Take Me Home

13. Living with a Stranger

"Ji par humare precinct mein- Karishma's sentence was left unfinished because Haseena had walked to her tugging her arm with hers. She held her arm the way wives did as if Karishma was a property she was claiming to be rightfully hers and Karishma gave her a warm smile not really surprised at the sudden contact.

"Haseena?" The woman talking with Karishma looked at Haseena as if she had seen a ghost. Karishma didn't understand much but she did know that there was history because Haseena was looking at the woman with a rageful piercing gaze and the woman looked at Haseena as if she was guilt ridden.

"Honey can we go humko yahaan mann nahi lag raha hai." Haseena gave Karishma a small smile conveying something else and Karishma nodded returning a sweeter smile that reached her eyes.

"Excuse us Ms. Malhotra." Karishma turned, a  very enthusiastic Kiara in her right arm she put her other hand around Haseena's waist pulling her outside with her. The woman who had elicited such a reaction from Haseena stood rooted to her spot as the couple made their way out. They could make anyone envy them because all the supposed acting aside they looked adorable together and Haseena and Karishma looked like they could throw hands if it came to protecting one another or their little one.

They were now outside when Haseena took deep breaths calming herself down. The mere sight of another woman having such an effect on Haseena didn't settle well with Karishma.

"Koun thi woh? Jisko dekke itna bura haal ho rakha hai aapka?" Karishma questioned no longer having the patience for Haseena to trust her enough to confide in her.

"It's nothing Singh ghar chalte hai Kiara ko thand lag jayegi." Haseena hugged herself looking at the road, a frown on her face as if she relived the past in those mere seconds. Karishma sighed audibly clearly frustrated at how Haseena always kept her in the dark.

"Mallik kya mein itni bhi bharose ke layak nahi hoon ki tum apne baare mein ilm tak nahi hone deti humko? It's like I live with a freaking stranger. Humko bhi haq hai aapko jaanne ki." They stood outside their home Haseena's hand resting on the knob, paused at Karishma's question.

"Singh aap jaise soch rahi hai waisa nahi hai hum.. humare baare mein batane ke liye kuch khaas hai nahi." Karishma closed her eyes in annoyance.

"Jo bhi ho woh mere liye khaas hai Haseena, mein jaanna chahti hoon and I don't even know why but I want a share in whatever you are going through be it happiness or sadness. Kya mein zyada maang rahi hoon tumse?" Karishma said in a pleading voice which surprised Haseena.. She knew Karishma's anger but was new to this side of hers. The considerate one. Everyday she discovered something about Karishma that just made it impossibly hard for her to maintain the walls she had built around her with difficulty.

"Aisa nahi hai Karishma humare liye mushkil hai kisi se bhi kuch bhi share karna. Santosh was different, she was my person and I- I need some time." Haseena opened the door walking ahead before Karishma had any time to react. It was so frustrating and all she wanted to do was get on her bike ride until she was calm enough but she wasn't that person anymore, the tiny bundle in her arms somehow changed everything for her. She wanted to be more responsible no matter how difficult it was. Haseena has always been perfect from her perspective. The type that didn't turn away from her responsibilities and the type of person that never complained and she wanted just that. For Haseena to complain about the things bothering her. For Haseena to share something, anything about her so she knew her better than anyone else. She so wished for Santosh to be here so she could whine to her about how her best friend was being very difficult right now. With all these thoughts bothering her Karishma took Kiara to her room changed her diapers and took her to her room with a bottle of milk, not wanting to be alone with her thoughts.