I too want a love story - KarEena

21. Meha who?

Karishma sat at a table near the counter going through the files, Billu enjoying some videos on his phone, the after-morning rush was usually filled with some housewives meeting to share gossip but today was their lucky day as they were alone.

"Bille" Karishma chided when Billu laughed loudly scaring her, saying sorry he went back to his mobile.

As the clock stuck 11:30, Viraj walked in with a woman, nearly as tall as him, Karishma smiled at them as they made their way to her. The woman walked with a sense of authority, her presence is something which hard to go unnoticed by anyone, poised in her movements, if not for that bright smile on her lips it's very easy to get intimidated by her, her beige skirt and off-white shirt did manage to subside her fair complexion but the free-flowing jet back hair did the opposite.

"Karishma. Please meet Ms Meha Sexina, your Assistant" Viraj introduced her earning a glare from Meha, Meha turned towards the wide-eyed Karishma and introduced herself.

"Hello, Ms. Singh. I am Meha Saxena" Meha extended her hand

"Karishma Singh" Karishma shook her hand and frowned at Viraj

"We went to the same college, same year but different branches. Meha here is a gold medallist and an all-rounder. And she is known as Meha Sexina as all men used to droll on her" Viraj chuckled sitting on the chair

"Shut up Viraj!" Meha chided and turned towards Karishma, "I apologise for his behaviour, he sometimes gets too excited around friends"

Karishma nodded, still in shock to see the ever-tight-lipped Viraj being the most casual and jovial in the presence of Meha, even before Abdul he was always stoic, even Billu's idiotic jokes could not get him to laugh and now he was smiling and being all excited like a smitten puppy

"What! Now don't say you'll send me behind bars for this" Viraj chuckled seeing Meha rolling her eyes and turning towards Karishma, "Karishma, Meha here is a very talented woman, she has been working with us for the last one year, she is the best candidate for this job. And importantly Meha is EX-SHO, so Abdul sir and I will be more relaxed if she is around you"

"He is speaking very highly of me Ms. Singh but I promise there will be no mistake from my side" Meha smiled.

"Please call me Karishma. And Ms. Saxena, if you don't mind me asking, why did you leave your job? I mean to the extent I know it takes lots of hard work to reach your position then why did you choose to leave"

"My daughter," Meha smiled, "I am a single mother, Karishma, two years back I got transferred to Mumbai, in the last case I supervised, the culprits tried to use my daughter Rukmini against me, she had been drugged, when we finally took her to hospital it took her 3 days to finally gain conscious. After that, I felt the force, then I joined Singh Industries, that's where I met Viraj after college" Meha said as tears glistened in her eyes.

"That's very brave of you Ms. Saxena" Karishma placed her hand on Meha's

"Thank you. And please call me Meha, Karishma" Meha offered

"Sure Meha Ji" Karishma smiled

"Meha is enough"

"How can I disrespect an officer Meha Ji?"

"Not any more Karishma"

"I heard from a friend that her father use to say, 'Ki wardi kabhi bhi sharir par nehi peheni jati, atma par peheni jati hei, rooh par peheni jati hein, wajood par peheni jati hei, aur jab ye wajood ek bar Khakhi ka hojay, tho sirf ek hi cheez reha jati hei, desh keliye junoon, aur jab ye junoon hi zindagi ka sabse aeham maksat banjata hei, tho phir khoyibi choti badi cheez maiyine nehi rakti, sab kuch dundla hojata hei, hamari puri zindagi, pura wajood bas do shabdome simat kar reha jata hei, wo do shabd jis par hamara samvidhan tika hei. Satyameva Jayate'. Once an officer always an officer" Karishma smiled.