KAREENA: A Love Story

19. Ve Kamleya Mere Nadaan Dil - 2

MPT

Head Constable Pushpa Singh looked at SHO Haseena Mallik's kiss-swollen lips and smudged lipstick.

'Madam Sir aapke honthon ko kya hua hain?'

'Ha—hum... woh—umm,' stammered Haseena. 'Kari— keeda... Kaat liya.'

'Kari keeda? Yeh kaunsi keeda hain?'

'Hain Pushpa ji... khatarnaak keeda... hain. Dikhne mein chhoti si, lekin asar uska sar chadh kar bolta hain!'

'Arrey, toh aap doctor ke paas jaiye. Yanha thaane mein kyun aa gayi?' asked Pushpa Ji worriedly.

'Humne dawai le li hain Pushpa Ji, kuch der mein thik ho jayegi. Aur hum thaane aaye taaki aapki shift le sake. Aap ghar chali jaiye.'

'Aise achaanak kyun?'

'Woh Karishma Singh ka chhota sa accident ho gaya hain—'

'KYA? Karishma ji ka accident? Woh thik hain? Woh kanha hain? Kis hospital mein? Humein le kar chaliye abhi,' cried Pushpa Ji.

'PUSHPA JI! Saans lijiye! Karishma Singh thik hain. Hospital nahi ghar par hain woh. Bike se gir gayi thi, thode se chot aye hain. Unko clinic lekar gaye they hum. Abhi woh bilkul thik hain!!'

Pushpa Ji breathed a sigh of relief, but her eyes were still teary. 'Zarur bike udaa rahi hogi hamesha ki tarah. Kitni baar Madam Sir, kitni baar manaa kiya hain. Lekin unko kisiki nahi sunni. Bas apni manmaani karni hain!'

Haseena held Pushpa Ji by her shoulders and calmed her down. 'Pushpa Ji, aap ghar jaiye aur Karishma Singh ka dekhbhaal kijiye. Hum yanha samhaal lenge.'

She excused herself to go and change into her spare uniform, prompting Pushpa Ji to give her casual outfit a once-over. Jeans and kameez... Pushpa Ji couldn't remember seeing Haseena wear fusion outfits before.

'Aap date par gayi thi na?' she asked suddenly.

Haseena froze on her way to the gym room. 'Hum kuch personal kaam se gaye they.'

'Phir Karishma Ji kanha mili aapko?'

'Woh... hum... accident ke baad... clinic... phir ghar...' stammered Haseena vaguely.

'Ohh aap itni der se Karishma Ji ke saath ghar par thi? Humko pehle hi call kar deti na Madam Sir?'

Haseena had to decide quickly... Agar "haan" kaha toh phasenge. "Na" kaha toh bhi phasenge. Kuch bhi ho Karishma Singh ko pareshaani mein nahi daal sakte...

Distract her... Haseena decided.

'Pushpa Ji... ab aapse hum kanha kuch chhupa paate hain.... Haan hum gaye they date par. Lekin accident ki khabar mili toh hum wanha chale gaye.'

The trick worked. Pushpa Ji's attention was immediately on this new piece of information.

'Dekha dekha! Jaante they hum! Aap jab nikli thi thaane se, tabhi samajh gaye they ki aap zarur date par jaa rahi hongi!!'

Haseena sighed. 'Haan Pushpa Ji, abhi aap ghar jaiye.'

'Ghar hi toh jaa rahe hain Madam Sir, lekin yeh bataiye, kaun hain woh khushnaseeb?'

Aapki bahu – Haseena controlled herself from snapping.

'Pushpa Ji, abhi nahi please. Baat aage badhi toh aapko batayenge.'

Pushpa Ji made a face. 'Karishma Ji baat aage badhne dengi tab na!!'

Haseena stopped breathing. Kyaaa???