don't let me down . . . anuseena post-marriage

ashes

Haseena and Karishma stood in the dimly lit repair shop, their patience tested as they waited for the shopkeeper to finish with his work. The faint hum of electronic gadgets being repaired filled the air, and the ticking of the wall clock seemed louder with each passing moment. They had come to collect Nandita's laptop, which had been sent for repairs due to a malfunctioning keyboard.

Finally, the shopkeeper, Mr. Verma, emerged from the cluttered workbench area, holding Nandita's laptop in his hands.

"Hogaya bhaiya thik?" Haseena asked, bringing out her wallet to pay the bill as the shopkeeper nodded while keeping the laptop in a bag to give it her.

"Hanji madam, par hum kahenge kaafi jhatka laga hame dekhke, aapki beti ka hai yeh laptop aap batayi thi." the shopkeeper said in the gossiping aunties tone, adjusting his glasses while Haseena nodded slightly with a frown on her face.

"Hanji, par hua kya tha?" Haseena asked suspiciously, she had no clue why the shopkeeper was saying that.

"Arey madam iska keyboard hai na, hamne kholke dekha pura bhara pada tha cigarette ke woh nhi hote, kale kale ashes se." he said handing her the bag while Haseena's eyes widened in disbelief at his words. "Matlab bhut hi bhara tha, kaafi ganda tha."

Haseena felt her rage bubbling up at his words as she clenched her fists an anger while Karishma placed a comforting hand on her fist to help her relax. Haseena took a deep breath, paying the bill as the two police officers walked out of the shop.

"Hame iss ladki pe vishwas nhi ho rha, nhi Karishma Singh aap hi bataiye. Ham vardi mein gaye hai uska laptop lene aur vardi wali police officer koi dukandaar bata rha hai ji madam aapki beti toh suttebaaz hai. Kitni bezzati wali baat thi yeh." Haseena murmured angrily, throwing the laptop bag on the backseat before the two women got in the jeep and buckled their seatbelts.

"Maddam Sir, aap shaant ho jaiye, aapne ya anu bhaiya ne bataya nhi Nanda iss sab se guzar rhi hai." Karishma said worriedly while Haseena sighed deeply.

"Kya hi bataye ham Karishma Singh, itni sharam ki baat hai na." Haseena whispered shaking her head while Karishma gave her an uncertain look at that.

"Nhi acha aap ek baat bataiye, Nanda jo hai, jo bhi karti hai, kyun karti hai? Maze ke liye ya..." Karishma asked, her voice trailing off since she did not want to say it exactly.

"Nhi pata hame Karishma vahi toh problem, pichle ek saal se Nanda itni khoyi khoyi rehti hai, na zyada baat karti thi varna Anu se kitni baate karti thi ki school mein kya hua coaching mein kya hua, kis teacher ne kya kaha, chalo ham se uska kabhi nhi tha utna close bond par Anu se toh tha ab toh unse bhi baat karna chod diya. Subh school jaati hai, vahan se coaching aati hai dinner karti hai aur phir kamre mein padhne baith jaati hai, usko lagne laga hai ki padhai ke bina kuch nhi hai woh." Haseena said, breaking down in to sobs while Karishma rubbed her back comfortingly. "Hamne khud hi apni beti ko kho diya Karishma."

"Ham jhuth nhi bolenge aur yeh haalat toh kaafi kharab lag rhe hai par ham kya kar sakte hai, aapko pata sab kharab baat kya hai iss sab mein? Woh jo yeh kar rhi hai, maze ke liye nhi kar rhi, varna yeh teenagers maze ke liye maarte hai sutta, daaru peete hai, par aapki baate sunke hame lagta hai Nanda ne usse na apna jeene ka zariya bana liya hai." Karishma said softly, holding Haseena's hand comfortingly while Haseena's tears fell at a steady pace.

"Acha aisa karte hai ham usse baat karne ki koshish kare?" Karishma asked softly while Haseena looked at her before nodding with a shrug. "Thik hai toh aap thane jaiye or hum aapke ghar jaate hai usse baat karne, chutti le rakhi hai na usne aaj school se?"

Haseena nodded and Karishma gave her shoulder a reassuring squeeze before hopping off the vehicle and picking up the laptop and catching a rickshaw to go to Haseena's hous.