Aa Bi Jaa - Kareena

15

Next Morning....

Haseena woke up in the morning and the firs thing she did was to turn around and look at karishma who was lying in her usual position, holding the frame. A smile graced Haseena's lips as she looked at Karishma, finding her endearing even while she slept.

Haseena got up and went near Karishma, sitting beside her. Karishma's features were calm, her usual tension and sadness was replaced by a gentle stillness. It was as though she had been momentarily freed from the worries of the world, her breathing was slow and steady, and there was a softness in her expression that Haseena had not seen in a long time. The lines of stress and pain that usually etched her face seemed to have faded away in sleep.

It was a rare sight, seeing Karishma look so peaceful and unburdened, and it brought Haseena a glimmer of hope that Karishma might one day find this kind of calmness in her waking moments as well.

"Aise sote hue dekh kar kaun kahega ki yeh wahi insaan hai jis se pura sheher darta hai, jiska bhukaal hai," she whispered to herself.

Haseena tried to take the frame from Karishma’s grasp, as it was in one hand and she held it tightly, and it was leaving its mark on her wrist of other hand which was resting below. But Karishma's grip was too strong to let go of it, and she woke up with a jerk. "Kya kar rahi ho?" Karishma asked.

"Arey, woh frame lene ki koshish kar rahi thi, raat bhar say pakra hua tha," Haseena replied.

Karishma looked at the frame and said, "Dobara kabhi yeh lene ki himmat mat karna. Hum aise hi pakarte hain isse, samjhi?" She got up and went to the washroom.

"Frame tak ko nahi chhod rahi hain aap. Jab hum khud milen gay aap se, to kya khushi hogi aapki." Haseena whispered to herself while smiling.

But her smiling fade away when a thought cross her mind. "Aur gham kitna ho ga, pata nahi, bas humray hony ki khusi har gham ko door kar day us din." her inner voice said. Haseena's mind was filled with a mix of emotions, unsure of what the future would bring.
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Haseena, Karishma, and Ami were sitting at the dining table for breakfast.

"Karishma, raat ko kis time aayi? Hum so gaye the." Ami asked.

"Ami, thodi der ho gayi thi." she replied with hesitation that Ami might be angry.

"Koi baat nahi, batao, kaisi rahi tumhari mulaqat Rohan se?" she asked

Haseena sighed, thinking, "In ki subah usse shuru hoti hai aur raat uspar khatam." She placed her glass on the table in frustration, drawing both Karishma and Ami's attention.

"Kya hua tumhe?" Ami asked.

"Kuch nahi, ma kia kehti ha" She said with a hint of sarcasm, "Usko din raat itna yaad hi karna ha tou behtar ha us ko ghar par hi bula lo."

"Yeh idea humein kyun nahi aaya? Bohot sahi mashwara diya hai tumne. Usko ghar bulata hain." Ami considered the suggestion and said.

Haseena looked at Ami with disbelief. "Main mazak kar rahi thi."

"Lekin hum tw nae kar rahy han mazak, baat toh sahi thi tumhari, kiyun Karishma....?" she turned towards her.

"G, Ami....." Karishma said who was glaring at Urmila.

"Yeh hum ne apne paon par khud kulhadi mari hai." haseena thought observing her stare.

"Karishma, aaj Holi hai. Hum ghar par nahi hon gay, Haseena ki khala ke yahan jaana hai. woh bohot bula rahi thi."

"Haan Ami, aapko chor denge." she suggested.

"Nahi, hum khud chaly jayenge, tum bas khayal rakhna" Ami said to which Karishma responded with g.