Vivek ko lagta hai aaj ka din sirf ek formality hai. Naya-naya married hai, isliye usne kurta bhi aisa pehna hai jo bol raha hai, “Main shaant hoon, main cooperative hoon, mujhe bas sign karne do.” Lawyer ke office ki waiting room mein teen leather chairs, ek coffee table, aur deewar par framed certificates—sab kuch itna serious hai ki Vivek ki saans bhi thodi legal lagne lagti hai. Uske haath mein ek pen hai, aur uske chehre par woh expression jo sirf wahi aadmi deta hai jo shaadi ke baad pehli baar paperwork dekh raha ho. Shalini office-casual mein aati hai, bilkul composed, jaise woh kisi meeting mein ho. Kamla silk sari mein enter karti hai, handbag aur spectacles ke saath aise, jaise family court nahi, board meeting ho. Lawyer off-screen hai, lekin uski chair aur uski absence dono room mein authority bana rahe hain.
Vivek bolta hai ki usse bas marriage affidavit sign karna hai. Shalini turant ek file khol deti hai aur bolti hai, “Simple?” Uske liye marriage simple tab hoti, jab Vivek ne pehle hi “conditions” par sign kar diya hota. Kamla bhi apna folder nikaalti hai—uske paas bhi conditions hain, aur woh unhe “practical expectations” bolti hai. Shalini ka pehla clause: weekend par “maa ke ghar” ka meaning sirf ek hi hota hai—unannounced drop-in nahi. Kamla ka clause: har Sunday lunch unke ghar, kyunki “ghar jamane ke liye respect jamani padti hai.” Vivek beech mein pen lekar sirf haan-haan karta rehta hai, par har haan ke saath aur ek naya paper uske saamne aa jata hai.
Comedic battle tab shuru hoti hai jab dono auratein ek dusre ke clauses par legal language mein chhote-chhote taunts chalati hain. Shalini kehti hai, “Clause 4: emotional blackmail prohibited.” Kamla turant jawab deti hai, “Clause 4: bahu ko tone control karna chahiye.” Vivek har baar bolta hai, “Main bas sign kar deta hoon, bas mujhe bata do kis page par.” Lekin koi page simple nahi hai. Shalini usse coffee cup pakda kar kehti hai ki “sign karne se pehle caffeine lo, clarity aayegi.” Kamla spectacles chadha kar uske haath se pen leke bolti hai, “Clarity baad mein, commitment pehle.”
Phir reveal hota hai ki lawyer ne jo “marriage affidavit” bheja tha, woh actually multiple forms ke saath clipped hai. Vivek ne bina dekhe sign kar diya—pehla form house agreement ka tha, jisme likha hai ki naye ghar mein “mother-in-law guest room” permanent utility room ke saath attached hoga. Dusra form pet adoption ka hai, jisme “family companion” ke roop mein ek dog ka naam already “Judge” bhara hua hai. Teesra form prenatal consent ka hai, jisme future baby ke liye “parental preparedness workshop” mandatory likha hai. Vivek ka face blank ho jata hai. Woh bolta hai, “Prenatal? Pet? House?” Shalini dry smile ke saath kehti hai, “Tumne sign kiya tha, Vivek. Bas reading clause skip kiya tha.” Kamla calmly add karti hai, “Aur negotiating clause bhi.”
End mein off-screen lawyer ki awaaz aati hai—sirf ek line: “Sorry, wrong bundle.” Teenon freeze. Phir Shalini, Kamla, aur Vivek ek dusre ko dekhte hain. Vivek whisper karta hai, “Toh main married hoon ya lease pe hoon?” Shalini eye-roll ke saath bolti hai, “Dono.” Kamla apni file band karke final punchline deti hai: “Aur beta, ab se is ghar mein ‘mother-in-law clause’ sabse pehle padh ke sign karna.”
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