Jab Duty meets LOVE 💕

Part-25

The Next Morning:

The morning sunlight crept through the curtains, casting a soft glow in the room. Despite the brightness, a lingering tension from the previous day hung in the air. Both women were quieter than usual, each lost in her own thoughts.

Karishma picked up her phone to check for updates. A message popped up from Abhijeet as she had contacted him earlier:

“Aapne jo faisla kiya , woh sahi tha. Mujhe aap par pura bharosa hai.”

A faint smile spread across her lips as she whispered a quiet prayer of gratitude, thanking the Almighty for the people who believed in her. It was a rare moment of peace, one where she felt supported and unburdened.

Haseena, observing Karishma from across the room, noticed the subtle shift in her expression. Curiosity got the better of her, and after a brief hesitation, she asked, “Koi khaas baat, Karishma Singh?”

Startled, Karishma glanced at her, her smile fading slightly. “Nahi, Madamsir. Bas… ek zaruri baat ho gayi.”

Haseena nodded slowly, sensing there was more to the answer but choosing not to press. The memory of the previous night lingered heavily between them, creating an invisible barrier neither knew how to cross.

Haseena’s expression softened as her thoughts wandered. Her gaze flickered to Karishma, and she found herself questioning the strange pull she felt. “Kabhi kabhi zindagi humse sawaal karti hai jo humare bas mein nahi hote. Shayad humare dil ke paas unka jawab hota hai,” she thought to herself.

Karishma looked up, their eyes locking for a fleeting moment. Time seemed to stretch, and for the first time, neither tried to mask the vulnerability reflected in their gaze.

Breaking the silence with a nervous laugh, Karishma said, “Madamsir, lagta hai humein tayar ho jaana chahiye. Station par kaafi kaam hoga.”

Haseena snapped out of her thoughts, giving a small, composed smile. “Haan, sahi keh rahi ho. Chaliye.”

They exchanged a brief, tentative smile before preparing for the day. Breakfast was a quiet affair, punctuated by unspoken thoughts and occasional glances. Soon after, they left for the station in their respective vehicles, both trying to suppress the strange emotions stirring within them.

At the Station:

Priya and Rajeev arrived with their parents. With Haseena and Karishma mediating, the case was resolved swiftly. The parents acknowledged their mistake in pressuring their children into marriage and realized that their happiness mattered more than societal expectations.

The resolution brought relief to all parties, and the matter was closed amicably.

As the hours passed, both women kept themselves busy, avoiding being alone together. Karishma busied herself in the record room, flipping through files while absentmindedly doodling circles on a page. Haseena sat in her cabin, resting on the sofa, pretending as carefree Urmila and playing in her phone but finding her focus wavering.

Despite their efforts, their thoughts betrayed them. Each found her mind wandering to the other, the way the other smiles, the voice, the subtle expressions that gave away more than words ever could.

Both women found themselves smiling without realizing it. A quiet chuckle escaped Karishma’s lips as she murmured to herself, “Hum sach mein pagal ho gaye hain unka soch ke… Par yeh bhi achha lagta hai.”

Haseena, leaning back in her seat whispered to herself, “Kya ho raha hai humare saath? Par jo bhi hai,... ajeeb tareeke se sukoon mil raha hai.”

Their smiles refused to leave, and although they tried to dismiss their thoughts, the warmth of these new feelings was undeniable. It was as though something fragile yet powerful was blossoming between them.

Both women tried to push the feelings aside, but deep down, they knew there was no escaping the inevitable. Something had changed between them, and no matter how much they tried to ignore it, their hearts seemed to have already made a decision.

****

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