"Breaking the Chains of the Past"
The fragile connection forged between Karishma and Haseena in the quiet moments of vulnerability began to deepen, but it wasn’t without resistance. For every step forward, Karishma’s past continued to pull him back. However, Haseena’s determination to guide him toward healing remained unwavering.
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"An Unseen Gesture"
One morning, Haseena noticed a framed photograph on a dusty shelf in the corner of Karishma’s room. It was faded, the colors dull, but the image of two smiling boys—one with Karishma’s sharp features—was unmistakable. She picked it up, wiping the glass clean.
As if drawn by her curiosity, Karishma appeared in the doorway, his expression hardening when he saw what she held.
“Put that down,” he said sharply, his tone brimming with defensiveness.
Haseena turned to him, undeterred by his anger. “This is your brother, isn’t it?”
Karishma’s jaw clenched, and he looked away. “Yes. That’s Rahul.”
“He looks so happy,” Haseena said softly, placing the photo gently back on the shelf. “You must have been very close.”
Karishma didn’t reply immediately. When he finally spoke, his voice was barely above a whisper. “He was everything I wasn’t. Everyone loved him. He was smarter, kinder… better. I’ve lived my whole life wondering why he had to go and I didn’t.”
Haseena approached him slowly, her gaze steady. “Karishma, you carry this burden alone, but it doesn’t have to define you. Rahul wouldn’t have wanted you to live like this.”
For a moment, Karishma’s defenses seemed to falter. “How do you know what he would have wanted?”
“Because no one who loves their family would want them to drown in guilt and anger,” she said firmly. “You’re here for a reason, Karishma. Maybe it’s time to figure out what that is.”
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"An Intense Moment"
Later that evening, Karishma sat in the dimly lit living room, nursing a glass of whiskey. He watched the amber liquid swirl in his glass, his mind heavy with memories. Haseena joined him, sitting quietly beside him.
“I don’t deserve you,” he said after a long silence, his voice slurred slightly.
“You’ve said that before,” Haseena replied softly, looking at him. “But you don’t get to decide that. I’m here because I want to be.”
Karishma turned to her, his expression conflicted. “You don’t know what you’re saying. I’ve hurt you, Haseena. I’ve hurt everyone I’ve ever cared about.”
“Then stop running from your pain,” she said firmly. “Face it, Karishma. Fight it. I’ll fight it with you.”
Something broke within him at her words. He set his glass down, his hands trembling as he reached for her. “Why are you so damn stubborn?” he muttered, his voice raw with emotion.
“Because someone has to be,” she said, her voice cracking as she leaned into him.
As their foreheads touched, the tension between them dissolved into something tender yet charged. Karishma kissed her, not out of dominance or anger, but with a desperation that spoke of his yearning to be whole again.
TO BE CONTINUED
