Jab Duty meets LOVE 💕

Part-4

The person sitting there, waiting for them, was someone they never expected to see. The shock on Haseena and Karishma's faces was unmistakable.

Both Haseena and Karishma exchanged glances and exclaimed together in a shocked tone, "Ammi?!"

As Ammi turned to see Haseena, she smiled broadly and said, "Arey agaie maharani! Aya, aya!" Then she noticed Karishma standing beside her. "Arey, Karishma beta, tu kab aayi?" Ammi quickly moved toward Karishma and affectionately cupped her cheeks, her smile warm and loving. "Kaise hai meri bachi?"

Karishma felt a wave of nerves building up, glancing at Ammi with a heavy heart. How could she possibly explain that the person standing beside her wasn’t Haseena but Urmila, a lookalike, an imposter for the sake of the mission, and how to tell a mother that  her beloved daughter had passed away?.  But she quickly masked her worry, putting on a brave face as she replied, "Hum ek dam chhakkas, Ammi. Aap batayein, aap kaise hain? Aur kab aayi aap, Ammi?"

Ammi smiled, unaware of the turmoil beneath Karishma’s words. Her presence radiated warmth, as if nothing had changed, as if her daughter was still here. It broke Karishma’s heart even more, but she kept her resolve, holding onto the mission and the need to protect Urmila's disguise just a bit longer.

On the other hand, Haseena stood silently beside Karishma, struggling under the weight of her thoughts. If  she tell Ammi that she wasn’t her daughter, that she was just a lookalike stepping into Haseena’s life for the sake of the mission? The idea of deceiving Ammi, even for duty, felt almost unbearable.

Her heart sank deeper, torn between revealing the truth and maintaining the facade, each option carrying its own weight of pain. Her eyes began well with tears, but as usual she quickly brushed them away before anyone could notice.

As she lifted her gaze, she saw Ammi and Karishma standing before her, their familiar faces filled with warmth and expectation. The sight only deepened her inner turmoil, making it harder to hold back the emotions swirling within her. A pang of guilt weighed heavy on her heart as she took a breath, forcing herself to keep up the act, for the mission’s sake.

Ammi, chuckling softly, replied to Karishma, "Bas kuch der pehle, achi baat hai tum bhi aa gayi. Aao, hum khaana laga rahe the. Sab tayar tha."

She motioned them inside but, seeing them still rooted in place, raised an eyebrow before encouraging, "Chalo tum dono, haath dhoke aao, khaana khane ke liye," before turning to set the table for all three.

With no other choice, Karishma and Urmila followed her inside. When Urmila instinctively headed to the guest room, Ammi looked over, surprised. "Arey beta, tum wahan kya kar rahi ho? Tumhara kamra toh yeh side hai, na?"

Caught off guard, Urmila fumbled, "Haan, woh... mein bas..." She glanced at Karishma, who gave her a slight nod, signaling her. Regaining her poise, Urmila mustered a hesitant smile and walked toward "her" room.

When they returned to the dining table, they found Ammi already seated, waiting for them with her warm, familiar smile. She motioned for them to take their seats, and the two exchanged a quick, uncertain glance before sitting on either side of Ammi, who sat comfortably in the center.

The atmosphere around the table felt thick, and both Karishma and Haseena struggled to maintain their composure. Ammi chatted warmly, asking both Haseena and Karishma about their day, oblivious to the tension simmering beneath their responses. Karishma felt a pang of guilt with each answer, her heart heavy as she lied to Ammi. The weight of deception bore down on her, making each moment feel endless.

For Haseena, the dinner stretched on like an eternity. She forced a smile here and there, nodding along, all while her mind raced. Every word she exchanged with Ammi felt like a betrayal of the bond she cherished.