Destined to be Together

Chapter 54

It's been a week since the last incident and Karishma has once again shut her up as she was emotionally hurt. According to her promise to herself, she did not ask Haseena about her lie or, to be more precise, about meeting Umar behind her back. She simply decided that Haseena does not value her much in her life, and the relationship cannot be forced. She deliberately chose her flying schedule to Asia so that she could spend the entire week flying away from home to avoid facing Haseena. In the midst of all of this, they exchanged greetings but did not speak as usual.

Similarly, Haseena was acting differently, leaving early in the morning and returning late at night. She even began to skip her breakfast and dinner rituals, which she had set with Pushpaji from the day she first moved in. Pushpaji was observing everything silently but was unable to understand this sudden change of behavior by her daughters.

It was one of the weekdays and as usual, Haseena was leaving earlier for her office than her regular time.

"Haseena, your breakfast is ready," Pushpa Ji called out to her as she approached the main entrance.

Haseena was shocked that Pushpaji was awake this early. She walked towards the kitchen, where breakfast was served on the dining table and her eyes welled up looking at it. She swallowed down the knot that had formed in her throat and quickly said, “Pushpee ye sab kya hai, humara matlab hai k itni subah breakfast.”

“Kyun…… Apni bachhi k liye nahi kar sakti kya main ye sab,” replied Pushpaji, whose eyes welled up after seeing her properly after a week. She couldn't stop noticing her condition, as her face looked pale and exhausted, while her eyes were drained and dark.

Haseena smiled and said, “Ha kar sakti hai, par aapki beti k liye uski Amma ki sehat sab se pehle hai aur ye itni subah uthke itni mehnat kar k aap aapni sehat ke sath risk le rahi hai, jo humein manjoor nahi hai. Aap thik se rest nahi karengi toh aap ki tabiyat kharab ho jayegi.”

Before she could finish Pushpaji interrupted and said, “Acha.. aur meri beti jo kuch dino se bhukhi ja rahi hai, thik se khana nahi kha rahi hai, uski tabiyat kharab ho gayi to, tab mujhe takleef nahi hogi?” in displeased yet concerned tone.

Haseena was overcome with emotion when she saw all the love Pushpaji had for her, so she ran to embrace her and could not contain her tears as she shed them.

“Kya hua bachhe?” asked Pushpaji with a worried expression and distress tone while rubbing Haseena's back, “Kya hua??? Shant ho jao phele.”

Haseena came out of the embrace and her lips quivered while snuffling, she replied, “Kuch nahi bas aise hi....... aap ka itna pyaar dekh kar raha nahi gaya.”

Pushpaji held her chin and made her look at her, as she asked, "Aapni Amma ko nahi bataogi kya pareshani hai?"

Haseena avoided eye contact while wiping her tears, she fumbled, “Aisi koi...... Humara matlab hai koi baat nahi hai…… Bas thoda kaam jyada hai.”

Pushpaji spoke with stern tone, "Tumhe pata hai na main tumhari Amma hoon, aur tumhara chehra dekhkar bata sakti hoon k tum pareshan ho aur baat sirf kaam ki nahi hai kuch aur hai."

Haseena walked past her without making eye contact with her and replied, "Pata hai hume aap Amma hai humari, par sach mein aisi koi baat nahi hai, aap khaamakha pareshan ho rahi hai."

As Haseena sat at the dining table, Pushpaji too came and sat beside her.
With all of her love, Pushpaji held her hand and said, "Tum keh rahi ho toh man leti hoon, par itna yaad rakhna kuch bhi ho jaye main hamesha hoon tumhare liye."

As Haseena looked at Pushpa Ji with brim eyes and said, “Ek baat kahu aapse, humari Ammi tak humein itna kabhi nahi samajh payi thi jitna aap humein samajhti hai, aur shayad unhone hi Allah tallah se humare liye sifarish ki hogi ki aapko humse milaye.”