KAREENA: A Love Story

15. Belonging Together

Karishma Singh was unhappy. She had been unhappy for the last thirteen minutes.

Approximately thirteen minutes ago, Haseena Mallik had helped Karishma into a clinic for an x-ray.

It was expected that medical personnel should understand the seriousness of a situation and rush to action. However, the young perky nurse who had been assigned to them had not rushed; had not understood the seriousness of the situation; had definitely not paid any heed to the actually injured person. Because the girl's entire attention had been fixed on Haseena Mallik.

At first she stood up from her chair and gaped at Haseena, then gasped in recognition, then let out a giddy shriek and grinning widely shook Haseena's hand vigorously, while rambling on and on about what a role model Haseena Mallik was, and how she spread positivity and inspiration wherever she went and how Nurse Over-Enthusiastic here was a huge, huge fan of hers.

Haseena being Haseena, accepted this fangirling with a polite and indulgent smile. Meanwhile Karishma stood and watched the whole exchange with a stony expression. When the girl blurted out that Haseena was even more beautiful in real life than she seemed in the newspaper photos, Karishma decided that she had had enough. She reached out and pulled that never-ending handshake apart.

'Mareez hum hain. Aapka fan meet khatam ho gaya ho toh thoda dhyaan idhar bhi dijiye,' said Karishma dryly.

The girl had the decency to look embarrassed. Her eyes lingered for a curious moment on Karishma possessively gripping Haseena's hand, but she said nothing else and handed them a form to fill up. Haseena followed Karishma to a sofa in the waiting area where they sat down and Karishma began to write her medical details.

As soon as she confidently filled "None" in the place marked for "Allergies", she heard a frustrated sound from her SHO. Karishma raised an eyebrow.

'Jhinga — prawns,' Haseena answered the unasked question.

'Mild case hain. Not worth mentioning,' said Karishma carelessly.

'Woh aap nahi decide karengi. Aapse puchha gaya hain allergies hain ya nahi, aap likh dijiye. Decision lene ke liye actual MBBS wale hain yanha par.'

Karishma made the correction. But only because she didn't want to be nagged. Not because she actually wanted to obey Madam Sir. Hmph!

Things proceeded in peaceful silence for about ten seconds, until Karishma ticked off the "None" option for "Any regular medication". Again she heard a grunt of disagreement from the woman beside her.

'Ab ka galat likha?' She asked irritably.

'Aap asthma condition ka medication leti hain na,' Haseena reminded her.

'Woh regularly nahi lete hain. Kabhi kabhi lete hain condition ko control mein rakhne ke liye,' said Karishma. 'Aur X-ray ke liye itne details inko kahe chahiye Bholenath hi jaane!'

'Aap please likhiye dawai ka naam,' Haseena said in a long-suffering voice.

'Aap hi likhiye jab aapko itna pataa hain humare barein mein,' snapped Karishma and pushed the paper and pen towards Haseena.

Now see, it was meant to be a dare. A dare that Haseena would obviously refuse... because what did she know about Karishma?! So it was understandable that Karishma's jaw dropped when Haseena didn't even blink before taking the document and confidently filled all the information in. Correctly.

When she was done, Haseena threw Karishma a smug look and marched to the desk to submit the form and make the necessary payment.

Karishma wasn't used to this. This care, this genuine concern. The only people who ever bothered remembering her strengths and weaknesses were those who had used it to hurt her. Haseena had used the knowledge to protect her. So in that moment, Karishma didn't know what to feel.