Karishma sat on her bed, staring blankly at the wall as her mind wandered to Haseena. Tomorrow was the engagement day. The thought hit her like a tidal wave, from tomorrow she will have no right over Haseena. No right to feel the way she felt for her. No right to love her.
She was with Haseena fir the whole week, helping her with the engagement stuffs. But now she lost the courage. The courage to smile in front of her, the courage to pretend to be happy, the courage to see her love with someone else.
Overwhelmed by the crushing weight of her emotions, her eyes finally gave in to the tears she had been fighting to hold back.
Her trembling hands grasped the nearest pillow, pulling it tightly over her face. The room's silence shattered with her sobs as she wept uncontrollably.
Slowly, her sobs began to subside, her tears started drying. As she realised grip on the pillow and lay still and exhausted.
Just then, someone knocked on the door. Though she was not ready to face anyone, but she had to.
"Kahan hai tu? Na koi call na message, agar tujhe lagta hai ki aisa karne se main party nahi mangungi, to bahut badi galatfehmi hai teri." Shivani started her blabbering as soon as she entered into the room.
"Kya hua?" She asked as she noticed Karishma's tear sticken face.
"Kal Haseena ki sagai hai." Karishma told her, avoiding eye contact," Anubhav sir ke sath."
"Kya?" Shivani exclaimed, still processing the news," Tu ja rahi hai."
"Hmm." Karishma hummed
"Tujhe takleef hogi." She said with concern.
"Agar nahi gaye to Haseen ko takleef hogi." Karishma said," Don't worry, hum thik hain."
Shivani sighed and hugged her. She knew her from childhood and also knew that Karishma was not fine.
" Hum thik ho jayenge." Karishma said with a small smile. But both of them knew how shallow it was, both her words and her smile.
________
Karishma reached at Haseena's house where the engagement ceremony was going to be held. The place was well decorated and vibrant, in the stark contrast to her broken and shattered heart.
A beautifully decorated stage with a plush, velvet sofa placed, in the center of the courtyard. Above the stage, strings of fairy lights twinkled like stars. Behind the sofa, a stunning decorative backdrop made of fresh flowers and to the side, a large, elegant card, the welcome board, stood with the names of Haseena and Anubhav.
She turned her head to other side, as if trying to ignore the reality. Then she headed inside the house, but at her way, she heard a whispered voice. She tried to hear it more clearly.
"Tum mere sath aisa kaise kar sakte ho?" A woman said.
"Dekho, yahan koi tamasha khada mat karna...kuch der ki baat hai, abhi tum jao." Karishma's eyes widened on the male voice.
"Anubhav sir?" She uttered in shock, and quickly followed the sound. But found no one there," Haseena ko batana hoga." She said to herself and ran towards Haseena's room.
Here, Haseena sat in front of the mirror, adjusting her jhumkas. She wore a vibrant orange saree, a simple necklace and matching jhumkas.
"Bahut khubsurat lag rahi ho." Ammi complemented, and did the nazar utarne wala gesture.
Haseena smiled widely, her smile enhanced her beauty many times.
"Achha, main bas abhi aati hun, ladke wale kabka aa gaye. Tumhen kisi cheez ki zarurat ho to awaz laga lena. Thik hai." Ammi said, and went from there not before giving a quick kiss on her forehead.
