Kuch Toh Hai

Part 17

Two days had passed, and Professor Haseena Malik had not shown up at college. Her absence hung over Karishma like a cloud, making her restless. She had texted Haseena the previous night, but the message remained unread. That tiny gray tick mark on WhatsApp was enough to gnaw at her heart.

By the second afternoon, she sat with her two closest friends, Santu and Mishri, in the canteen. Normally their table buzzed with noisy laughter, but today Karishma was sulking over her untouched lunch, lost in thought.

Mishri tapped her spoon against her glass dramatically.

Mishri: "Arre yaar Karishma, tu khana kyun nahi kha rahi? Subah se bas udās shakal banayi hui hai. 

Santu rolled her eyes, sipping her cold drink.

Santu: . Iske mood ka reason toh obvious hai. Professor Haseena ji do din se college nahi aayi na!"

Karishma sat up straight, immediately defensive.

Karishma: "Aise mat bol Santu... pata nahi kya hua hoga. Main ne kal raat unko text bhi kiya tha—par reply tak nahi aaya."

Mishri leaned back in her chair with a smirk.

Mishri: "Reply nahi aaya matlab pakka busy hongi. Shayad koi research paper likh rahi hongi ya seminar attend kar rahi hongi."

Santu clasped her hands together in fake drama.

Santu: "Ya fir shaadi ki shopping! kahin unki shadi toh nahi ho rahi''

Karishma's eyes widened in horror.

Karishma: "Nahi! Unki shaadi nahi ho rahi. Tum log aise bakwas mat karo."

Mishri burst out laughing.

Mishri: "Oho... dekh Santu, isko abhi se heart attach aa raha hai, pta nahi aage kya hoga.

Santu gasped and leaned closer, as if making a discovery.

Santu: "Haan Mishri, agar haseena mam ek din aur nahi aayin toh iski toh jaan hi nikal jayegi''

Karishma glared at both of them.

Karishma: "Tum dono chup karoge ya main tumhare dono ke assignment fail karwa dun?"

Mishri grinned wickedly.

Mishri: "Fail toh waise bhi ho jaayenge, tu kya nayi dhamki de rahi hai?"

Santu, a little more serious now, sighed.

Santu: "Arre but seriously, do din se aayi hi nahi. Na class li, na kisi ko inform kiya. Matlab kuch toh baat hai."

Karishma's voice softened, sadness spilling through.

Karishma: "Bas wahi darr hai mujhe. Agar unki tabiyat kharab ho gayi toh?"

For a moment, the table fell silent. Even Mishri didn't have a joke ready. Then she smirked again, trying to lighten the mood.

Mishri: "Tu toh waise bhi do din se unka WhatsApp status hi check karti rehti hai. Bata, last online kab thi?"

Karishma blushed faintly but confessed.

Karishma: "Kal raat... 11:47 pe. Par reply nahi kiya."

Santu clapped her hands in mock glee.

Santu: "kishu full on aahique mode abhi se chalu? Ab mujhe samajh aaya kyun isne khana tak chhod diya hai."