Aa Bi Jaa - Kareena

24

Haseena stood frozen on the spot when Karishma hugged her. Haseena felt her body shiver. Her heart was pounding furiously in her chest, a rapid beat that echoed her confusion and excitement. Her breath hitched, and she could feel a warmth spreading through her, originating from where Karishma's arms encircled her. Her touch sent a shiver down her spine, making her acutely aware of how deeply Karishma's confession had impacted her. This physical reaction left Haseena more wondered, questioning why her body seemed to understand emotions her mind was still grappling with. She didn't know how to respond. They had hugged each other two or three times before, but this time it felt different. Haseena's mind raced, thinking, "Why has everything changed just after Karishma's confession? Why is there so much hesitation between them from her side now.?"

"If the time were different," Haseena thought, "I would have hugged Karishma easily. actually, SI Karishma Singh."

"But If Karishma knew it was actually Haseena, would she ever be able to hug her like this, with such ease? The answer, Haseena realized, was no. Because there had always been an unknown barrier between them, an unspoken tension that neither could fully break through. And now how Karishma had hugged Urmila so easily."

"But now haseena is not being able to hug her because she knew the person who is in her arms is the person who is in love with her and she doesn't know that she's hugging her love, not someone else."

"What in my arms? No, no. Karishma is hugging me, embracing me. Haseena, why are you using such language? What is happening to you? Use some decent words." As this thought struck her, she mentally scolded herself."

Karishma, believing she was embracing Urmila, was pouring out her emotions, unaware that it was Haseena standing there, was putting haseena in more guilt.

She wanted to comfort Karishma, to be there for her, be it in form of urmila or haseena but the hesitation held her back. She longed to comfort Karishma, to be there for her without any hesitation, but the knowledge of Karishma's feelings for her made everything more complicated and made her more hesitant.

She pondered why her perception of Karishma had changed so drastically. Was it simply because Karishma had confessed her love? The shift in her feelings was undeniable, but she couldn't pinpoint exactly why or how this confession had altered her view so profoundly. And why couldn't she think straight? Every logical thought seemed to escape her as she stood there, trying to make sense of her feelings for Karishma.

But with great effort, Haseena slowly lifted her arms, intending to hug Karishma back, but hesitation spread across Karishma's face. Sensing the change, Karishma quickly backed off, wiping her eyes and looking away to hide her tears. Haseena looked at her in confusion, and concerned.

"Sorry, hum thoda emotional ho gaye the," Karishma said, trying to regain her composure.

Haseena took a deep breath, composing herself as well. "Koi baat nahi, ho jata hai kabhi kabhi," she replied softly to which Karishma said "hmmm."

"Ek baat puchun?" After a moment's pause, she asked.

"Hmm......" Karishma nodded.

"Kya tere bhai ki wajah se tu ne usse kabhi nahi bataya ki tu usse pyar karti hai?" Haseena asked, with a gentle gentle yet probing voice. Somewhere she knew it's the reason but wanted to know everything clear.

"Nahi, sirf yahi wajah nahi thi. Agar bhaiya nahi bhi hote, toh humein lagta hai hum kabhi nahi bata pate." Karishma chuckled lightly to mask her tears.

"Kyoon? Phir kya problem thi?" Haseena quickly asked with a curiosity.

Karishma sighed, "Pata nahi, unka aur humara rishta hi aisa ta. Humne unhe dosti offer ki thi par hum dono mein kabhi woh rishta bhi nahi raha. Toh yeh toh bahut badi baat thi. Hum kabhi unke samne apne jazbaat dikha nahi pate the. Aur unke jazbaat toh hum par aake jasy khatam hi ho jate the."