Next morning hospital ka atmosphere unusual tha. Doctors unusually serious the, aur ek senior consultant specially bulaya gaya tha.
Anaya ka dil phir se heavy ho gaya. "Kya hua?" usne Aarav se poocha.
"Treatment possible hai," Aarav ne dheere se kaha, "par cost… aur approval dono complicated hain."
"Approval?" Anaya ne confuse hokar repeat kiya.
Isi waqt wahi formal-suit wala aadmi wapas nazar aaya.
"Mr. Mehra wants confirmation," usne seedha Aarav se kaha.
Anaya ka naam officially mention nahi hua, par usse samajh aa gaya—
koi powerful insaan is contract ko monitor kar raha hai.
"Kaun hai Mr. Mehra?" Anaya ne seedha pooch liya.
Aarav ne kuch seconds liye.
"Wahi insaan jiske wajah se ye contract exist karta hai."
Anaya ka heartbeat ek second ke liye ruk sa gaya.
"Toh main sirf ek deal ka hissa hoon?"
Aarav ne turant jawab diya, "Nahi. Tum choice ho."
Ye difference subtle tha… par important.
Doctor wapas aaye.
"Decision aaj lena hoga. Delay ka risk hai."
Anaya ne contract document nikala. Usne Aarav ki taraf dekha.
"Hidden clause kya hai?"
Aarav ne finally sach ka ek tukda diya:
"Clause ye kehta hai—agar treatment sponsor kiya gaya, to tum officially mere saath public engagement me appear karogi… as my fiancée."
Silence.
Hospital ki white lights aur tez lagne lagi.
"Fake engagement?" Anaya ne dheere se poocha.
"Temporary," Aarav ne kaha. "Par legally binding."
Anaya ne aankhen band ki. Maa ka face uske dimaag me flash hua.
Fear… dignity… future… sab ek side.
Aur phir usne aankhen kholi.
"Main ready hoon."
Aarav ne use dekha—iss baar admiration ke saath.
"Phir game officially start hota hai."
Aur is baar, contract sirf paper par nahi…
publicly announce hone wala tha.