Irresistible

3. Touch

In the evening Pushpa ji had come back from the forensics lab and was reporting to Haseena while Karishma was checking the oiling of Haseena's cabin trying to listen to what they were conversing about.
Haseena was well aware of Karishma's presence outside her cabin.

"Karishma Singh aap andar aa sakthi hai."

Karishma peeped in looking at Haseena and with a sheepish expression moved into her cabin.

"Please continue Pushpa ji."

"Haan maddam sir yeh rahi report." She said forwarding it to Haseena."Woh keh rahe hai ki victims ke maut ki wajah blunt trauma hai."

Karishma hopefully looked at Haseena and Haseena gave the report to Karishma.

"Ab yeh case Karishma Singh handle kar rahi hai toh aap inko detailed report submit kar dijiye."

"Theek hai maddam sir." Pushpa ji left after saluting. But Karishma lingered.
"Woh woh hum ache tareeke se handle karengey yeh case. Aapko disappoint nahi karengey." She said scratching her forehead looking everywhere but at Haseena.

"Hum jaantey hai Karishma Singh." Haseena spoke with confidence. "Hum yeh nahi jaantey ki hum aapke maafi ke kaabil hai ya nahi par haan hum yeh aapko kehna zaroori samajtey hai."
Haseena walked towards Karishma moving close enough to touch her.

"Hum uss waqt bahoth pareshaan tey. Bahoth badi zimmedari thi humaare sar par. Hum aapko sab kuch kehna chahte tey par keh nahi paaye. Hum justification nahi dey rahe hai. Par hum par naraaz mat hoyiyega. Humme humari dost ki zaroorat hai. Hum aapko miss kar rahe hai. Humare Karishma Singh ko miss kar rahe hai. Maheenon baad hum Haseena jaise bartaav kar pa rahe hai aur humare zindagi ke sabse azeez insaan ke saat baat nahi kar pa rahe hai aur hume kuch acha lag nahi raha hai." A tiny sob escaped her mouth and Karishma looked at her finally.

Haseena had tears in her eyes. Karishma finally looked at her and before she could stop herself, she touched Haseena's face wiping off her tears with her thumb. Haseena leaned into her palm, basking in its warmth.

"Aapke har baat ko hum bahoth personally le lete hai Maddam sir. Humko waise react nahi karna chahiye tah." She said, her palm was still on Haseena's cheek caressing her face with love. She let go of her anger just like that in seconds, for Haseena's tears made her heart melt.

"Nahi aap sahi thi. Humme aapko batana chahiye tha. Humme maaf kar dijiye." Haseena said, more tears escaping her eyes.

"Maaf kar diya humne ab aap please aur aansu mat bahayiye maddam sir humse dekha nahi ja raha hai." Karishma said wiping her tears.

Haseena smiled at Karishma apologetically and Karishma smiled back. There was a loud noise of Billu and Cheetah arguing and that brought Karishma and Haseena out of their trance. Karishma quickly withdrew her hand and balled her fists which still had traces of Haseena's tears. Haseena turned away from Karishma avoiding eye contact.

"Woh woh hum chaltey hai Maddam sir." She left hastily.

Haseena slowly raised her hand to her face touching her left cheek where Karishma had just touched her. It was warm and she felt her cheeks getting warmer. Was she actually BLUSHING ???!
Yeh humaari gaal laal kyun ho rahi hai she asked herself checking her reflection on her name plate. Aur Karishma Singh humme aise kyun dekh rahi thi jaise unki Jaan humme basi hui hai. Kyunki unki jaan sachmein hum mein basi hai ..

Haseena confusion knew no bounds. She picked up her baton and cap and left her cabin. On her way out Karishma Singh was nowhere to be found and she was glad. She quickly left the thaana after informing Pushpa ji .

Meanwhile in the gym room Karishma Singh was breathing heavily recollecting the way she had touched her Maddam sir. The way her face felt perfect in her palm. The way the tears in her eyes were piercing her soul. She looked at her right hand which was shivering from nervous excitement. Ama yeh humme ho gaya hai she thought.

Ab aise kya badal gaya hai ki maddam sir ko choone se aise ajeeb si mehsoos ho rahi hai humme. Humme unke aansu ponchne ki ka zaroorat thi. Ama kahi unko kuch galat fehmi toh nahi hua hoga. Kahi woh hume judge toh nahi kar rahi hogi. Pehle bhi hum ek dusre ke kareeb aaye hai ab aisa kya badal gaya hai ki hum apne saanson ko tez hota hua mehsoos kar rahe hai. Humari dadkan bhi tez hai aur humare haath toh kaanp rahe hai she thought, still looking at her hands.

After composing herself Karishma left the room and found that Haseena was nowhere to be found.

Arrey wah yeh kya kaand kar diya yaar Karishma tune." Karishma mumbled under breath squeezing her eyes shut. She had always wanted to do that. To touch her face like that. She had simply lost control today. She was not guilty because she touched her. Rather she was furious at herself for losing control.

"Pushpa ji!" She shouted. When there was no response she shouted again.

"Arrey kyun chilla rahi hai aap." Pushpaji responded by shrinking her eyes to the noise

"Woh maddam sir kahaan chali gayi."

"Woh abhi kuch der pehle nikhal gayi. Bichari maddam sir, lagta hai tabiyat theek nahi hai unki. Gaal bhi laal that unka bukaar ki wajah se." She said shaking her head in negation.

"Ama woh bukaar se gaal kaise laal hota hai." Karishma chided.

"Arrey hota hai na aap nahi jaanti."

Karishma was devastated. Unko itna bura laga ki woh chali gayi? Humme bina bataye.

Her mind was posing a million questions and unable to bear the disturbance and to calm herself she called Haseena but Haseena wasn't picking up the call.

"Ama bakkk" she sweared loudly.

The next day at Mahila Police Thana,Karishma arrived well ahead. She was glancing at her watch and walking in her signature style to and from the entrance to her table.

When she heard someone enter, she longingly looked ahead

"Ama bakkk aap, pushpa ji? Aapko kisne bulaya. Bewaja gussa dila rahi hai aap subah subah." She chided.

"Arrey humne kya kiya." Pushpee mumbled.

"Maddam sir ko call kijiye aap jaldi." She gestured pushpa ji

"Arrey maddam sir aaj nahi aah rahi hai." Pushpa ji said.
"Kyunnn???" Karishma shouted again making Pushpa ji shrink her eyes.
"Unka tabiyat theek nahi hai. Aapko toh maloom hoga na. Aapki maddam sir ki kabar toh aapko humesha rehti hai." Pushji said casually and sat down on her chair as if she just stated facts.

Karishma dismissed her remark and stormed off the thaana.

..

Haseena looked at her phone which by now showed 7 missed calls from Karishma. She had long forgotten the popcorn bowl on her lap and the movie that was playing on tv. It was so unlike her to avoid confrontation or going to her mpt when there was an important case, but she was clueless this time. Why was she even avoiding Karishma Singh? Just because of the way she reacted to her touch? That was very immature and Haseena was not proud. Karishma was simply comforting her as a friend. Right ? She was reasoning with herself when she heard a knock on the door.

She opened the door only to find the reason behind all her confusion standing there huffing. Haseena always found her anger adorable. The fact that she was tiny compared to her made her feel even more so. How could such a smol person manage to do this much bhaukal?

Yeh hum soch kya rahe haiiii. She reprimanded her thoughts and looked at her SI.

"Karishma Singh aap?" She asked.