Knotted in Love

Part 21

“Well, have a nice day then.”

Zoe bids her morning goodbye to Danielle in front of the hospital main entrance where Danielle will have to walk through and face another day of her surgical ICU rotation. Things have been awkward between them since Zoe officially asked Danielle to be her girlfriend and Danielle said she needed more time. It is not that she wants to stop seeing Zoe or she wants to be in an open relationship. It is just that the term ‘girlfriends’ haven’t sat right with her. They are together without really being together and that secretly frustrates Zoe. She needs a solid ground to stand and if that’s not something Danielle can give her, she is ready to walk away.

“You too.” Danielle responds and reaches for Zoe’s arm that is protected by her long coat. The end of winter is coming and the warmth from the weather is not the only thing she wants. She still needs the warmth embrace from this girl as well. “Will we have dinner later... tonight?”

“If that’s what you want.” Zoe smiles as the breeze decides to mess up her hair. Danielle helps her move it out of her face and quickly rubs her thumb on Zoe’s cheek. They have had such a great time together and Zoe cannot figure out what is wrong for them to not be able to be more than they already are.

“So see you then.”

“Yeah.” Zoe leans in for a hug and right before the goodbye kiss, they are interrupted by the familiar sound flying from the distance.

“Haseena!”

They turn to the source and there they are; the happy couple that couldn’t be any happier or crazier about each other.

Haseena has Karishma’s bucket shoulder bag hanging from her neck and her own backpack on her back as she runs across the street ahead of Karishma. They are chasing each other. They are acting like kids who are playing tag and Karishma is losing. Once Haseena reaches the hospital side, the light turns red and Karishma is left hanging at the opposite side. Karishma, in her scrub underneath the jacket, stands there trying to hide her smile as she shakes her head. This is ridiculous. It is an unusual way to start her morning but she doesn’t mind it at all. Haseena stays grounded by the traffic lights with other people who want to cross the street on this early morning. She shrugs with a devilish expression when she sees her wife pointing at her. They are at the right place, right balance and with the right person. Haseena is finally convinced that the now is indeed good. Now is when she enjoys the company of her wife and just have fun together. As the light changes, instead of waiting for Karishma to come to her, she makes her steps back into the crossing to meet Karishma half way. Haseena extends her hand and Karishma just slaps on it. It is a tag and now Haseena is it. Then, their fingers interlock as they walk cross the street together. Words are quietly said and smiles are obviously shared.

“Hey.” Karishma greets as they approach Danielle and Zoe whose eyes are fixed on them. Karishma is also going to take the main entrance as she has been spending a few days at Gynecology.

“Hey.” Haseena repeats. Her smile is put away but her eyes are still sparkling. “A person with a car that can give me a ride to work.” 

“No.” Zoe immediately denies. “Will you finally pay me?”

“Are you an Uber?”

“Kids.” Karishma breaks the argument before it goes further than that. She knows this bickering won’t be heated but it will definitely take forever. “See you tomorrow, Haseena.”

“Okay.” Haseena wraps her arms around Karishma and presses a kiss on her wife’s cheek. “See you tomorrow.”

Karishma’s arm is still around Haseena and her eyes are locked with hers. She smiles. “I love you.”