Rainy Promises - kareena

25

As Haseena and Karishma reached the house, Karishma unlocked the door and turned to Haseena with a warm smile.

"Please come in," she said softly.

Haseena stepped inside, feeling a sense of comfort wash over her despite the rain soaked clothes clinging to her skin. This place was her comfort.

"Ap room mein aayen, apko kapray dety han, ap change kar lejiye." Karishma asked after getting inside.

Haseena thought about refusing, knowing Karishma's clothes might not fit her due to their different body structures.

But then she reconsidered, thinking, "chaly jaty han isi bahany room bi dakh layn gay in ka, pata nae phir moqa mily na mily." She nodded and said, "Ji," following Karishma further into the house.

Karishma entered the room and taking counted steps she turned in the light. It's was a small cozy room. Haseena noticed the simplicity of the room. The room was neat but devoid of any vibrant colors, mirroring the black and white. The furniture was minimal, with only essential items: a bed, a small dresser, and a desk with a few books neatly arranged. There were no colorful paintings or decorations, just a couple of family photos on the bedside table and some on wall.

"Apke room ka theme itna dull kyun hai?" She couldn't help but ask.

"Life hi dark hai tou room bright ho ya na ho, humein kya faraq padega." Karishma paused for a moment and then replied with a hint of sadness.

Haseena looked at her faint smile and felt a heart ache and sadness as her words hit her, thinking about how much color Karishma is missing in her life.

She watched as Karishma went to fetch a pair of clothes for her. "Yeh lejeyay......" Karishma handed them over.

Haseena knew they wouldn't fit her properly, but she took them anyway, grateful for the gesture. "Thank you, hum change kar lete hain," she said with a small smile.

Karishma nodded and said, "Ji," before heading towards the washroom to change her own clothes and to give Haseena some privacy.

Once Karishma had left the room, Haseena sighed deeply. She glanced around the room again and her eyes fell on a family photo on the bedside table. Among the pictures, there was one of Karishma, her brother and one another girl she offcourse didn't know. Haseena picked up the photo and gazed at it.

Holding the photo, she whispered to herself, "yeh koun ha."

She placed it down and than Haseena picked up another photograph which was offcourse only her girl Karishma, tracing the outline of her smile with her fingers.

"Is ko rakh layaty han." She thought for a moment about keeping the photograph.

"Nae yeh galat baat hai, aise karna," she muttered, remembering how she'd already lied about her name.

Reluctantly, she placed the photograph back where she found it. And she turned to leave the room, but than she stopped.

"Rakh lete hain, ek photo hi toh hai," she reasoned with herself. "Aur phir pata nahi, kabhi dobara inke room mein aana hoga bhi ke nahi."

With a deep breath, she picked up the photograph again, "I'm sorry, Karishma," she whispered with guilt. "Yeh bhi lekar ja rahe hain hum."

With one last glance at the room she composed herself and stepped out of the room.

Outside Haseena carefully folded Karishma’s clothes. She then slipped the photograph into the folds, thinking, When she will leave, she will take this home.

Just as she was finishing, Karishma entered the room. "Ap bas humen 20 minutes dijiye, hum kuch khane ke liye lekar aate hain,"

"Nahin, iski koi zaroorat nahi hai, ap aa jayiye." Haseena quickly responded.