tum yahan se kahin nahi ja rahi ho. Samjhi!” Anamika looks at her.

“I am angry with you.” Ishika looks at Anamika and says seriously.

“Hona bhi chahiye. Maine baat hi aisi ki hai. Lekin tumne mana kardiya na. Ab se main wo baat nahi karungi. Par tum apne mann mein us baat ko mat laana. Ab apni behen se toh main ye sab keh sakti hoon na.” Anamika says emotionally.

“Obviously! And I am sorry. I over-reacted.” Ishika says, astonishing Anamika and Vineet.

“Agar main tumhari jagah hoti toh main bhi aise hi react karti. I am sorry! Maine tumse wo baat ki. Obviously, your career comes first. Tum uspe hi dhyan do.” Anamika says and pats her cheek.

“Family comes first, even before the career. Aur maine faisla kar liya hai.” Ishika says while looking at her saviours.

“Kaisa faisla? Tumhe aisa koi faisla lene ki zarurat nahi hai, jo aage tumhe hurt kare, jisse tumhe takleef ho.” Vineet snaps at the girl.

“Meri takleef se agar meri behen ko khushi milti hain, toh wo bahut keemti hai mere liye.” Ishika says emotionally.

“What? What do you mean?” Vineet asks, unable to understand the theory behind her words.

“I have decided. I’ll be a surrogate for you two.” Ishika says slowly, emphasizing every word.

Vineet and Anamika are surprised. A few hours ago, she didn’t agree, and now she is agreeing. Is there something on her mind? Has she changed her mind? Is she up to something that will hurt them?

Vineet is shocked at the moment. Usually, the people who are offered such deals ask for a lot of money.

They show themselves to be nice and then ask for a lot of money from the people for whom they work. Is Ishika going to do the same? Will she ask for money? Or will she ditch them in the mid-way? He doesn’t know.

“ But both of you have to promise me about something. “ Ishika glances at Anamika and Vineet.

“Kaisa promise? Aur ye tum kya bol rahi ho? Tumhe pata hai na ki tum kya karne ja rahi ho?” Vineet asks her again, he is still unsure about Ishika’s mindset.

Ishika looks at Vineet and finds a lot of questions in his eyes. Anamika is looking at her hopefully. Maybe, she is hopeful that she will get to hold a part of herself in her arms someday. Ishika smiles at Vineet.

“Don’t worry! Jis baat ka aapko darr hai, wo main nahi karungi. Jaanti hoon ki maine aap dono ko Di aur jiju us haalat mein kaha tha jab mujhe kuch hosh nahi tha. Us waqt main meri behen ko miss kar rahi thi. Aur jab achanak unhone kaha mujhe ye sab toh maine bahut buri tarah behave kia, lekin abse aisa nahi hoga.” Ishika says softly.

“Maine is baare mein research ki toh mujhe pata chala ki kayi log ye technique apnaate hain. Someone else bears a baby for a couple. Aur phir mujhe laga ki main ye kar sakti hoon. After all, it will be gestational surrogacy.” Ishika says.

“Par haan! Isme aapka nuksaan zaroor hoga!” Ishika says cheekily while looking at Vineet.

“Are you sure, Ishika?” Anamika asks her again.

“Yes! Pehle mujhe gussa aaya tha, lekin itna sab research karne ke baad, main keh sakti hoon ki I am ready for it. Jaanti hoon ye raasta mushkil hai, lekin jab tum sath ho na, toh mujhe koi fikar nahi hai.” Ishika says as she hold Anamika’s hands.

Anamika looks at her wearily. Ishika has finally agreed. Okay! Some hours have been crucial, but she agreed. She has finally agreed. Anamika’s trance is broken by Ishika’s voice.

“Lekin, ye main sirf apne liye kar rahi hun, okay! Kyunki mujhe apni Di se door nahi jana. Ek pal ke liye aisa laga shayad hum mile hi hain ek dusre ko pura karne ke liye.” Ishika says.

“You’ve given me a family, and I’ll give a life to you, complementing and completing each other.” Ishika says.

“Thik keh rahi ho tum. Har kisi ke milan ki ek kahani hoti hain. Hamari kahani toh abhi shuru hui hai. Thank you, Ishu!” Anamika says and pulls Ishika in a hug.

Ishika smiles as she hugs her back, and they remain in the same position for several minutes. Vineet is glancing at them when Ishika turns to him and says something that leaves him astonished, while Anamika giggles at her words and Vineet can’t help but smile at the ladies in front of him.

To Be Continued.

What did Ishika say to Vineet??

Stay tuned.