Aa Bi Jaa - Kareena

45

Haseena raised her brows to ask her answer but Karishma gave her a warm smile before placing her arms over her shoulder. "Intezar hi batata ha muhabbat kitni ha izhaar nae....."

"Bohat khoob...." Haseena said gently complimenting her words.

Karishma chuckled lightly. "Kasi han ap aur Ami kasi han..."

"Theek han hum aur Ami bi bilkul theek...." Haseena smiled softly, as her nervousness ease a bit. "Ap kaisi hain.....?" 

Karishma didn’t respond with words. Instead, she stepped forward and, without a second thought, threw herself into Haseena’s arms. "Ab lagta hai theek hain." 

For a moment, Haseena stood still, her heart skipped a beat. Karishma act caught her by surprise this openness, was unlike her usual self. This was new, but it felt so perfect, so natural. Haseena instinctively brought her arms around Karishma, holding her. As Karishma felt her arms she made her grip tightened, as if holding her was the only way to make up for the three months they had spent apart. 

Both were closing their eyes, savoring the warmth, they weren’t two people merely meeting after months, they were two souls finding their way back to each other, mending the invisible thread that had connected them all along. Neither wanted to move, to break the embrace, because for the first time in months, they finally felt whole again.

As the hug broke, Haseena’s eyes lingered on Karishma’s face with an intensity that made Karishma slightly flustered. Without a word, Haseena brought her hand to Karishma’s cheek and gently wiped it, pausing to look at the white powder smudged on her fingers. 

"Yeh sab kya hai?"

"Kya?" Karishma asked, confused. 

"Yeh," Haseena said, holding up her flour dusted fingers. 

Karishma’s mouth opened in realization. "Humri roti....." Her eyes widening as she spun around and hurried toward the kitchen. 

"Kya hua?" Haseena called after her, following her.

Karishma reached the stove, picking up a roti from the pan now charred and beyond saving. She held it up, and said. "Jal gayi..." 

Haseena’s eyes scanned the counter, which was a chaotic mess of flour, rolling pins, and a few broken attempts at dough. "Yeh sab kya kar rahi thi aap?......." she asked, suppressing a laugh. 

"Khana bana rahe the.... Aur kya?"

"Par kyun bana rahi thi aap? Aur... aap ko kab say banana aata hai?" Haseena asked, raising an eyebrow. 

Karishma straightened up, smiling proudly. "Humein sab aata hai. Humne seekh liya hai." 

Haseena eyes instinctively fell on the roti Karishma had made. Its uneven shape and slightly charred edges told a completely different story. 

Haseena bit her lower lip, suppressing the laugh threatening to escape. She glanced at Karishma, who was beaming with confidence.

"Achha?" Haseena managed to say, “Lagta hai aap bohot maahir ho chuki hain.” 

Karishma nodded proudly, missing the humor in Haseena's voice, while Haseena stole another glance at the roti, while suppressing her laughter.

"Par iski kya zarurat thi? Aaj hi aayi han, aaram karna tha na. Hum order kar layan gay....." 

"Nahi, bilkul nahi!" Karishma protested, "Hum khud banayenge ab!" 

"Par kyun itni takleef uthane ki Kai zarorat ha ap ko......" Haseena began, only to be cut off.