Rakesh and Arjun’s Story: Navigating Surrogacy & Law | Malpani Infertility Clinic

“We Just Wanted the Chance to Try”: Rakesh and Arjun’s True Story

Some people walk into a fertility clinic carrying years of failed treatments. Others walk in carrying fear.

Rakesh was one of them.

When he first came to Malpani Infertility Clinic in 2018, he came alone. He did not explain much. He only asked if surrogacy was possible for someone like him. He spoke carefully, as if choosing the wrong word could shut a door forever.

He was in his early thirties, from a small town in Madhya Pradesh. He had lived most of his life quietly. Carefully. Staying invisible had felt safer than being honest.

The First Visit: Asking Without Saying Everything

Rakesh said he wanted to become a parent. He asked about surrogacy. About adoption. About whether it was even allowed.

The conversation was factual. Calm. No assumptions were made. He was given clear information about what surrogacy involves, what is legally permitted, and what questions need to be answered before moving forward.

But something was missing.

When people are hiding an important part of their life, it often shows. Not in words, but in pauses. Rakesh left with information, but also with the sense that he could come back when he was ready to say more.

A month later, he did.

Speaking the Truth Together

This time, Rakesh walked in with Arjun. They sat side by side, not holding hands, not making a statement. Just being together.

After a few minutes, Rakesh spoke.

“We are live in partners.”

It was said softly, but it carried years of weight. They waited for a reaction. Many couples like them are used to judgement, even in medical spaces. What they got instead was something simpler. They were listened to.

They spoke about their relationship. About growing up in environments where being different was dangerous. About hiding from neighbours, colleagues, sometimes even family.

Arjun had eventually told his parents. It had not been easy, but they accepted him. That acceptance gave them the courage to imagine a future that included a child.

Wanting a Family, Like Anyone Else

Rakesh and Arjun were not looking for sympathy. They were looking for a path. They wanted to know if it was medically possible for them to become parents. And if so, how.

The process was explained step by step:

• An egg would come from a donor.
• Sperm would come from Arjun.
• An embryo would be created in the laboratory using a technique where a single sperm is placed inside an egg.
• A surrogate would carry the pregnancy.

Nothing was exaggerated. Nothing was promised. They were also told something important: Medical possibility is only one part of the equation. Legal clarity matters just as much. At that time, surrogacy was still legally possible for them.

Holding Onto Hope Carefully

By mid 2018, they had completed the necessary paperwork. A young egg donor was selected. Finding a surrogate took time. This is common. Not everyone is willing or medically suitable.

They called often. Sometimes with questions. Sometimes just to check if there was any update. They were excited, but also anxious. Anyone who has waited for a fertility cycle understands this feeling. Life feels paused.

Then, in September 2018, something shifted nationally. Homosexuality was decriminalised in India.

For Rakesh and Arjun, this felt personal. For the first time, the law was not against who they were. They celebrated, not loudly, but with relief. They felt seen.

When Timing Turns Cruel

Just when everything seemed to align, things began to unravel. The surrogate’s uterine lining did not thicken enough to safely transfer the embryos. This can happen. The body does not always cooperate with timelines.

Before another attempt could be planned, the Surrogacy Bill was passed in December 2018. Under the new law, homosexual couples were no longer allowed to pursue surrogacy.

The change was sudden. There was no transition period. One day they were preparing for treatment. The next day, it was no longer allowed.

Choosing Ethics Over Loopholes

There were legal grey areas. Ways some clinics might have continued quietly. But those options were not offered.

Instead, the situation was explained honestly. What the law now said. What could and could not be done ethically. This was not an easy conversation. There were tears. There was silence.

The clinic did not frame itself as powerless. It framed itself as responsible. Guidance sometimes means saying no, even when patients are desperate for a yes. Rakesh and Arjun walked out without a treatment cycle. But they walked out with clarity.

What Their Story Leaves Us With

Rakesh and Arjun’s story is not a success story in the usual sense. There was no baby. No happy ending photograph.

But it is still an important story. It reminds us that fertility journeys are shaped not only by biology, but by law, timing, and social acceptance. It shows how deeply people can want a child, even when the world keeps moving the goalposts. And it shows the importance of doctors who do not exploit hope, but protect it.

A Gentle Note to Readers

If you are navigating fertility decisions that feel complicated, whether because of medical reasons, legal barriers, or personal circumstances, you deserve clear and honest guidance.

Sometimes, a consultation is not about starting treatment. It is about understanding where you stand. Speaking to a fertility specialist like Dr. Malpani can help you make sense of your options, without pressure and without false promises.

Not every journey moves forward immediately. But no one should be left confused or misled along the way. And sometimes, being guided with honesty is the most important care of all.