Crush - KarEena

Chapter 27

Reportedly, Santosh had been relieved to hear that she and Karishma had passed the night safely and that there'd been no trace of Roy. But since they'd left the ranch, she had called Karishma at half-hour intervals even though Karishma had assured her she would be notified immediately if they spotted Roy at any point on the long drive to Goa.

Karishma had insisted on taking her car, and she had insisted on driving. It would be a difficult and exhausting trip for Karishma as a passenger. Driving would add more stress and strain, but she hadn't quarrelled with Karishma about it.

They avoided talking at all.

The tension between them since their last conversation was pulled so taut that one crossword could cause it to snap like an overextended rubber band. And Karishma had resumed wearing one around her wrist.

She was staring out the passenger window looking disinterestedly at the scenery speeding by when Karishma's cell phone rang for the umpteenth time, "Jesus, Santu, give it a rest," she said.

"Extend to the detective my warmest regards," Haseena said honestly

"Yeah?"

Haseena sensed the change in Karishma instantly. She turned away from the window and saw that Karishma's free hand had tightened around the steering wheel and her lips were set in a thin, straight line.

Her voice, however, was conflictingly pleasant. "Well, well, well, Ramesh Redi. Haven't seen you in a while. Of course, the last time we shared space I didn't exactly see you, did I?"

Just knowing that Roy was on the other end of the call caused Haseena to shudder. The fear she'd felt that evening in her kitchen was still a fresh memory. Had he been brutal or raving, he wouldn't have frightened her nearly as much, but his self-gloating had been terrifying. Karishma steered the car off the highway, "I hate to be the one to break it to you, Ramesh Redi, but backstabbing someone is really a chicken-shit thing to do," When the car came to a full stop, she pushed the Parking lights, "But I'm as good as new now. Pity I can't say the same for Chitra. Chitra, asshole. You remember. The girl you killed the night you tried to kill me"

Haseena could hear Roy's silky laughter coming through the phone. She unfastened her seat belt, moved closer to Karishma, and motioned for her to hold the phone away from her ear in speaker so she could listen in.

"You must still be on mind-altering painkillers, Karishma," he said, "I don't know what you're talking about"

"Then let me clarify it. You're a cowardly woman killer"

Roy was too clever to fall for such obvious baiting, "I read that you had barely survived an assault of some kind and that you would have died if you hadn't received excellent emergency care"

"Haseena Malik is an excellent surgeon"

"A good fuck, too," Roy said in his smugness

Haseena reacted as though she'd been struck. She looked at Karishma but could only see herself reflected in the lenses of her sunglasses.

"Is she there with you now?" Roy asked

"If she weren't you wouldn't be calling me, would you?"

"Strange, isn't it? You and I sharing a woman. Although," he continued smoothly, "it's not surprising that Haseena is attracted to both of us. Danger turns her on. Like when her friend Dr. Champat died. She described to me the violent way he died, and during the telling she got wet"

Haseena made a lunging grab for the telephone, but Karishma caught her wrist and pushed her hand away. Karishma shook her head furiously

"That was only the second time we were together," Roy said, "She was a wild one that night. Even I could barely keep up with her"