SYLLABUS OF LOVE

CHAOTIC LOVE

As Haseena was leaving the campus in her car which she had brought because of the relentless rain. As she neared the gate, she saw Karishma heading out as well, struggling with an umbrella against the wind. Without hesitation, Haseena slowed down and honked, startling Karishma.

"Ma'am aap ko ghar chhod de?" Haseena offered, sliding down the window of the passenger side.

Karishma, already tangled in her own confusion and inner turmoil, felt that accepting Haseena's offer would only complicate things further. Additionally, she was still upset with Haseena over the incident with Mira, which Haseena was unaware of.

"Nai... I will take a cab or auto. Hum takleef dena nai chahte kisiko bhi." Karishma declined with an edge in her tone that was not as polite as usual.

Haseena was taken aback, not just by the refusal but by the abruptness in Karishma's voice. She couldn't understand the sudden shift in Karishma's demeanor. "Isme kaisi takleef ma'am. And it's raining continuously... I don't think you will get one." she said, trying to be considerate.

Karishma glanced at Haseena's SUV and asked out of curiosity, siding her frustration,"Tum roz car se aati ho?"

Haseena replied, "Nai ma'am... Because of the rain, mom suggested I use her car today. Aap andar aaiye, aap bheeg rahi hai." She leaned forward, opening the door for Karishma being gentle, hoping she would accept.

But Karishma's frustration couldn't stay away for a long time time. She firmly closed the door, saying, "No thanks...! Hum cab kar lenge"

Haseena was stunned by the curt response and felt a blow on her politeness. "Okay. Good bye." She said bluntly.

Before Karishma could reply, Haseena quickly pulled down the handbrake. The tires screeched, kicking up a spray of water as she sped off into the rain. As she drove away, Haseena replayed the encounter in her mind, questioning whether she had been too forward or intrusive, whether she had been over friendly and crossed the boundaries. But this time she was only trying to help her. The playful interactions they had shared in the past seemed distant, replaced by Karishma's unexpected coldness which she never witnessed. Haseena wondered what she might have done to provoke such a change in Karishma's behavior.

Meanwhile, Karishma stood watching as Haseena's car disappeared into the gray blur of the rain. She regretted her harshness. Haseena had only tried to help, and Karishma had reacted with unnecessary rudeness. The accidental closeness with Mira had left Karishma feeling frustrated, and she had unintentionally directed that frustration towards Haseena. Moreover confused by her own emotions, feelings and actions, Karishma felt conflicted. She had taken out her inner turmoil on someone who was simply trying to be kind which had no clue about this turmoil. Karishma halted a cab and went back home.

When Haseena finally arrived home, it was later than usual due to the heavy traffic. Her mother, Noor Jahan, was waiting in the living room and noticed her daughter's weary expression.

"Beta, itni der? Kya hua?", Noor Jahan asked, concern etched on her face.

Haseena, barely with any energy, simply shrugged and replied, "You know mom indian traffic. Thak gaye hai, room mein jaa rahe hai." She quickly made her way up to her room, clearly exhausted.

As soon as Haseena was inside, she tossed her bag onto the bed and collapsed onto it, her legs dangling over the edge. She stared blankly at the ceiling for a moment, trying to make sense of the day's events. But the more she thought about Karishma's behavior, the more confused she became. Frustrated and unable to come up with a reasonable explanation, Haseena pulled out her phone. She needed a distraction, something to take her mind off the troubling encounter. She began, scrolling through social media, playing games, and checking messages. Social media worked perfectly as a distraction; she forgot about the tension and questions lingering in her mind.