KariLa One Shots

11 - Fears and Fights

Special Changes: none (Veyom works in Merchant Navy, as mentioned in the show)

Extra Characters: none

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10 months. 10 months since she'd woken up to see him snoring loudly beside her, 10 months since she fought with him right after work and had to have Pushpaji calm them down, 10 months since she'd kissed him under the moonlight, 10 months since she had to think of new excuses every week to go out with him, 10 months since they'd lost themselves to each other under the sheets, 10 months since he wiped her tears and brought them back within minutes by tickling her. She missed him. Every little bit of him, small or big, cool or absolutely irritating.

And what was worse, the number of dead and injured passengers on boats in the same area Veyom would be in was increasing day by day. Their names hadn't been taken and ship numbers hadn't been mentioned either. There was no contact of Veyom, of course, since there was no network in the middle of the ocean. Both Karishma and Pushpaji were worried to the highest extent and feared loosing the most important person of their lives.

Pushpaji stood in the kitchen, silently placing a pot on the stove for dinner. Karishma came in behind her and was about to ask how she could help, when her gaze fell on the portrait that hung beside the frigde. An invisible smile appeared on her face thinking of the day they took this picture. Karishma remembered herself being dragged to a photographer for this and falling asleep during the car ride because of how exhausted she was. She looked back reluctantly and started cutting the vegetables. Suddenly, Karishma felt a hand on her shoulder and turned around.

PS: Kuch nahi hoga Lalla ko, woh zarur laut ke aayega

KS: Aapko kaise pata hum unhi ke baare mein soch rahe the

PS: Humne bhi pyaar kiya hai beta, itna toh samajhte hi hai

KS: Phir aap aisa kaahe kehti hai ki hum aapke Lalla se pyaar hi nahi karte

PS: Arre tum jaanti ho na, tumse lade bina hamara khaana hi nahi pachta

KS: Toh itne dino se kahan chala gaya aapka ladai-jhagda?

The words came out of her mouth before she could even stop them. They both knew why they hadn't bother to fight for these 10 months but never said it out loud. Karishma looked back towards Pushpaji and held her ears as an apology, but she shook her head and held her hand instead. Pushpaji was about to say something, but suddenly they heard a knock at the door. Karishma's breath was hitched in her throat. No one had knocked at their door after they got the news of Veyom's possible demise, and Karishma was scared as to who it could be. She was expecting only two people, either Veyom, or someone from his team to give them the official bad news.

She left Pushpaji's hand and walked slowly towards the door trying to convince herself it was just Haseena who forgot the keys. She managed to open the door and looked outside to see a van with the merchant navy logo on it. She turned around immediately, scared as to who it could be. She stood with her back facing the door, almost shivering, when a familiar voice called out her name.

VS: Karu?

Karishma turned around with tears forming at the edge of her eyes as a huge sense of relief washed over her. She uttered a single word, still inaudible:

KS(whispering): Patidev...?

She couldn't control the tears that rolled down her cheeks seeing him in front of her after everything. She was genuinely scared, for the first time in life, that she would lose him and couldn't imagine her reaction if it came true. Veyom put aside his jacket and suitcase, before walking up to her. He cupped her face and shook his head in negative, while slowly wiping away her tears with his thumb. Veyom placed his lips on hers and more tears fell from her eyes, being overwhelmed from this very feeling that she had craved for the last 10 months. They broke the kiss within seconds and Karishma hid herself in his chest without a word. Her tears had slowed down, but Veyom could hear her muffled sobs.