Solace

Chapter 47

I see you, therefore I exist..

It was past midnight when Karishma and Amar reached the haveli. "Meri baat yaad hai na tumhe?" Amar asked for the nth number of times now to which Karishma let out a tired sigh.

"Ap bhulne kaha dete hai", Karishma whispered to herself. "I will do it for the first thing tomorrow, ab jane do please", she said, dragging herself towards her room while Amar moved to his room.

Exhausted with all the continuous work and traveling, Karishma entered her room, only for her eyes to meet with the most beautiful sight ever. She saw Haseena sleeping in her bed peacefully, her presence radiating a sense of warmth and serenity that now enveloped Karishma's very soul and all the weariness she was feeling a moment ago started to leave her body. She soon slid herself into the bed beside Haseena, cautious not to disturb her slumber but couldn't hold herself back from brushing away the hair strands scattered over her cheeks, placing a smooth kiss there. She beheld the sight of a sleeping Haseena beside her until she couldn't keep her eyes open anymore and drifted off to sleep.

The next morning Haseena, still in her sleep, tried to shift her position but couldn't seem to move, urging her to open her eyes. Her lips curved into a surprised yet heartfelt smile, upon finding Karishma's arm wrapped around her waist in a secure embrace, an embrace that soothed her heart like anything and instantly snuggled closer to her, soaking in her warmth. She felt a sudden urge to run her finger along with Karishma's sharp facial curve, feeling her and so she did. Her fingertip danced against her face in a delicate movement and felt Karishma stir in her sleep eventually.

"Good morning", Haseena uttered, showing her striking dimple smile as Karishma slowly opened her eyes, which were still heavy with sleep.

"It's not real right? A morning cannot be this pleasant", Karishma murmured back, taking a close look at Haseena's glowing face in the yellow morning sunshine.

"Bohut intezar karaya hai apne hume", Haseena complained playfully while tracing the back of Karishma's hand with her thumb pad.

"Woh new contracts ki chakkar mein late ho gaye", Karishma explained, her tone carrying a sense of urgency while Haseena kept grazing at her hand intently. "I'm sorry for making you wait, love", she apologized, thinking that she made Haseena upset.

"Don't say sorry", Haseena uttered, entwining their fingers, her words were laced with tenderness, "Kuch aur bolo."

"Like what?" Karishma asked as her eyes locked with Haseena's brown ones.

"Like you missed me", Haseena answered, holding eye contact as a shy smile graced her lips and the very next moment she felt Karishma's lips against hers.

"I missed you..", she mumbled against Haseena's lips, giving her a rush of butterflies inside her stomach, "In fact I miss you every single moment you are not around me", saying this, Karishma claimed her lips for a fervent, prolonged kiss, which conveyed a heartfelt declaration of her longing and love she harbored for Haseena, kissed her back with the same vigor until she was out of breath. Karishma pulled away from her and found Haseena's mole near her lower lip instead, which she always found irresistibly alluring and felt Haseena shiver in response.

"I love you", Haseena almost whispered but Karishma could feel the intensity and sincerity behind her words from her erratic heartbeat as she rested her head on Haseena's chest.

"I love you Hasi", Karishma said, placing a kiss on her neck, Haseena, in turn, slid her hand over Karishma's dark locks, caressing them softly. They remained in each other's embrace as the silent understanding between their souls witnessed the beauty of their blissful togetherness.