HIDDEN LOVE (Part 2 of SECRET LOVE)

CHP 4

Karishma entered her cabin and found Haseena already there, standing quietly, looking across the room with a calm curiosity.

The moment Karishma's gaze fell on her, she froze. She took a slow, absorbing look, her eyes tracing Haseena’s figure from head to toe. It struck her just how beautifully Haseena had matured, from the cheerful, innocent girl she remembered to a stunning woman and in that moment, Karishma couldn’t look away. Her eyes lingered on how the saree hugged Haseena's curves, accentuating her elegance in a way that stirred an unexpected, unfamiliar warmth in Karishma's chest. Completely captivated, she felt her heart race, her thoughts hazy with admiration as she quietly walked closer, drawn to Haseena like a magnet.

"Pehle se kitni badi aur khoobsurat ho gayi hai ye" she thought, unable to stop herself from smiling as she took a few steps closer, fully entranced. She stopped just inches away, so close she could almost feel the warmth radiating from her. Her focus solely on Haseena.

Sensing someone’s presence behind her, Haseena turned around and gasped, startled to find Karishma so close. Her breath hitched, and she quickly took a step back, steadying herself before speaking with a nervous smile. "Aa gayin aap"

Karishma, still spellbound, replied softly, "Haan, hame toh aana hi tha tumhare paas." Her words carried an unexpected gentleness that confused Haseena.

"Ji?" Haseena asked, her brows knitting in slight bewilderment at Karishma's tone.

Karishma’s gaze traveled over her once more as she murmured, "Bahut badal gayi ho tum, Haseena."

Haseena felt a flutter of nervousness under Karishma's intense stare. Her voice wavered slightly as she asked, "K...kyun, kya hua?"

With a far-off look, Karishma replied, her tone mesmerized. "Badi ho gayi bahut tum Haseena... aur pehle se zyada khoobsurat bhi," her words filled with an undeniable warmth that sent a shiver through Haseena’s spine.

Hearing this, Haseena's heartbeat stuttered; something about the way Karishma looked at her was different—unexpectedly tender, even vulnerable. She tried to make sense of the feelings stirring within her, feeling an odd, unfamiliar sensation bloom in her chest.

"Kya, ma’am?" Haseena managed, barely whispering as her confusion mixed with a nervous excitement.

Karishma suddenly snapped out of her daze, blinking as if waking from a dream. She stepped back, instinctively putting distance between them. Taking a steadying breath, she composed herself and spoke in a brisk tone. "Jaao."

Haseena's brows furrowed, and she tilted her head in confusion. "Lekin ma'am, aap hi ne toh hame cabin me bulaya tha," she replied, wondering at Karishma’s sudden change in demeanor.

"Haan, toh Haseena, ham hi keh rahe hain jaao, class mein. Ham aate hain thodi der mein," Karishma responded, her voice now calm and composed, masking whatever had stirred in her moments before.

Haseena nodded, though the confusion lingered in her mind. "Theek hai, ma'am," she said, casting one last puzzled glance at Karishma before leaving.

As Haseena walked out, she couldn’t help but wonder, "Aakhir hain kaisi ye khud ne hi hame cabin me bulaya aur ab bol rahi hain jaao." Shaking her head, she headed to 11th grade class, still trying to decipher what had just happened.

Here, Karishma stumbled in her chair, her mind a whirlwind of thoughts. She grasped her hair in confusion, as though trying to hold onto something to make sense of the chaos inside her. “Ye sab ham kya kar rahe hain? Kyun use dekhke hamara mind out of control ho jata hai aur ham kuch bhi bolte rahte hain, sochte rahte hain. Abhi kuch der pehle vo sapna aur fir ab ye... Nahi Karishma, esa kuch nahi sochna hai tumhe. Vo... vo... vese bhi... nahi, hame kuch sochna hi nahi hai,” she whispered to herself, feeling a deep internal conflict. Her heart pounded in her chest as her feelings threatened to overwhelm her. With a deep breath, she gathered her strength, tried to silence the storm inside her, and left for class with a determined look.