Jab Duty meets LOVE 💕

Part-5

Karishma lifted her head, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. She looked toward Haseena, a mix of confusion and sorrow etched on her face."Madamsir, kaise aap wahan khadi reh sakti ho?" she said softly, her voice trembling "Aapko yeh samajhna padega, yeh hum sab par kya asar kar raha hai. Aapki Ammi par kya asar kar raha hai."

Haseena’s face went pale, her eyes widening as she stammered, “Karishma… aap… aapko kaise pata? Hum… hum…” Her words trailed off, unable to complete the sentence as Karishma’s expression hardened, the weight of hurt and betrayal clear in her eyes.

Karishma interrupted, her voice trembling, “Madamsir, humein sab pehle se pata tha. Hum dekh rahe the aapka har ek kadam… par ab aur nahi seh sakte.” She paused, her voice rising as she looked directly at Haseena, pain flashing in her gaze. “Kya aapko yeh samajh nahi aaya ki aapki yeh chhupi hui sachai hum sab log par kya asar kar rahi hai?”

Ammi, who had been listening in silence, finally spoke, her voice barely a whisper. “Haseena… yeh sab kya tha? Kya tum waqayi zinda ho? Aur agar ho, toh kyun chhupa?” Her voice cracked with emotion as she searched Haseena’s face for answers.

Haseena's voice faltered, her throat tight as she struggled to explain. "Ammi... hum… hum mission ke liye…" Her words broke, each one more strained than the last as tears spilled down her face, her cries almost inaudible.

Ammi’s voice trembled as she asked, “Haseena, tumne apni maut ka natak kyun kiya? Tumne yeh sab humse chhupane ki zaroorat kyun samjhi?” Her face reflected both anguish and disbelief.

Karishma, her own eyes brimming with tears, added, “Madamsir, kya aapne hum par itna bhi bharosa nahi tha? Hum aapke saath thi, hamesha. phir aap humein yun chod dene ka faisla kaise kiya?”

Haseena felt each of their questions stab through her, weighted with a grief she had never meant to inflict. Her strength crumbled, and unable to bear the weight of her choices, she sank to the floor, her body trembling with the enormity of her regret.

“Ammi… Karishma singh…” she whispered, her voice almost breaking. “Mujhe maaf kar do… main yeh sab aap sab ko suraksha ke liye kar rahi thi… par main samajh nahi pai ke is jhooth ka bojh aap sab log  par kitna bhaari padega.” Her hands covered her face as sobs escaped her, her heart feeling like it would shatter from the pain in their voices.

Just as she felt herself spiraling, Ammi's hands steadied her, a gentle but firm grip on her shoulders. Haseena blinked few more time, realizing it had all been her imagination yet Ammi was there, in tears, her face filled with pain.

In a trembling voice, Ammi asked, "Tum hamari beti nahi ho?" The question, raw and heartbreaking, echoed between them, shattering Haseena. For the first time, the depth of her actions hit her, as Ammi’s face showed the weight of a mother questioning if her own child was truly lost to her.

Karishma moved closer to Ammi, trying to support her. “Ammi… please…” she whispered, tears brimming in her eyes. “Aap khud ko sambhalengi,” she said firmly, guiding Ammi to sit down in a chair.

As Ammi settled, Karishma glanced at both her and Urmila, feeling a deep sense of sympathy. It was clear that neither was at fault; they were all entangled in the cruel twists of fate. After ensuring Ammi was comfortable, she helped her take a tablet to ease her distress, tucking her into bed with a gentle touch.

“Aram kijiye, Ammi,” Karishma said gently, giving her one last reassuring look before leaving the room. She headed back to the hall where she found Urmila still standing there, lost in her thoughts, the weight of the situation heavy on both of them.

After a few minutes, Karishma received a call regarding some other cases. She quickly informed Urmila and left.

As the clock inched toward midnight, Urmila, with a heavy heart, decided to check on Ammi. She quietly entered the room, half-expecting to see Ammi asleep. To her surprise, she found Ammi wide awake, her eyes glistening in the dim light.

Ammi looked up and motioned for Urmila to come closer, tapping the space beside her on the bed.

Haseena took a heavy breath and walked over, sitting next to Ammi. “Aap kaisi hain, Ammi?” she asked softly, her voice barely above a whisper.

Ammi’s voice trembled as she asked, “Sach mein, tum humari Haseena nahi ho?” The uncertainty in her tone made Hassena’s heart ache.

Unable to bear the pain in Ammi’s eyes, Haseena instinctively wrapped her arms around her, pulling her into a tight embrace. Ammi reciprocated the hug, holding Urmila close as tears streamed down her cheeks.Haseena’s thoughts swirled in her mind. Maff keejiyega, Ammi. Mission ke liye hum apne logon ko dukh mein daal diya.

As they pulled apart slightly, Ammi looked into Urmila’s eyes, searching for answers. “Urmila, kya tum yehi humara saath sogogi?” she asked, her voice filled with a mixture of hope and fear.

Haseena nodded, her heart heavy. She settled herself beside her, wrapping an arm around Ammi’s shoulders, seeking solace in the warmth of their embrace.

It felt like she was caught in the middle of a heavy storm, yet she had found a small shelter, a haven amidst the chaos of her lives. Haseena had lost her identity in the name of the mission, but here, in this embrace, she was cradled in her mother’s warmth, safe from the cruelty of the outside world.

The motherly affection and warmth she had longed for enveloped her like a soft blanket, even if just for a fleeting moment. It was a small reprieve, but it was exactly what Haseena needed to feel anchored, to remind her of who she was beneath the weight of the mission.

In Ammi’s embrace, she found strength, solace, and a flicker of hope that maybe, just maybe, they would find their way through the darkness together. The love between them was a light guiding her back home, even in the midst of the storm.

Continue....
By:-ZJ