In the early hours of the Monday morning,  as the harsh rays of the morning sunlight slapped on the face , Shehnaaz groaned in her sleep ....... Trying save herself quite a while one time with her arm , her pillow and even her dupatta but all the harwork was in vain .......

Sitting up on her bed with a grumpy look on her face she blinked her eyes several times before leaving the warmth of her twin sized bed ........

Splashing water of her face for a minute or two actually made her feel a little less chaotic than last night ...... Waddling towards her bed she fixed the pillows and sheets on it before opening the closet and picking out a simple salwar suit for the day .........

She moved towards her sleeping best friend and sat on her bed before talking in a sweet melodious voice ........

" Wakey wake my little ball of sunshine ......! " she mimicked the exact thing she found in her youtube shorts........

Shaking the human log untill she actually got a response,  Shehnaaz got inside the shower just after hanging her clothes inside the bathroom ..........

Washing the dirt out of her hair with her all time favorite shampoo she rinsed out the foam before drying her hair with her towel ........

As soon as she left the washroom , she was hot with the continuous vibrating sound of her phone .........

Picking up the call without seeing the caller ID she held tge device to her right ear ......

Phone Call 📲

Angad : Hello didi ...

Shehnaaz : Yes...... Angad..... what happened...?

Angad  : They have taken papa inside tge operation theatre ......

Shehnaaz : Oh..... wasn't the operation scheduled  a little later .....?

Angad : It was but Papa's condition isn't too good so the doctor decided to perform the operation now itself .......

Shehnaaz : Oh ..... okay ......

Angad : Didi ...... I'm...... I'm scared ......

Shehnaaz  : See Angad..... I know this is scary but please keep faith on our gods.  ........ They'll definitely show us a way . ......

Angad : Papa will be fine nah didi .....?

Shehnaaz : He will baccha ...... he will ......

Angad : I miss you didi .....

Shehnaaz : I miss you too ........

Angad : Please gone to visit us ......

Shehnaaz : I will ....... I'll apply for a leave today ...... let's see okay ...... ?

Declining the call after a long list of conversation between the siblings , Shehnaaz finished her daily offering to her deities before getting ready for the office .......

Although she was sure and she had faith in her beloved Shree Krishna that he will definitely save her father from this situation but her over thinking brain couldn't stop itself from creating a number of useless scenarios........

While sitting in her most common transport the auto rickshaw she leaned her head on the side whole looking at tge cars or the people passing by while her mind raced with the memories of how strongly her father has managed the whole family till now ........

She was reminded abput tye little ration shop her father owned in her village where she would spend her childhood with her father while helping around during his working hours ..........

She remembered the says when she would complain about her school  , the bullies , the useless history chapters they were taught in the class to her father ......... She remembered the gentle smile adorning face of his , his soft spoken nature , his intelligence but above all his dream of making his daughter a full fleged lawyer just to make his dream come true ........

She was reminded of the days when they used to sit on the living room floor and eat there dinner during the monsoon when electricity was disrupted due to the storm ......... She was reminded how her father cried the tears of joy when she passed the entrance exam on the law college ........

Well although those happy memories might never stop flashing infront of her eyes but her mind and heart was determined to make more memories in the future ......... She wanted to make her father proud.......

Shaking her head from racing and diving into different sort of ideas for her future , she paid the driver and got out of the shared vehicle with Pakhi .......

Entering inside the building both the friends entered inside the elevator one after the another to reach their respective floors .......

" Please update me with uncle's condition once in a while  " Pakhi requested ......

" I'll  sire do that ....... " Shehnaaz replied ......

" Are you tensed ? " Pakhi asked ....

" Too much to actually voice out my condition " she whishpered......

" Don't worry everything will be alright " Pakhi encouraged her ......

" Hmmm ...... but still " she muttered ........

With every passing moments of oddly sick feeling settling in the pit of her stomach she sat there on her desk for the next several hours  occasionally updating herself and Pakhi though  the text messages from her beloved brother
........

As the arms of the clock finally reached the twelveth hour of the new day informing all the office workers about the lunch hour , the swivel chairs rolled back from their places one after the another before all that was left behind was the empty office cubicles.......

Getting of her place herself , shehnaaz got out of her office space before riding the elevator tp reach the 4th floor or the canteen area for the workers and entered inside the crowded place reluctantly ..........

Picking up a plate of sandwich she navigated the whole room before finding her friend and taking a seat beside hers .......

" Finally you are here..... " her friend gasped ......

" I know ..... " She said ......

" What about uncle ....? " Pakhi enquired......

" They aren't giving out much for us to know yet ....... " She replied.......

" When did the operation start ? " Pakhi pried......

" As much as I know , they started at half past eight " Shehnaaz stated ......

" That's a long time ago..... " Pakhi muttered......

" I know " she answered ......

Both the girls were engrossed in their own world while having their lunch when a voice caught their attention .........

" Hey there ladies can I share the table with you both? "

While the girls looked up from their spot they were greeted with the sight of a young man standing opposite to them .......

" Sure " pakhi replied ......

" By the way I'm  Rocky ...... " he returned with a grin ......

" Your parents named you Rocky?  " Shehnaaz asked.......

" No ..... they named me Rohit but thats old dude .....So here it is ...... " the man returned......

" That's interesting " Pakhi nodded ......

" Well I just joined as a junior lawyer here today ...... " he said ......

" That's incredible  " Shehnaaz commented.......

" What about you both ? " he inquired  .......

" I'm  Pakhi and this is Shehnaaz ...... " Pakhi introduced them ........

" Its very nice to meet you girls ......" he said with a sweet smile .......

" Sane here Rocky " she said politely........

Finishing their food along with a budding friendship between the three of them , they left the food court just after exchanging their numbers with one another ........

Shehnaaz who had just entered her office space wasn't even allowed to take her seat before she got a call from her boss.......

" May I come in sir ? " she asked through the slightly open door after knocking .....

" Come in " her boss grumbled........

" Sir you wanted to tell me something ? " she asked while standing opposite to the grumpy man .....

" Yes...... I want you to work on a case and prove me with several outcomes on it " he said ......

" Okay..... but what is it on ? " she pried ......

" It's a case of physical and mental abuse " he replied .....

" I'd the case filed by the woman ? " she wanted to know further .......

" No it's actually the opposite....... The man has filled a case against his wife and in laws..... " Mr Patel quoted......

" What ! " she gasped ......

" Yes and that's what makes the case more difficult if not the connections the woman family has is counted " he explained further ......

" That's going to be very difficult as most of the laws in our country are favouring the woman ..... " She said ......

" I know and that's the reason I want some fresh ideas ...... " Mr Patel replied......

" Think you for giving this opportunity to me Sir " she said ......

" That's not an opportunity but a test Shehnaaz ..... A test that can tell how much of a good mind set you have to be a great lawyer in the future " Mr Patel commented.......

" I'll remember that sir ....... I'll try my best " she said with a smile ......

" You better young lady " Mr Patel retorted........

…

…

…

As the sky started to get overwhelmed with the crimson and amber tinted clouds Sidharth who was eagerly waiting for the tests results to be out in the last twentyfour hours rushed out of his office and got inside his car ........

Sitting on the driver's seat he closed his eyes for once and covered his face with his palms
....... Although his mind was certainly happy with the fact that he was getting a person to call as only his within the next few months but somewhere his heart wasn't really really accept it's loss .........

His heart wasn't really leave her as his love interest just yet even thought Shehnaaz was going to be his surrogate in less than a week ....... Rubbing his face for the nth time of the day he finally opened his eyes .........

" Bring it on life ...... At this point I don't even know if I'm willing to stop you ...... " Sidharth muttered .......

Turning the key he roared the engine before zooming out of the parking area ....... Driving in the city of Ahmedabad where a huge number of people can be scene on the streets day to day basis Sidharth could never get bored even when stuck in the traffic for hours .......

Although that wasn't but he was absolutely sure with the amount of people surrounding him there would be someone who can break out a smile on his face........

Staring at the couples through the tinted glass of his car he definitely looked jealous when hexane across the empty seat beside himself ....... Releasing a huff he sat there counting the mere seconds for the traffic lights to change its colour when he heard a knock on his side of the window........

Turning his head to see what it was , he was greeted with the sight of a cute looking girl not a day older than a four year old standing there with a bunch of flowers in her hand ........ Lowering the glass he looked at the beauty just in front of him for few moments .......

" How an I help you little one ? " Sidharth asked with a smile on his face ......

" Will you like to buy a flower ? " the girl said meekly ......

" I would love to " Sidharth replied .......

" Which one sir ...? " the girl asked with a big smile .......

" How about all of them .....? " Sidharth probed.....

" All of them ? " her eyes sparkled ......

" Hmm ....... how much are they ?  " Sidharth enquired.......

" I have twenty five flowers and each one of them costs rupees twenty ..... " The girl muttered .....

" Then it's five hundred right...? " Sidharth stated with a questioning voice ......

" Yes ..... " she nodded .......

" Then give me all of them ...... " he commented......

" Here ! " the little girl said excitedly while forwarding the flowers towards him ........

He took out his wallet and took out a few five hundred rupee notes before giving it to her and taking the bunch of flowers .......

" This is a lot sir ..... " the girl stated.....

" No it's not little one ...... I just gave you the money I owed you " he replied with a smile ....

" If you say so ........ Thank you " the little girl happily talked.......

" You don't have to ....... go ..... go back home
..... " he returned before watching her haply skipping towards the side of the road but not before waving good bye to him .........

Starting the car once again he drove towards his destination but this time his face had a genuine smile adorning it ......... He was happy , not only for the girl but also because of her cuteness ......

Driving for the next half an hour with casual stops here and there because of the traffic he came across several other people who would have been surely described to be interesting but they couldn't stop him from remembering her.........

Those cute doe eyes , button nose and small pouty lips were truly more beautiful than words could describe........Though Sidharth was too excieted have a baby of his , be it a boy or a girl but seeing that much cuteness infront of him , made  him want to have a little princess of his own .....

Parking the car in one of the available empty spaces he jumped out of his car and rushed towards the clinic ........ 

Jogging towards the lobby area he was introduced with a rush of new and willing parents in the waiting area ...... Taking a deep breath Sidharth advanced towards the reception desk and asked ........

" Hello ...... I have an appointment with Dr Kuntal today ......" He stated......

"  Sir can you please tell the name ...?" The Receptionist replied .......

" Umm .... yeah.... Shehnaaz ...... Shehnaaz Sandhu ..... " he returned.......

" Just give me a minute to check the appointment timing ......" The Receptionist said .......

" Go ahead  " Sidharth answered......

" Well Sir ......your appointment is in half an hour to be exact  ..... " The Receptionist commented......

" Okay .... thank you " Sidharth said......

He turned around and walked towsrds an empty seat and sat down there among the various other couples......

Looking around at the pregnant women sitting there with their partnership or family members made him feel a tiny of ecstatic when his mind reminded that soon he would be in that position and Shehnaaz would be the one carring his unborn child ........

Wouldn't it be an amazing feeling to hear the heartbeat of your little one was all Sidharth was thinking about when suddenly his heart commented .......

" Both you and Shehnaaz would look great as  parents ...... "

As the though got inserted in his mind he felt as if the world around him was fading , his imaginations took their chance and started to make visual representations of how Shehnaaz might look with the swollen belly of hers ....... How he might take care of her during those nice months just like a loving and caring partner but wasn't it against their contract ....?

She was his surrogate and he needed to remain professional when he was infront of her even though he might have been acting as a love sick teenager for her in the past ........

Determined to control his mind and heart for the future purpose , Sidharth looked at his wrist watch to check the time before getting up from his seat and walking out of the building .......

Moving towards his parked car he took out a packet of cigarette from his trousers and proceeded to light one of them ....... Taking a puff from the burning health hazard he leaned on his car and released the smoke .........  Looking down at the half filled packet his mind went into the flashback mode reminding him of the time when he welcomed this unusual fried of his for the very first time .........

Flashback

It was just a few days after his long time girlfriend had ditched him for someone better  , Sidharth was sitting in the massive  livingroom of his father's house in Udaipur .........

" So what are you planning to do for our lost reputation ? " his elder sister Smriti chided......

" Di ..... I .... I'm sorry ...... " He replied meekly .....

" Do you think this sorry of yours can return your father in a better state or do you think that we'll get our reputation back by this ...?" His mother Roshni ji snarked.......

" Mom ...... I know that this isn't good enough but ....." he tried to reason them ......

" This isn't good enough " His mother cut him in between . .....

" You are the reason why dad is in the hospital , you are the reason why the society is dragging our reputation through the mud ...... " Smriti shouted .......

" I'm trying ..... I'm  trying my best ...... I'm sorry mom ...... " He cried .........

" You aren't...... you aren't working hard to save our family ........ " Roshni ji snickered .....

" Mom ..... " he tried to speak further .....

"You aren't enough Sidharth........ I don't think that just is what a woman wants from their partner " Smriti commented.......

" This is not the first time you are saying tis sister....... for you people I'm never enough ...... never ...... " he stood up from his place and dashed out of the front door towards his car ........

Driving around the majestic city of udaipur for hours to control his racing mind Sidhrth finally stopped his car at a small tea stall .......

He got out from his vehicle and walked towards the shop ......

" Please make a cup of tea for me uncle...... " he said to the old man in a hoarse voice.......

" Just a tea beta ji .....?" The man asked ......

" Yes ..... just a tea ...... " he replied .......

Picking up the cup of the famous Indian concoction for a banging headache he sat thereon the bench while rubbing his forehead while thinking about the stress he was feeling for tge last few days ......

Yes , he would hundred percent agree that his decision had been a massive backlash in his life but why was everyone only thinking about his father or their reputation ..........

Can't they feel his heartache after all he had given her everything ......... He has loved her with his soul then why can they feel his pain ........

Why can't they feel that he was getting depressed with every passing day of his life ........

Taking a sip of the hot tea he was just observing the environment when his ear caught a conversation ......

" Bro this life is really stressful ....... "

" Just take a puff of this cigarette and you'll feel better "

" I know ..... and that's the reason why I'm an addict now ....... "

Hearing that a cigarette can actually fix the stress he was feeling , he got up from his place and walked towards the shop once again
......

" uncle can you give me a cigarette  ...... " he asked ........

The old shop owner looked at him for a bit before smiling ....

" Stressed...? " the man asked .....

" Yeah .... " he replied .....

" You can have a cigarette  ....... " the man handed over a single stick towards him ......

Returning him a great full smile he took the cigarette and lit it with the lighter before taking a puff .......

* cough *

* cough *

* cough *

" First time ? " the shop owner asked....

" Hmm  " he answered while trying to control himself .....

" You'll get better with time...... " the man nodded .......

Flashback Ends

And this was the first  time he had picked up this friend , the friend who has kept his promise of taking away all his stress all these years...... Brusting out in a cryptic laughter he stood there for a while untill he could finish the cigarette he held in between his fingers ........

Taking a last drag from the bud he threw it on the floor and crushed the remaining portion with his sole before returning to the clininc ......

Catching up with the time he stridded towards tge chamber and knocked on the translucent glass door ......

" Come in ! " an enthusiastic voice of Dr Kuntal came from the other end ......

Pushing the door inside he entered the cabin before greeting the woman ......

" Good evening doctor ...... " Sidharth said ......

" Good evening Mr Marwah  ...... " She replied with a smile on her face .......

" So ...... what about the reports ...? " he asked ......

" It's good..... everything us perfect except horizon level and some vitamins ...... " The doctor informed ......

" Oh .... " he returned.....

" She us a perfect candidate for the surrogacy  ..... " The doctor said excitedly.......

" What about the iron level and vitamin deficiency?  " Sidharth enquired......

" The iron level can be gradually increased with the flhelp of food in these nine months but about the vitamins , then we have to give her injections before we can perform the insemination on her......" Dr Kuntal said ......

" Okay ...... " Sidharth grumbled.......

" Actually to be honest if it was for someone else then I would have recommended to have the vitamins rich food before the procedure is done but we are lacking time here so it's better to inject her with those....... " Dr Kuntal reasoned.......

" So when do you think that I shouldering her here ? " Sidharth asked ......

" May be tomorrow or day after ...... " The doctor suggested .......

" Also I would lifetime from you that she doesn't have any disease like HIV , aids or thalassemia that can actually harm your child ....... She doesn't untie any drug either ....... " The doctor commented.......

" That's good to hear doctor " he said ........

Picking up the folder infrot of him he went through the reports once and for all before leaving the cabin and walking towsrds tge reception to schedule another appointment for the day after ..........

Entering his car he kept the folder on the passenger seat before taking out his phone and typing a message .......

@Sidharth Marwah : I need to talk with you ...... Let's meet tomorrow for dinner in my hotel ......
I'll pick you up at 7 pm sharp .....

______________________________________________

Please ignore the typing errors for now that I have uploaded  it without proofreading the chapter .......

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