Teri Lakeerein

20. Tera Sahara

"Matlab, agar humein taqleef hoti toh aapko behtar mehsoos hota?!" Haseena asked incredulously.

"Taqleef toh tab hoti na, Haseena ji jab aapko farq padta! Aapko koi farq hi nahi pada na. Aapka ye jajbaati mukhauta ekdum solid hai. Sabko lagta hai ki Inspector SHO Haseena Malik jajbaat ki devi hai, lekin vo bas ek chehra hai jo aap duniya ke aage pehenti hain. Aur har koi pehenta hai alag chehre. Burai isme nahi hai, burai isme hai ki aap uss hi chehre ke sath humse milti hain. Uss hi mukhaute ki muskurahat se humein, apni so-called-dost si milti hain".

Haseena's demeanor had changed; her smile faded away.. "Aap kehna chahti hain ki hum fake hain?"

Karishma averted her gaze. Haseena's composed facade was usually an advantage in her role, yet she wasn't utilizing it—she was concealing herself behind it, and that was distinctly different.

"Ek aur baat ka jawab dijiye" Karishma said, locking eyes with Haseena once more as Haseena folded her arms.

"Do din pehle, aap humein duty ke baadRumi Darwaza milne wali thi. Aap kyun nahi aai thi?"

It took Haseena a minute to remember before she answered, "Hum thakk gaye thhe. Duty se bade dinon baad jaldi free hue toh socha ki aaram kar lein".

"Aur aapne humein yeh baat, bilkul isi tareeke se bol di. Do vakyon main. Koi bahana nahi".

"Ji, hum bahana kyun banaenge?"

Karishma smiled, "Humse kahi zyada samajhdar hain aap, toh hum maan nahi sakte ki aap hamari baat ka tatparya nahi samajh rahi".

"Aap bahana banati kyuki aapki wajah main wajan nahi tha. Humse milne ka wada aapne itni aasani se tod diya?" Karishma looked hurt and Haseena saw it, rousing from her chair.

"I am sorry, Ms Singh. Aapko bura lag gaya uss din. I am so sorry...I didn't realize. Hum itne tired thhe aur humein laga ki aap samjhengi, aur aapne bhi uss din- Haseena trailed, her composure crumbling.

Karishma noticed Haseena's sincerity, yet her thought process seemed quite detached.

-uss din humne kaha tha ki- 'ji hum samajhte hain, koi baat nahi'?"

Haseena nodded and Karishma continued, "Toh aur kya kehte? Kis muh se kehte? Kese kehte ki aaram baad main kar lijiyega, aaiye aur miliye humse, h-hum aapka intezaar kar rahe hain?" Her voice cracked but she she controlled it. Karishma singh was simple minded but she was strong willed too.

"Kese batate ki hum nahi samajh rahe hain, jab aapne uss din itni 'understanding' dikhai thi? Aapki samajhdari ke aage toh hamara bartav bachpana lagta na? Hum ek dabaav main aa gaye, ki nahi wo uss din hamara samasya samjhi thi, toh shayad wakai main jada hi thakawat hoga? Kese hum unse pooch lein ki agar ho sake, toh aaein humse milne?"

"Aur pata hai Haseena ji, aapko bura kyun nahi laga humein mana karte hue? Kyunki hum aapke sath aisa kar chuke thhe. Kyunki aap nischint thi ki aapne humein understanding di hai, toh return main hum bhi understanding denge aapko".

Haseena blinked, baffled, "Aap keh rahi hain, ki humne aapse badla liya?"

And Karishma laughed, "Kaash aapne badla liya hota! Kaash! Lekin aapne bas wo kiya jo aapko sahi laga".

"Acha ek aakhiri sawal ka uttar dijiyega- hum agar thakawat ka kaaran dekar nahi aate toh aapka kya pratikriya hota?"

"Hum sa-

"-hum samajh gaye", Karishma raised her forefinger to stop Haseena and added, "Aap samajhti, hamara majboori ko, agar wo majboori na bhi hota kyunki humara rishta hi understanding ka len-den jo thehra. Aap hamare sath na wo...market main ek naya shabd chala hai..adu..haan adult-friendship, aap hamare sath wo nibha rahi hain. Jahan hum dono ka agar convinience hoga toh hum ek dusre ke sath khushi baant lenge, nahi hoga, toh bhi koi baat nahi. Kyunki hamara jimmedari hai, aapka duty hai".