Solace

Chapter 26

Woh meri rooh ki chadar mein chup
gaya aise ke rooh nikle toh woh nikle,
Jo woh nikle toh rooh nikle..

The sun was dipping below the horizon with a warm glow casting all over the place, providing a graceful closure to the day. Karishma was waiting for Haseena to come, leaning on her bike with a sullen face. Haseena had spent the whole day busy sightseeing and snubbing Karishma intentionally. Karishma was hoping at least they could go back together. Her sad pout soon curved into a beautiful smile as she noticed Haseena approaching her.

"Chaliye", Haseena said and settled herself on the bike, not before handing Karishma her jacket. Karishma started the bike instantly, fearing Haseena might change her mind. As Karishma's bike made its way through the town on the way, she stole glances at Haseena every now and then through the mirror, trying to read her expression but Haseena had mastered the art of maintaining a blank face.

"Yaar yeh ladki!" Karishma murmured in irritation, halting the bike in a nearby alley.

"Yaha kyu rokh diya?", Haseena asked, looking at the place which seemed nowhere near the haveli.

"Bohut hua tumhara yeh ignore ignore khel. It has started to get on my nerves now", Karishma said, bringing her closer by her arm.

"Humne nahi ignore kia apko", Haseena replied, getting out of her hold.

"Accha? Toh pura din ekbar bhi baat kaise nahi kiya mujhse?" Karishma asked, furrowing her eyebrows at Haseena who avoided looking at her eyes. "Waise bhi naraz toh mujhe hona chahiye, humari outing pe tum pura mandali leke agayi", she chided as a hint of anger shimmered inside her.

Karishma immediately regretted raising her voice at Haseena but before she could apologize, Haseena fired back, "Apki rawaiya humari kuch samajh mein nahi aati Karishma, pal mai tola, pal mai masha, aur nahi ap kabhi kuch samjahne ki taklif karti hai! Bas humpe chillana hai.."

Karishma sighed realizing her mistake. Her underlying feelings had started to affect her behaviour and she needed to put an end to this. "I know mai bohut unreasonable behave kar rahi hu. Lekin kuch uljhan hai jo sulajhne ka naam nahi le raha ulta badta ja raha hai", Karishma tried to voice her inner turmoil.

Haseena was a bit perplexed at this sudden shift in her behaviour. Karishma held her gaze as their eyes locked. Haseena felt a sharp pang inside her chest, seeing an unsettling feeling rested in Karishma's eyes, as if she was in pain. "Kya hua hai Karishma?" she asked with visible concern in her voice, reaching out to hold her hand.

"There's a feeling, something really different but at the same time the most beautiful feeling ever. Mujhe batana hai lekin pata nahi kaise kahu and it's making me insane", Karishma said, putting down her shoulder, feeling helpless.

An unknown gloominess took over Haseena as she realized what Karishma might have been talking about. "Karishma ko kisise pyar ho gaya hai kya!" Haseena thought, running her fingers back and forth on her arms.

Karishma opened her mouth to say something but a voice interrupted her.
"Thakrani sa, ap yaha par?" a voice coming from behind, made her look back.

"Champak ji?", Karishma uttered, surprised to see him here. "Hum ghumne aye the, lekin ap yaha?", she asked.

"Humara ghar hai yahi, woh udhar dekhiye neela rang ka", Champakji gestured towards a two storied house.

"Badiya hai", Karishma complimented, looking at the house.

"Aplog andar ayiye na, khana khaiye humare saath", he sincerely invited.

"Aj nahi, phir kabhi aa jayenge", Karishma replied, being uninterested.