Solace

Chapter 34

Around 7 in the morning, Haseena stirred awake from her sleep, feeling the radiant sun rays falling across her face. Soon enough a warm breath tickling the bare skin of her neckline made her conscious of her surroundings, as her eyes fluttered open to take a look of the sleeping figure next to her. A smooth smile adorned her face as she started to admire Karishma, her messy hair, her perfectly arched eyebrows, her large eyelashes, her slightly parted lips, her sharp jawline but mostly her peaceful face that was painted with the soft, yellow morning sunshine.

Haseena fingers started gazing at the skin of the latter's hand and halted near her wrist. She slightly traced the bracelet Karishma was wearing with her thumb. It was probably the only materialistic thing that held immense significance in Karishma's life, she valued it so much to have carried it with her all the time, protecting it as if her life depended on it. Haseena's mind swirled back to the moment when Karishma was willing to hand over the bracelet to the thugs just to make sure she was safe. That act of Karishma spoke volumes of the significance Haseena herself had in her life, how she cherished her, how she treasured her. And what could be a better feeling than being cherished so ardently by the person you love! Her heart swelled with an overwhelming feeling of love and gratitude as she continued to make random patterns on Karishma's arm with her index finger.

Karishma, still very much asleep, snuggled more into Haseena's chest, putting her weight over her. Haseena gasped as she felt Karishma's lips on the bare skin of her neckline but she didn't move away. As much as she would feel shy to say this out loud, she liked the touch, she liked the weight, she liked it when they were close enough to feel each other's breath, she liked it when their lips moved against each other as if they had found their rightful place, she liked it when their bodies were entangled as if they were puzzle pieces which fitted perfectly together. It was all very exciting yet comforting. "Should she be ashamed for harboring such thoughts?" a likelihood crossed Haseena's mind as she ran her fingers through Karishma's hair. But how could she feel ashamed of something that felt so right and sometimes it was the only thing that felt right.

Suddenly the phone placed on the bedside table started to ring, snapping Haseena out of her thoughts. She balanced Karishma on the pillow and swiftly reached out to pick up the call, not wanting to disturb her deep slumber.

"Hello", Haseena placed the near her ear as she got out of the bed, not before covering Karishma with the duvet properly.

"Kya yaar, tum toh mujhe bhul hi gayi ho! Ekbar milne nahi bol sakti kya?" Mira complained dramatically from the other side of the phone.

"Bas karo, nautanki kahiki!", Haseena muttered, standing near the window, "Kitni dafa calls kiye humne, ek bhi nahi uthaya. Upar se mujhe suna rahi ho!"

"Meri saasuma ayi huyi thi. Tumhe toh pata hi hai unka", Mira explained, "Accha yeh sab chodo. Dher sari baatein karni hai tumse. Ghar pe hi ho na?"

Haseena thought for a second before replying, "Haan, yahi milte hai phir", to which Mira agreed as she cut the call and Haseena moved to the washroom to take a shower, getting ready to face the new day ahead of her.
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After a good one and a half hours, Karishma finally woke up, stretching her hands in the air lazily. She took a glance at her surroundings until she saw a very simple yet mesmerizing scene unfolding in front of her. She saw Haseena moving towards the mirror in a plain white churidar with her wet locks falling all over her shoulder that she started to rub gently with a towel.

"How is it even possible to look so breathtakingly beautiful wearing a plain dress, doing random things!", Karishma thought, leaning back on the headrest. She couldn't help but think how wonderful it would be if her every morning started like this, watching Haseena getting ready for the day. And why just the mornings, she wouldn't mind spending the every possible second of her life with Haseena. Karishma didn't realize when she made her way towards Haseena and placed her hair over her right shoulder, standing behind her.