Aa Bi Jaa - Kareena

32

Karishma's eyes widened in surprise as she felt Haseena's hand gently covering her mouth, silencing her mid sentence. Haseena smiled warmly, and slowly lowered her hand, still standing close.

"Karishma Singh, yeh apke liye." Haseena extended the bouquet towards Karishma.

"Humare liye?""she repeated, almost as if she couldn't believe it.

Haseena chuckled softly, "Karishma Singh, is mein itna yaqeen na karne wala kya hai karishma singh."

"g SIRF APKE LIYAY han," she said, pressing gently on the words making Karishma's heart skip a beat. Karishma felt butterflies erupt in her stomach at her words.

Karishma was about to say something, her mind racing with thoughts, when Haseena interrupted softly, "Lejiyay," encouraging her to take the bouquet. With a slightly trembling hand, Karishma forward her hand to take it, when her fingers brushing against Haseena's briefly, sending a shiver down her spine.

"Kaise lage apko?" Haseena asked, with curiosity.

"Bohat achhe hain, madam sir," Karishma replied, with awe while looking at them.

But then, a thought crossed her mind, "Lekin... madam sir, apko toh phoolon ki khushboo se allergy hai na, phir yeh kaise?"

Haseena's smile deepened as she nodded. "Haan, hai toh, lekin inki khushboo nahi hai,"

Karishma, curious, brought the bouquet closer to her nose and, true enough, there was no scent. She looked back at Haseena, with amazement and confusion in her eyes.

"Hum jantay hain," Haseena began, "ab ap soch rahi hongi ke jab khushboo hi nahi hai toh in phool ki aehmiyat hi kya hai, jaise zyada tar logun ky liyay phoolon ki aehmiyat unki khushboo hoti ha."

"Nahi, nahi, madam sir aisi baat nahi hai,"Karishma quickly responded, shaking her head.

" Likan apko pata hai in phoolon khusboo ky elwa kia khaas baat ha?" Haseena's gaze become softened even more as she took a small step closer, towards her, her eyes holding Karishma's.

"Kya?"

"In ka naam.... " She said.

"Kia ha....." She asked.

Haseena looked at Karishma, a soft smile playing on her lips "Forget me not....."

"Ap ko pata ha in ka naam itna unique kiyun ha." Haseena asked to which karihsma nodded her head in no.

"Inka naam ek purani kahani se aaya hai. Kehte hain ke ek baar, bohot pehle, ek soldier aur uski lover nadi ke kinare chal rahe the. Usne apni lover ke liye yeh phool toda, lekin uske baad, soldier ka paun phissal gaya aur wo nadi mein gir gaya. Aur phir naddi ma girnay say pehle usne apni lover ko yeh phool phenka aur kaha, "Forget me not"

Haseena paused for a moment, letting the story sink in before continuing, "Isiliye inhe 'Forget-me-nots' kehte hain. Kyunki yeh yaad dilate hain ke kuch log aur kuch yaadein humare saath hamesha rehti hain...... Chahe hum logun ki bheed ma hun ya tanhai ky aalam ma unhe bhulana mumkin nahi hota."

Karishma listened, completely amazed by the story behind it. The depth and beauty of the story, and most important the fact that Haseena had chosen such flowers for her, touched her heart in a way she hadn't expected but he question in her mind was still "kiyun.... Humen kiyun day rahi han"

"Pata ha dusri khass bat kia ha...." She asked to which karihsma nodded no.

"Look at their colors....." She pointed towards them as Karishma followed her gaze.