Aa Bi Jaa - Kareena

39

As haseena left Karishma was sitting in the room, with restlessness in her heart. "Kahan gayi hai itni subh... Station bhi toh nahi jaati itni jaldi... Jaati bhi toh uniform mein jaati..." she wondered.

Unable to sit still any longer, she came out of the room and slowly made her way downstairs. She sat down on the couch as she has not any other option rather than waiting, her eyes wereglancing toward the door, hoping for a glimpse of Haseena. Just then, Ami stepped out of the kitchen, chatting with Malaika.

“Bas, aati hi hogi... Jo Jo bataya ha wo sab bana do,” Ami instructed, seemingly oblivious to Karishma’s presence, but she ignored her presence and walked off toward her room. Karishma felt a small pang of disappointment at being unnoticed, but she shook it off, turning to Malaika.

“Malaika didi,” Karishma called.

“G......,” Malaika replied, stopping in her way.

“Koun aa raha hai?” Karishma asked, curiously.

“Ami ki banji, Mannat. Abhi Haseena didi unhi ko lene gayi hain.”

“G,” she whispered, as she sat back down. "Kyun aa rahi hain...? Koi khaas wajah hai kya?" she murmured to herself, with the unease in her heart.

Suddenly, the doorbell rang, and Karishma stood up, instinctively heading toward the door. she stopped Malaika with a quick, “Hum jaate hain.”

As she reached for the handle, and Opening the door, she faced a girl, around 28 or 29, with a wide, brimming smile on her face. Before Karishma could say anything, she heard Ami’s voice behind her, “Mannat......”

Mannat’s face lit up even more as she rushed inside, her arms wrapping around Ami in a tight hug. “Khala!”

“Kaise ho tum, Mannat? Aur Najma kaisi hai?” They broke apart, Ami patting her cheeks gently.

“Ami bilkul theek hai. Bohat yaad karti hain aapko.”

Karishma stood by, quietly watching the scene unfold, Just then, Haseena entered, carrying a bag, her eyes quickly assessing the area before landing on them.

“Mannat, inse milo,” Haseena spoke up, her voice calm but distant, gesturing toward Karishma. “Yeh hain Karishma Singh, humari SI. Aur Karishma, yeh hain Mannat, humari cousin, khala ki beti... Aur humari best friend.”

"Best nae bestest Kaho ..." Mannat said as she came forward.

She extended her hand. “Hey, Karishma,”

“Hello....."Karishma returned the smile, though it felt strained, and shook her hand lightly.

Ami, clapped her hands lightly. “Ab chalo, andar chalo. Darwazay pe hi sari baatein karni hain kya?”

They all moved inside and settled on the couch. Ami’s attention shifted to Mannat again. “Tum thak gayi hogi, Mannat. Jaake aaraam karo. Baqi baatein baad mein aaraam se karenge.”

“Ji, Khala,” Mannat said, standing up, picking up her bag.

Before she could take another step, Haseena intervened. “Chalo, humen do, hum tumhein guest room tak chhod dete hain.”

“Guest room mein kyun? Humesha toh tumhare room mein rehti hai, wahi le jao.” Ami interrupted.

“Aap jaanti hain, Ami... Wahan Karishma Singh hain. Humare saath.”

“Haan, toh... wo guest room mein...?” She began, but before she could finish, Haseena cut in.

“Woh wahan hain pehle se. Woh wahin rahengi, Ami.”