Teri Lakeerein

3. They Meet

"Aur ye jaanke kaa karlenge hum? Humein nahi samajh main aata inn khandaharon ka mahattv. Aur ho gayi ho tum sab ki sudkiyan, toh chalein ab. Bahot kaam hai hamare paas".

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Haseena smiled as she looked at the Darwaza. Her smile further widened seeing the crowd, who was also here for the ambience, the timeless feel. These architectural wonders weren't just some relics from past, they were like a time machine, whose sight and knowledge could take you to places you could never ever afford to see again.

Haseena turned the ignition in her jeep then.

"Let's go home!"

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"Thoda dheere!!" Billu protested, holding onto the seat for his dear life as the safari raced forward, following after karishma's bike.

And Suraj only accelerated the car in response.

Billu could only pray to god. Because this godforsaken race was going to be the death of him. And his poor hair!

Haseena was continuing with her leisure drive, when a bike whizzed past her, and practically flew forward.

Baffled for a second, she was caught off guard yet again, as another jeep rushed past hers.

"Ya allah! Iss raftaar se toh durghatna hona tay hai!" Shaking her head then, she pressed her feet on accelerator and shifted the gear, marching ahead.

So much for an early evening!

And some 500 meters ahead, Karishma smirked at the rear-view mirror, and decided that she had indulged the youngest of the group enough, and that she should slow down, lest something bad happened.

Her intention, however, was a second too late to materialize because as soon as she heard the wailing of police siren, the police vehicle had already overtaken hers and halted right in front of her bike.

Applying the brakes instantly, Karishma barely avoided crashing into the government vehicle and removed her helmet in annoyance. Great! They were caught now!

Putting her motorbike on stand then, she watched as the door of the jeep ahead opened wide and stepped out a woman.

Her men had alighted the jeep too and were standing by her side. Karishma watched as the officer turned to face them and walked towards the group, the baton continuously swinging in between her fingers.

Finally, when the officer was close enough, Karishma gave her a onceover and was a quarter impressed.

The officer suited the uniform! Also her gait was quite impeccable, unlike the Bulbul Pandey of their area. That man was an absolute chooran.

Haseena looked at the crowd in front of her and then at the woman, who seemed to be the leader. Short yet imposing. Hmm.

"You were over speeding. Kya iss nasamjhi ki wajah jaan sakte hain hum?" Haseena addressed Karishma, whose eyes widened, in surprise.

There were two reasons for that. One was the voice itself, the manner of speaking to be exact. Was this woman a descendant of the royal family? Karishma found her gaze wandering to the inspector's name plate, and as she read 'Haseena', Karishma's gaze instantly found Haseena's waiting one.

'Wakai main', she thought and then was about to reply, when Suraj beat her to a punch, and jumped ahead.

"Arre daroga, nasamajh kisko boli bey! Janti ho ki didi kaun hai!"

But before, Haseena could retort to the rude boy, the other woman caught his ear and twisted it severely, as mercy pleas started escaping his mouth.

"Ahhhh, didii!!" Suraj whined, trying to wriggle out but to no avail.

"Ye kya durachar hai! Mahila se baat karne ka tameez nahi hai tumko!" She scolded, tugging him forward.

"Ahhh! Sorry didi!!"

"Ye kaan naa nikalke haath main de denge! Humse kaahe mafi maang rahe ho, inspector ji se maango mafi!"

Suraj turned to face Haseena then, in his literally sorry state and whimpered, "Sorry mam! Forgive me, please!"

Haseena found the situation quite funny and nodded, "Aage se dhyaan rakhna".

And finally, Karishma let go, but not before smacking the back of Suraj's head.

Karishma then focused her attention towards Haseena and bowed her head, "Hum iske vyavahar ke liye kshamaprarthi hain".

Haseena was amused. 'Pal main aag, pal main paani. Badi interesting hain inki zubaani'

"It's alright", Haseena accepted the apology and then added, "Aap kaafi suljhi hui maloom hoti h-

*cough* *cough*

Billu coughed suddenly and Kiran turned his face away too. Karishma glared at the duo, her eyes promising severe punishment.

"-phir iss laparwahi ki wajah?" Haseena asked, ignoring the weird background noises.

"Nahi madam wo galti hamara hi tha. Inko race karni thi, aur hum bhi maan gaye. Aage se nahi karenge. Sorry".

Haseena nodded, "Beherhaal, kyuki aapko apni galti ka ehsaas hai toh hum aapko keval jurmana lagakar chhod denge. Par aage se dhyaan rakhiyega".

Haseena then went to jeep to fetch the challan slip but realized that they were in the other jeep and sighed.

"Hamare paas abhi challan slip nahi hain, toh aap jaa sakte hain".

Now, Karishma Singh should have jumped at the chance. She wasn't a miser. No. But neither was she an ardent law follower.

She should have greeted night to Inspector here and walked away. She should have.

"Hum challan aur receipt, kal aapka thana se collect kar lenge".

It wasn't until every face had turned to hers in surprise, did Karishma realize just what had escaped her mouth.

"Nahi, that's not legal", Haseena denied, but Karishma was already taking her wallet out.

"Dekhiye madam, ab legal-illegal toh aapke upar hai. Aap hamara parchi kaat dijiyega toh legal ho jaega. Aur waise bhi Karishma singh hisaab ka bahot pakki hai".

With that said, Karishma looked at Haseena and forwarded the four thousand rupees. Raising her brows in surprise, Haseena took the money and immediately returned the two thousand rupees.

"Mahila Police Thana, Aminabad", She half smiled at Karishma and then twisting on her heels, walked off towards her jeep.

And as she heard the engine revv, Karishma too turned to her bike and took her seat.

"Didi pesa kaahe diya?" Suraj asked, and as Karishma turned to face him, her brow furrowed.

"Ghar chalo, aaj tumhara tudai karte hain!"

Suraj shivered in response and Billu avoided karishma's gaze.

"Aur tumhara ye jo chaar baal hai na, wo bhi ukhaad denge. Bahot hasi aa rahi thi na!"

And then she started her bike and raced off.

Within limits of course.