Irresistible

8. The green saree

By the time they had started to Haseena's home it was almost noon. Haseena drove all the while keeping a watchful eye on Karishma. Karishma was aware of how Haseena was suddenly hypersensitive to her presence but she didn't know why.

"Maddam sir aap zara road ko bhi dekh lijiye. Hum kaheen bhaag thodi jayengey." Karishma said.

"Karishma Singh hum mirror dekh rahe tey woh." Haseena gestured to the rear view mirror.
Karishma smirked and nodded.

"Theek hai." She mumbled.

They reached Haseena's home and it was a cozy one with enough rooms to accommodate many more people. The honeycomb colour theme, decoration with beautiful paintings and plants hanging in random corners, bamboo furniture all were a reflection of Haseena.

But what caught Karishma's attention was the new addition to the showcase with Haseena's medals and appreciation certificates. It was a picture of her standing her Karishma. The fact that she valued her so much that she'd kept that photo with all the medals made Karishma emotional and she felt her throat tightening and eyes, moist. She quickly wiped the tears.

Karishma suddenly wondered how lonely she must feel in such a big house totally forgetting how she herself was living alone in the outskirts of Lucknow.

They both entered the home Haseena behind Karishma still not trusting Karishma on her own feet.

"Jaise aap jaanti hai woh humara kamra hai." She said gesturing towards the room opposite the entrance, besides the television. "Abhi ke liye yeh room thoda presentable hai toh aap issi mein shift ho jayiye. Aapke things hum lekar aajayeingey." She said

"Aap thaane ke liye nikhal rahi hai na maddam sir. Humme bhi jaana hai. Yeh drugs ke origin ek lead hai uss case mein aur hum investigation chalu rakhna chahte hai." Karishma said weakly but with undeterred determination.

"Karishma Singh aaj aap thaane nahi jayengi. That's final." Haseena ordered in her usual authoritative tone and left to get ready.

..

In the thaana Haseena Mallik was engrossed in the forensics report. She had already held a meeting with the SHO of the station that had first gone to the crime scene. She was engrossed in work that she did not notice the time. Suddenly she got up with a jerk from her chair realising that she had left Karishma Singh at home. Alone. That workaholic troublemaker SI of hers was definitely going to be angry at her senior for making her take the day off AND staying back at work herself.

She quickly closed the file and piled up some of the necessary files and left the thaana in a hurry.

At home Karishma was bored sitting on the sofa changing channels as if it was a sport. She heard the unlocking of the door but didn't turn around to look at Haseena.

"Karishma Singh woh hum ek case mein busy ho gaye tey." Haseena reasoned placing her baton on the table and removing her cap.

"Nahi nahi maddam sir. Aap humme kahe explanation dey rahi hai. Hum toh sirf aapke sunte hai. Chote bacche hai na hum." She said each word dipped in sarcasm.

"Ale woh toh aap hai." Haseena said patting her head.

Karishma glared at Haseena but Haseena patted her head a couple more times with an adoring look before leaving to change.

Haseena changed and crashed on the sofa next to Karishma and Karishma still wasn't looking at her.

"Waise hum jaantey hai ki aap humsey naraaz hongi isiliye humne saare files ghar lekar aagaye kuch naye leads bhi miley hai. Aap chaahe toh hum saat mein discuss kar saktey hai." That finally gained Karishma's attention. She eagerly nodded at Haseena and Haseena quickly brought all the files to where they sat.

"Arrey wah maddam sir. Yeh toh badiya lead hai. Yeh dekhiye yeh inke attacks ka kuch pattern dikh raha hai." She said pointing towards a map where all the previous crimes of the thugs had been marked.
"Ji aap sahi keh rahe hai. Aur yeh saare attacks night time mein hua hai baahar aur mostly individual homes par hua hai. Jahaan help ke liye kisi ka pahunchna mushkil hoga, matlab ke yeh aam log hai? Aur yeh dekhiye mostly sab government officials hai. "
"Sivaay humare case mein. In logon ki itni himmat ki humme, Karishma Singh ko behosh karaya, humare hi ghar ke bagal waale ghar mein aatank machaya hummei warn karne ke liye. Zinda nahi chodengey inko.." Karishma Singh repeated the words that were running in her head since morning to Haseena.

Haseena looked at her fists her red eyes and understood the kind of turmoil she has been in for the whole day. She held her fisted hands reassuring her and Karishma's eyes found hers. And just like that her anger vanished.

"Arrey hum baaton baaton mein dinner ke baare mein bhool hi gaye." Haseena said bringing Karishma out of her train of thoughts.

"Haan maddam sir humme bhi bhook lagi hai." Karishma agreed feebly and Haseena resisted the urge to pull her cheeks.

"Aayiye hum kuch banate hai." Haseena said and walked towards the kitchen and Karishma silently followed her.

"Kya kayengi aap Karishma Singh." Haseena asked, picking up an onion in her hand.

"Jo aap khilayengi maddam sir." Karishma said scratching the side of her forehead sheepishly.
"Toh hum aapko humare khaas idly upma khilayengey." She said and started working with enthusiasm.

"Hum aapke madad kartey par humko yeh sab karna nahi aata. Hum khud bhi chot khayengey aur dusron ko bhi chot pahoncha dengey agar khaana pakaatey toh." Karishma accepted with a smile.
"Hum jaakar table set kartey hai." She said and left Haseena with her work.

The dinner was ready in some time and Haseena and Karishma started having their dinner in peace.

"Wah." Karishma unknowingly let out a satisfied sigh after eating the first morsel of food and Haseena smiled at her as she hurriedly ate the rest.

They finished their dinner and Karishma was about to go inside her room but Haseena held her hand and took her to her room. Karishma was looking at Haseena with confusion.

"Woh humne abhi tak issko unwrap nahi kiya hai." She said handing over a box wrapped in a gold coloured wrapper. It was the gift that Karishma had given to Haseena for completing 2 years in Mahila Police Thana when she was acting as Urmila. Still unwrapped.
"Aapne issko abhi tak unwrap nahi kiya?! Humne kitna soch samajkar isko liya tha tab." She said scrunching her nose remembering how much she had spent looking for the best gift.
"Humare liye yeh bahoth khaas hai. Hum isko Urmila bankar nahi balki Haseena bankar kholna chahte tey woh bhi aapke saat." She said looking at Karishma.

She unwrapped the cover and found a dark green coloured silk saree with beautiful thread work in silk and heavy zari.

"Yeh bahoth khoobsurat hai. Shukriya." She said but Karishma was smiling, thinking about how she thought of Urmila whilst buying it.
"Woh hum Urmila ki pasand ko dhyaan mein rakhkar liya tha maddam sir." She said in the sweetest voice and Haseena realised that for Karishma, Urmila was still a person and not just some character unlike to her.
"Yeh chatak chandni kaheko tensan le rahi hai. Chill babe chill." She said Urmila style and Karishma let out a hearty chuckle remembering all the moments with Urmi.

"Hum miss kartey hai Urmi ko kabhie kabaar." She said with a sad smile and Haseena who always had a reply for everything was speechless.
"Waise aapse yeh poochna tha ki yeh itni rangeen character itne asaani se kaise nibha liya aapne?" She asked smiling.
"Bas yeh samaj lijiye ki hum Pushpa ji se inspire ho gaye tey." She said and they both end up laughing thinking of Pushpa ji and her never ending love for the dramatics.

"Bas iss baat ki afsos hai ki hum yeh samaj na paaye ki humare maddam sir jaisa koi dusra ho hi nahi sakta." Karishma said with pride and Haseena hugged her for understanding her, for forgiving her and for taking care of her whether it was her Urmila self or now. Karishma hugged her back happily.
They parted after sometime, each wiping their tears subtly without letting the other know.