Teri Lakeerein

14. Start of Something New

Eyes growing round, she cursed under her breath and quickly put the patta back.

"Topa gayi ho tum, Karishma Singh!"

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Brimming with unease and anxiety, Karishma looked at the entrance for the nth time before looking back at her HMT wristwatch to check the time.

It was 16:50 right now. She had popped half an hour earlier and was now losing her peace over time.

"Ama bhakk! Utsukta ko lagaam do Karishma!" She mumbled annoyed and allowed her thoughts to consume her. Why did Inspector Sahiba want to meet? Had the information she provided been helpful? Why was she so restless about meeting someone over chai? How come a stranger was inciting such reactions out of her? Why was she so affec-

"I hope aapne zyada intezaar nahi kiya".

Head jerking to the familiarly soothing voice, Karishma looked up to find Inspector Sahiba standing in front of her.

In casuals. Pink shirt tucked in a dark blue jeans and hair left open.

Karishma, who was pleasantly surprised, continue to gape without blinking making Haseena raise an eyebrow questioningly.

"Aap aise kyun dekh rahi hain humein?"

Karishma blinked then as a shade of pink dusted her cheeks and she smiled, embarassed. "Nhi...wo aapka...aisa pehli baar...bina vardi ke dekha toh...thoda sa chonk gaye thhe".

And Haseena laughed. Karishma felt that laughter throb somewhere in her chest as her brows furrowed quizzically. 'Humein iss umra main chest pain kaahe ho raha hai?'

"Hum bhi insaan hi hain aapki tarah. Maante hain ki vardi se hamara vajood hai par sirf vardi hamara vajood nahi hai".

"Ji", Karishma nodded and stood up from her seat, gesturing Haseena to take hers and waited while Haseena slid back her seat and slipped into it.

Finally, she too seated down and gestured the waiter over to take their orders. And once they were done placing the orders, the duo finally focused their attention on each other.

It was only then did Karishma realize that Haseena was already looking at her, chin resting on her palm.

Haseena had been appraising Karishma who had don a classic look of white tank top under a red checkered shirt paired with black pants, and hair tied back in a high ponytail.

"Ka dekh rahi hain?" Karishma interrupted, perturbed by the single-handed attention of those eyes.

Haseena shrugged then and leaned back, "Bas aise hi. Looking sharp, Ms. Singh".

"Ji dhanyawaad". Karishma lowkey wondered if she should have been as smooth too and complimented the woman rather than gaping like a fish and pointing out her 'casuals'.

Moron. Idiot.

"Khair, humne aapko bulaya kyunki hum milkar aapka shukriya karna chahte thhe", Haseena started addressing Karishma with a smile. "Unn fruits aur uss khatt ke liye bahot shukriya, Ms. Singh. Bahot acha laga ye jaankar ki aapko hamari fikra hai".

Karishma nodded. Her head however was having its own conference.

Humein fikra toh hai...par kaahe? Subah itna bawal macha diye hum..kaahe?!

"Aur aapne jo jankari di, uske liye toh hum kya poora police vibhag aapka shukraguzar hai", Haseena added, and Karishma snapped out of her soliloquy.

"Ji, hum bhi icchuk thhe jaan ne ke liye ki hamari jankari se aapki koi sahayta hui bhi ya nhi?"