Aa Bi Jaa - Kareena

60

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‎At 9.00am.....
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‎Haseena descended the stairs with slow steps as she saw Karishma and her mother talking. She greeted her mother warmly, "Good morning, Ami," and settled into the chair beside Karishma.
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‎It didn't take long for Haseena to notice the sudden shift of Karishma mood who had been animated moments before while talking with Ami, had suddenly gone quiet.
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‎Without a word, Ami's eyes flickered toward Karishma, then back to Haseena. The silent question was so clear to haseena in Ami eyes. "Had you done anything about this?"
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‎Haseena's response was a helpless shake of her head as "no".
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‎Meanwhile karishma finishing her breakfast, rose from her seat.
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‎"Theek hai, Ami,. "Hum chalte hain. Aap apna khayal rakhiyega." She gathered her things, ready to leave.
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‎"Bye, beta," Ami's face softened into a gentle smile.
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‎As Karishma went, Haseena turned to find that Ami's eyes were already fixed on her as if she'd been waiting for this moment.
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‎"Kya?" Haseena asked, although she knew the answer.
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‎Ami sighed. "Ek kaam nahi hua tumse. Abhi tak tum humri bachi ko na mana ski."
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‎"Ami, aapki bachi aag ka gola hai. itna asan nae ha. yeh tou shukar karen ke abhi wo thora shant hain. Pehle aisa hota tou aapki is bachi." she pointed towards herself. "ki halat aisi na hoti."
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‎"Pata nae pura din humri bachi ka mood kharab ha tou din kesa jay ga."
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‎"Yeh souchen humra din kesa jay ga." Haseena said with a little chuckle
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‎"Tumhara kia ha bari bari jazbaat ki baten sunati raho gi logun ko.... " Ami said in frustrating tone.
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‎Haseena looked up from her plate with surprised expression. "Ami aab aap un ki zuban bolne lag gaye han."
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‎"Tou kia bolun aur.... dakha na tum na? kase tumhare aate hi chup ho gayi. Chehra murja gaya humri bachi ka." Ami said in concerning tone.
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‎Haseena sighed and nodded slowly understating her concern. "Jante hain," she placed her hand on her mother hand. "likan aap bilkul bi is bat ki fikar na karen. Aaj sab sae kar den gay hum."
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‎Karishma entered the station. "Jai hind," she announced.
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‎From their desks, the trio along with Manvi responded in unison, "Jai hind, madam."
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‎Karishma's gaze swept across the room before landing on Manvi. For a moment, her eyes lingered on the younger woman, as if assessing her, before she turned away and made her way directly toward her desk.
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‎As soon as Karishma had passed, Santu leaned back slightly, lowering his voice she said. "Lagta hai madam ka mood se nahi hai aaj bhi."
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‎Pushpa ji, who had been organizing some files, glanced up with a knowing sigh. She straightened up, shaking her head with the weariness of someone who had seen this pattern far too many times before.
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‎"Yeh tou ab roz ka hai," she said matter of factly, "Roz inka mood off ho ja aur roz yeh hum sab par barsegi."
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‎Manvi who was listening to them, looked up and glanced at Karishma whose face was not showing any good sign she knew her joining or any new joining in any setting can create some new shifts in that environment but this was more than that.
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‎At 11.00 am.....
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‎It was 11 AM when Haseena sat in her cabin, her focus absorbed in the file spread before her. her concentration was broken when her phone rang. She picked it up immediately.
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‎"Ji, sir?" she answered.
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‎The DSP's voice came through, "There's some ongoing fight at a petrol pump. We need someone there."
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‎"Ji, sir. Hum abi dekhte hain," Haseena replied, already reaching for her notepad noting address.
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‎As she disconnected the call and rose from her chair, her mind began working through the logistics. "Kya karen? Karishma Singh ko bhejun ya Manvi ko?" she thought, her fingers tapping against her desk. But then another consideration surfaced "Manvi ko bhejana zaroori bhi hai. Agar wo experience nahi karengi, tou seekhengi kaise?"
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‎For a moment, she considered sending both of them together. "Dono ko saath bhej dete hain?" But immediately, she caught herself. "Nahi, aise tou Karishma hi overtake karengi. Phir Manvi ka kya kaam rahe ga?"
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‎"Manvi ko hi bhejna chahiye. Aur tab tak hum Karishma se achche se baat kar len gay."The answer crystallized in her mind.
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‎With her decision made, Haseena walked out of her cabin.
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‎"Manvi," she called out, her voice calm but commanding. "Dsp sir ka call aya ta Kuch issue hua hai. Kuch logon mein ladai hui hai wahan. Jao dekhen kya masla hai aur kya kiya ja sakta hai."
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‎Manvi immediately responded, reaching for her cap. "Ji, madam sir," she said, ready to move.
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‎Haseena pulled out her phone, her fingers moving swiftly across the screen as she typed out the location details. She glanced toward Cheetah and said, "Aap in ke saath jayiye. Location message kar diya hai aapko."
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‎Cheetah straightened up. "jii, madam sir," he said and followed Manvi toward the exit.
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‎Seconds after they had left, Karishma rose from her desk and she began heading toward the door.
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‎Pushpa ji, sensing something a miss, called out with a note of doubt in her voice. "Aap kahan ja rahi hain?"
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‎Karishma paused, then turned back slightly, her tone carrying a mixture of sarcasm and frustration. "Bahar ja rahe hain. Chaye pene.... ka hai na ab Kaam humre pass kuch hai nahi karne ko do do SI hain. Ek kaam karengi, dusra free hi baithe ga na?"
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‎Her words dripped with disappointment as her gaze flickered toward Haseena, a flash of hurt in her eyes before she turned and walked outside.
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‎There was a moment of heavy silence in the station.
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‎Pushpa ji's eyes shifted toward Haseena, who was already looking in Karishma's direction.
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