KAREENA: A Love Story

25. Propose Night💍

Haseena Mallik knew that Karishma Singh was hurting. As someone who trusted her brother implicitly, Karishma wouldn't think of questioning his false claims about him and Haseena getting supposedly engaged. And if Pushpa Ji's recent behaviour was anything to go by, she could only have added more fuel to the fire raging inside Karishma's heart. Therefore the matter required to be sorted out as quickly as possible... Or it would be sorted as quickly as possible if only Karishma would allow Haseena to do it. Because since their return from the curfew zone, she was religiously avoiding Haseena.

Poor Haseena meanwhile was trying to ignore her own hurt feelings. But she couldn't stop herself from thinking – 'Unko apne bhaiya pe bharosa hain; Pushpa ji par bharosa hain. Lekin hum par bharosa nahi hain? Humne jo unse kaha tha ki Anubhav ko past mein chhor aaye... humare beech kuch nahi hain... humari baat ka koi value nahi hain?.......... Jo humne unko apne feelings dikhaye... humare beech ki badhti nazdikiyan... unko sach mein lagta hain ki hum unke saath aur unke bhai ke saath two-timing karenge? Bas itna hi pehechana hain kya unhone humein?'

But Haseena had always known about Karishma's insecurities – that behind all that bluster and bhaukaal, there was a timid girl who craved reassurance and approval. Haseena used to find these two character traits in the same person as extremely dichotomous; but two days ago when Karishma had opened up about her childhood trauma, she finally understood the reason why Karishma was the way that she was. So for her sake, Haseena put her own feelings aside and set about trying to make ammends.

Since the department had given MPT a night off and Pushpa Ji had invited the team to dinner and night stay at her place, they all prepared to leave together. Haseena had a plan. She figured the only way to have an uninterrupted talk while making sure Karishma didn't run away, was to do so while they were riding together on her motorbike.

'Aap sab humari gaadi lekar nikaliye. Hum Karishma Singh ki bike par aate hain,' said Haseena.

'NAHI,' cried Karishma Singh. She quickly tried to explain that she and Pushpa Ji needed to head home first to prepare everything. Madam Sir and the rest could follow them in the car.

'Arrey hum sab kar lenge,' said Pushpa Ji. 'Aap log thake-hare aayein hain, toh sab baith kar araam kijiyega! Aap ayiye Madam Sir ko le kar apni bike se. Waise bhi ek unke baithne se hi aap insaano ki tarah chalati hain bike. Nahi toh hum sabko yamlok ke darshan karwa laati hain!!'

Karishma Singh opened her mouth to retort, but Haseena beat her to it. 'Shukriya Pushpa Ji. Humein Karishma Singh se kuch discuss karni hain aaj ke haadse ko lekar toh... aap sab nikaliye, hum log thodi der mein aate hain.'

The team all began filtering out. Karishma went up to Haseena and desperately muttered, 'Ghar chal kar baat karte hain na Madam Sir.'

Haseena took a few steps to close the gap between them. 'Karishma Singh, aap humare saath rukengi. Aur humare saath hi jaayengi. That's an order.'

Karishma scowled. 'Jab kuch nahi milta hain, tab order suna deti hain,' she mumbled.

'Kuch kaha aapne?'

'Yehi ki order de diya hain toh rukna hi padhega.'

Karishma waited for Haseena to step back and let her pass. Haseena however did not move even an inch. So Karishma had to slide sideways between the desk and Haseena's body, consequently brushing against each other.

Haseena waited until the tail-lights of the car had disappeared, threw a glance at the new constable who had been assigned to night duty from the headquarters and said to Karishma Singh urgently, 'Record room mein chaliye. Private baat hain.'

'Apke cabin mein baat kar sakte hain,' said Karishma, for some reason looking panicked.

Haseena frowned and studied her for a moment. 'Aapko darr lag raha hain hum akele mein aapka fayda uthayenge?' she whispered, looking thoroughly amused.