Teri Lakeerein

12. Strategies and Musings

Brows furrowed, eyes pinched shut, she concentrated hard, while splashing water on her face.

'What did I dream about? I somehow have a recollection in the back of my mind but it's not coming to forefront'.

Meticulously, she was now cleaning her teeth.

'I think it was a nice dream.'

Absentminded, she brushed her hair, eyes gazing into her reflection.

'I think I dreamt of someone. But who?'

She was driving the jeep now, eyes on the road but head up in the clouds.

'Who was it? Ugh, what did I do recently?'

She recounted her recent experiences backwards- triple murder investigation, santosh ki masoomiyat, pushpa ji ki overacting, lallan thakur ke records-

Her eyes fell on the overhead signboard then.

And she instantly pressed the brakes, lurching forward as the jeep halted suddenly.

She remembered it finally!

Eyes closed, head resting against the steering, she sighed deeply and lifted her head.

"Ms. Singh?!!"

She had dreamt of a certain person, whose face was hazy, whose dress code was a blur and yet her words remained. That manner of speech remained.

'Inspector Sahiba'

'kshama kijiyega avsar nahi mila'

'samay ka tangi tha'

Haseena chuckled, feeling incredulous as she pressed the clutch, shifted the gear and started towards the thana.

She had met her day before yesterday only. No wonder, her unconscious mind added her to the fray of her dreams.

"Hum phir se unka contact lena bhool gaye!" She laughed, before her smile mellowed down. "Though, I guess it's for the best".

Sometimes, you come across people who leave a deep impression on your psyche. Whatever the reason maybe. And your paths cross again and again, that coincidences start to feel like destiny. That you start to feel like there's a connection.

But more than often, it's one sided. A one-sided interest to get to know someone, to get close. You weave a silly fantasy where you've become inseparable as friends. But the other person doesn't even know of you. Or even if they do, they are not thinking of you the way you are. Maybe because, you couldn't catch their interest, or they already have it invested elsewhere.

"It's upsetting how I regret not having her contact. If I would have it, I would've done something embarrassing like expressing my desire in getting to know her!" Haseena chortled again.

Preposterous.

Ms. Singh is young. She must've friends.

And she comes from a good family.

"Acha hai ki humare paas unka number nahi hai, varna hum unhe aur awkward kar dete. Already, univited unke ghar ja chuke hain, out of the blue compliment de chuke hain! Agar unhe ab tak hum ajeeb nahi lage hain, yahi bahot badi baat hogi!"

The jeep pulled in front of the thana and came to a halt. Haseena pulled her cheeks and shook her head.

"Forget it, Haseena. Har kisi ke paas khaas dost ho, ye zaroori nahi hain. Forget it!"