Kuch Toh Hai

Part 12

The cafeteria was buzzing with its usual chaos — students laughing, arguing over chai, gossip flying across tables like paper planes. But then suddenly...

A tray clattered.

Voices rose.

"Apni aukaat mein reh—"

THWACK.

By the time Mishri and Santu rushed over, Karishma was already pulling her fist back, lips bleeding slightly, her jaw clenched. The guy she'd punched — one of those senior boys with more ego than brains — was cursing loudly, holding his nose.

"She started it—!"

"Jhooth!" Mishri shouted. "You touched santu's arm!"

A crowd gathered fast. Phones out. Whispers began.

And then—

"What is going on here?!" came the sharp voice that silenced the entire hall.

Haseena Malik had entered the cafeteria like a thunderclap. She scanned the scene — Karishma, hair slightly out of place, blood on her lower lip, knuckles red.

Her breath caught for half a second.

"Karishma Singh," she said, gently but firmly, "come with me. Now."

Medical Room

It was quieter here. White walls. Clean beds. The faint smell of antiseptic.

Karishma sat on one, stubbornly silent, as Haseena gently dabbed at her lip with cotton soaked in Dettol.

"Thoda jalega," Haseena said softly.

Karishma didn't even flinch.Aap hamesha itni... composed rehti hain" Haseena finally said, brushing hair from Karishma's forehead — it had stuck slightly due to sweat. "Toh aaj... itna ghussa kyun?"

Karishma looked away.

"santu ko dekh ke bola," she muttered. "Ke... 'maal lagti ho, lekin attitude jyada hai'. Haath lagaya. Bas... main..."

Her voice faded.

Haseena's hands froze for a second. Then she quietly threw the bloody cotton into the bin.

She sat down beside her — a little closer than necessary.

"You're not wrong, Karishma," she added after a moment, more gently. "And you're not alone either."

Karishma glanced sideways at her, unsure.

Haseena offered her a faint smile. "Aapka nature main jaanti hoon. Aapka record bhi clean hai.  ladti nahi ho... jab tak wajah sach mein badi na ho."

There was a long pause.

Karishma whispered, "Aapne faculty se baat ki hai kya, kyuki abhi tak toh humara suspension letter humare hath mein hota nahi toh"

Haseena looked surprised. "Haan... kiya. Bola unse, 'She's not the kind who lashes out for fun.'"

That quiet little sentence made something soft unfurl in Karishma's chest.

She looked down at her bruised knuckles. "hum theek hain."

"Nahi ho," Haseena replied gently, holding her hand — carefully now, as she applied ointment.

Silence again. Only the sound of Haseena's fingers gently dabbing at her skin.

Then suddenly — unexpectedly —

"aap chup rehti hai na, Karishma... kabhi kabhi lagta hai ki Aapke andar kuch aur hi chal raha hota hai." Her voice had lowered. "Kuch gehra."

Karishma looked up. "Aap sunengi agar main kabhi bolun toh?"

Haseena's eyes met hers. Still. Steady. Soft.

"Haan," she said. "zaroor sunungi."

And just like that, something unspoken passed between them — quiet but electric.

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