A/N: Comparatively a shorter chapter but... I wanted the backstory of how the adoptions came to be so... yeah.
Scene: How the decision to adopt came to be.

Warning: Auto corrects and typos are always behind my back so please forgive me for any mistakes. And please don't get mad at my attempt at typing Hindi, it is NOT my First or Second language so I am prone to make mistakes.

The idea of adoption for Rajni and Kusum had actually come in from the family. They had been sitting at the table, playing something when Shankar had breached the topic. "So... shaadi ho gayi... bachche ka kya karoge?" he had asked all of a sudden. (So... you got married... what about children?)

"What?" Kusum and Rajni asked in chorus with an incredulous look on their faces. "Haan beti, bachche chaahiye to kya karoge? I'm not forcing and all par... supposing you want to have children, what will you do?" Sunaina asked. (Yes children, what about children? I'm not forcing you all but... supposing you want to have children, what will you do?)

"Abhi abhi toh shaadi hui hai maaji, thoda time lagega unke baare mein soch ne ka" Rajni said. "Koi baath nahi hai bhabi, adopt karlenge ya phir surrogacy karlenge, options hai unke paas." Chaman said as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. (We have just got married mom, it will take sometime to think about it) (No problem bhabi, they can adopt or maybe do surrogacy, they have options)

"Papa! Thoda sochne ka waqt toh deejiye ki agar humko bachche chaahiye ya nahi, aapka pote paane ki ichcha humare paas force math karo. Decision lene ki baad, hum kudh hi aap se bol denge agar hume bachche chaahiye ya nahi" Kusum said. (Papa! Give us some time to think whether we want children or not, don't force your want to have grandkids on us. After making our decision, we ourselves will come and tell you that we want children or not)

That night, while in bed, the thought never left their heads. "Mummy papa toh ab saare samay iske baare main hi poochte rahenge. Humne toh tumhari situation ke baare mein bathaya bhi nahi unko. Kya karna hai?" Kusum asked. (Mummy and papa will now always ask about this to us. We haven't told them about your situation yet. What should we do?)

"Um... do hafte mein woh pride march hai na? Hum uske liye jaayenge, tab Aman aur Kartik se iske baare mein pooch lenge. Asexuality ke baare mein baath bhi karni hai anyways... Shaayad mummy papa maan jaayenge." Rajni said. (Um... there is that pride march in two weeks no? We can go there, talk with Aman and Kartik about this. We need to talk about this asexuality thing anyways... Maybe mummy and papa will agree to it)

"I know ki you love children, dekh sakthi thi jab baba ne woh idea diye the humko. The way your face lit up at the prospect, kuch bhi kar sakthi hoon us hasi ko waise hi preserve karne ke liye." Kusum said, kissing Rajni softly. (I know that you love children, I could see it when baba gave that idea to us. The way your face lit up at the prospect, I will do anything to retain that smile and joy on your face)

And that is how Rajni and Kusum came about the idea of adopting a child, partly due to family and partly their own love for children.

Kartik on the other hand... it all started with the test article the weekly magazine had asked for. When he had approached the children's hospital nearby to write the article, he couldn't help but look at the downtrodden faces of the sick children while writing his article and went forward to have a one to one conversation with all the kids there, who sweetly talked with him about why they were there.

Something had struck a chord in him then, looking at the children laughing at his stupid jokes and how they innocently talked with him... he had felt this urge to spend more time with them, entertain them and make them smile, forget about some of their worries, become a child with them once more...

He didn't know what came over him but by the time he had come to his senses, he was coming out of the hospital, an article in his hand and the number of the hospital in the other. He vaguely remembers talking with the nurses and manager, enquiring about entertaining the children from time to time.

And when he gets the call accepting his request, he's surprised and elated. He immediately runs over to Aman, pulls him off the chair and spins him around, laughing loudly. "Arey, kya hua tujhe? Kush khabri kya hai?" Aman asked with a surprised laugh. (Arey, what happened to you? What is the good news?)

"Yaad hai woh din jab tune mujse kaha ki, I quote 'Mere pyaare dramebaaz, yeh drama ko kisi aur jagah dhika, shaayad faaida ho jayega kisi ko?' And guess what? Wohi kiya maine, aur unhone haan kehdi hai! Sunday ko children's hospital jaakar entertain karni hai un bachchon ko!" Kartik gushed out, not able to hold in his excitement. (Remember that day when you said that, I quote 'My dear dramebaaz, show all this drama somewhere else, maybe it will be helpful to someone?' And guess what? I did it and they said yes! I am to entertain the children at the hospital this Sunday!)

"Yeh toh bohot achchi baath hai! Chahta hoon ki tumhare saath yeh weekend wahaan aane ki par..." "Haan, batha hai, lecture deni hai tumhe Monday par. Kisi aur din aana mere saath. Manage karlonga ek weekend tere bina" Kartik said. (This is a good news! I do want to come with you this weekend but...) (Yeah, I know, you need to give your lecture on Monday. Come with me another day. I will manage one weekend without you)

The weekend came, and Kartik was all geared up to entertain the kids. He was bouncing around like a kid with a sugar rush when he enters the hospital. He gathered around all the kids and nurses, even the parents who were present if they were willing and made them sit in a circle, Kartik in the middle and started his game.

It was a fairly simple game. He will tell them a one liner, either a question or a statement and asked one of the kids/adults to tell one more line that is not related to what he said within 10 seconds, else they will get out. It basically went like this. (Inspired by Maathi Yosi from the programme Adhu Idhu Edhu)

"Behenji, aapka naam kya hai?" he asked, pointing at one of the nurses. (Sister, what is your name?)
"Bachchon ko... laddus pasandh hai" she said. (The children... like laddus)
"Par mujhe laddus nahi pasandh" Kartik said, pointing towards one of the boys there. (But I don't like laddus)
"Kyon nahi pasandh hai?" he asked. (Why don't you like them?)
"Aur tum out ho! Maine kya kaha? Do not?" Kartik prompted. (And you are out! What did I say? Do not?)
"Tell anything related to anything you say" the rest of them, except one girl, chorused. They immediately started pouting, realising the trap he had set up.
"Pakad liya! Aur winner hai..." (And I caught you! And the winner is...)
"Kanni!" everyone exclaimed as they pushed the girl forward, laughing merrily.
"Aur winner ko miltha hai... drum rolls please!" Kartik said and two of the kids started to clap. (And the winner gets... drum rolls please!)
"Bas yaar... ek chocolate! Kuch aur khelen ya yahi continue karni hai?" Kartik asked and there were various answers that echoed around. (Ok stop... one chocolate! Shall we play something else or continue this?)

By the end of the day, the kids had come to love Kartik and was pestring him to come back soon, even if people don't allow him to visit. A nurse had suggested him to visit a nearby orphanage or special abilities home or even an elders home as according to her, they needed someone like him to cheer them up time to time.

Kartik was over the moon when he left the place, he couldn't wait to come over with Aman the next time. Lets just say that Aman's ear needed a rest from all the excited non stop talk that Kartik had subjected him to.

So it was no surprise for Aman that Kartik had started to talk about adoption after just a few visits. Those children were golden whenever Aman had visited them along with Kartik. Which of course led them to the current situation.

"Mil gaya humara bandha. Infertility centre chalta hai, shaayad help kar saktha hai" Aman said as the other three crowded around him with smiles on their faces. (We got our person. Runs an infertility centre, maybe he can help us)

A/N: Hope you all like this chapter! All comments and criticism accepted and appreciated! This fic is betaed by girl. with. passion! Any prompts are welcome! Major twist coming up!

It was supposed to have been posted yesterday but my mood was down cuz Corona is a SOB and the board has decided to postpone my last exam due to that so... yeah.

Thank you all for reading!

Rasi10 signing off

Published on 20 March 2020