Karan ke haath mein registration form hai, pen ka cap khola hua, aur forehead par woh pasina jo sirf do cheezon se aata hai—EMI aur delivery room ke paperwork se. Woh maternity clinic ke waiting area mein plastic chair par baitha hai, jahan pastel walls, ceiling fan aur glowing token board sab milke uski nervousness ka mazaak uda rahe hain. Priya uske bagal mein baithi hai, ek haath pet par, doosre mein mobile. Sunita unke saamne wali chair par raj-mata style mein jam chuki hai, handbag ko aise pakde jaise uske andar baby ke future ke saare answers hon. Karan bas form bharna chahta hai. Bas. Lekin uske liye yeh form nahi, family summit hai.
Pehla war surname pe hota hai. Karan likhta hai “Baby Sharma,” Priya turant bolti hai, “Sirf Sharma? Itna generic? Kuch twist hona chahiye.” Sunita turant counter deti hai, “Twist-wist chhodo. Parampara hoti hai. Bachche ka surname saaf, seedha, purana.” Priya phone se ek note khol kar bolti hai ki modern couples apne naam combine karte hain. Sunita kehti hai combine sirf salad mein accha lagta hai. Karan beech mein fasa hua, pen ko kaan ke peeche dabata hai aur form ke top par “Baby…” likh kar ruk jaata hai, jaise usse existential crisis ho gaya ho.
Phir hospital snacks ka issue nikal aata hai. Karan, jo do ghante se bhooka hai, water bottle ka fake sip lete hue kehta hai ki canteen se kuch le aate hain. Priya seedha mana kar deti hai—“Mujhe yahan samosa ki smell se nausea hota hai.” Sunita offend ho jaati hai—“Pregnancy mein thoda khana-zaroori hota hai. Mere time pe main teen aloo ke parathe kha ke bhi seedha kaam karti thi.” Priya dryly bolti hai, “Aur mere time pe Google hai, Mummy ji.” Karan situation sambhalne ke liye token board ki taraf dekh kar bolta hai, “Token 47 aaya toh main form submit karke bhag jaaunga.” Sunita turant kehti hai, “Bhaagoge? Delivery ke pehle hi?” Priya hans deti hai, aur Karan ko lagta hai shaadi ke baad pehli baar uski joke timing sahi thi.
Form bharte-bharte unki chhoti chhoti takraar family politics ban jaati hai. Priya baby ke naam par “Aarav” suggest karti hai. Sunita “Veer” pe atak jaati hai. Karan “Kunal” bolta hai sirf isliye kyunki usse lagta hai dono usse dekh kar chup ho jayengi. Nahi hota. Priya kehti hai, “Tumhara naam list mein hai hi nahi kya?” Sunita aur tez ho jaati hai: “Papa ka naam likho pehle. Baaki baad mein.” Karan ke mooh se nikalta hai, “Main hoon na.” Priya ek second usse dekhti hai, phir smile dabake bolti hai, “Haan, par form ko bhi bata do.”
Ant mein Karan har cheez compromise karke form fill kar deta hai—surname ke box mein “Sharma,” baby name ke box mein “Baby Boy/Girl,” snacks policy ke box mein kuch nahi, kyunki aisa box hota nahi. Sunita apni handbag se extra pen nikaal kar usse “properly” sign karne ka lecture deti hai. Priya mobile pe hospital policy padhte hue bolti hai ki nurse ko sirf exact details chahiye. Karan bas ek baar chain se saans lena chahta hai. Woh form nurse counter par submit karta hai aur triumphant lagta hai, jaise koi war jeet li ho.
Tabhi nurse form wapas bhej deti hai—“Father’s name missing.” Karan blank. Priya aankhen chadha ke usse dekhti hai. Sunita scandalized. Karan form uthata hai, aur uski smile dheere dheere girti hai. Usne jo signature diya tha, woh uski hi mother ka maiden name nikla tha—kyunki pen ke neeche jo last form ka print tha, usne bina dekhe copy kar diya tha. Form par “Father’s Name: Sushma Verma” likha hua hai.
Teenon ek second ko freeze. Phir Priya pehle phoot-phoot ke hans padti hai. Sunita pehle shocked, phir apni hasi rok nahi paati. Karan ka chehra tomato. Priya kehti hai, “Toh baby ka surname toh decide ho gaya… ab father ka naam bhi mummy ji ka hi rakh dete hain?” Sunita apni handbag ko thaam ke bolti hai, “Maine kaha tha, pen dhyaan se pakdo!” Karan beech mein beizzati aur relief ke beech phasa hua bas itna bol pata hai, “Main… bas family values follow kar raha tha.” Token board beep karta hai. Nurse dobara bulati hai. Aur teenon, apni-apni jeet aur haar ke saath, ek hi line mein khade ho jaate hain—jaise clinic nahi, family court ho.
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