Somewhere in Between

Barely Functioning

KS doesn't even think twice when she answers, "Ussi wajah se jisse aap jaag rahi thin."

HM notes the challenge in her voice and realizes that she is slipping out of character.

"H-hum, matlab, mein toh..." Urmi fumbles, finding it hard to keep up the act when she is sleep-deprived. "Mein toh safai kar rahi thi na."

"Acha?" KS exclaims in disbelief and watches as HM lands on a horrible excuse and tries to make it sound believable.

"Haan, safai kar rahi thi mein," Urmi reiterates confidently. "Woh mereko dhool mitti mein neend nahi aati na. Aur teri maddam ke kamre mein kitni dhool rehti hai. Toh mein woh saaf kar rahi thi. Puri raat. Is liye."

KS shakes her head at the ridiculous lie but doesn't correct her.

"Aur tu? Tu kiski dhulai- matlab safai kar rahi thi?" Urmi asks nervously, hoping that neither of them have to reveal the true reason for their inability to rest.

But KS doesn't feel the need to hide anymore when she knows it's HM she's speaking to.

"Hume khamoshi mein neend nahi aati," She says simply, trying to convey how much she missed her without having to say it.

Urmi, for her part, looks sympathetic but still hopes to give her an out if she needs it.

"Toh kuch gana wagera chala leti awaaz ke liye," she suggests, offhandedly.

KS doesn't take the chance to deflect.

"Hume shor nahi pasand. Hume sirf ek hi awaaz se matlab hai," she clarifies, leaving almost no room for questions.

Of course, HM understands

But more than that, Urmila isn't stupid enough to misunderstand either. Her character is supposed to be a smartass. She can't deny what KS is trying to say in so many words. She is forced to acknowledge it.

"Dekh," she begins, making sure to hide her emotions even as tries to sound sincere. "Mera offer toh abhi bhi valid hai. Tu chahe toh mein puri raat tereko Ghalib ka Mareej pardh ke sunaye gi."

"Mirza Ghalib," KS corrects, failing to stop a chuckle at that. Leave it to HM to make KS smile even in the most serious of times.

"Very good," Urmi responds cheerfully, delighted to be the one to make her laugh, as she continues shamelessly. "Wese, mereko maloom tha keh ek din tujhe meri yaad zaroor aayegi, darling."

She prepares herself for another outright rejection of Urmi's advances.

But for some reason, KS stays quiet.

HM thinks it has to be a joke. Yet, KS doesn't smile mischievously or anything. Instead, she looks completely at peace even in the face of Urmi bothering her.

And then to HM's shock and mild horror, KS smiles shyly.

AT URMI!

HM is sure she is having insomnia-induced hallucinations because there is no way in hell that KS just smiled at Urmi's flirting.

It's not even possible.

Before she can confirm, however, the very next moment, that breathtaking sight is gone like it was never there to begin with. And KS looks at her suspiciously.

"Agar hum 'Haan' kahein toh aap humare sawaal ka sach sach jawab deingi?" She inquires instead, wagering a trade.

HM nods in agreement before Urmi even registers that KS may have just admitted to missing her.

"Aap saari raat soyi kyun nahi, Maddam Sir?" KS questions once more, giving her an expectant look.

Urmi considers lying for a second. But then she notes how the question was not addressed to her at all.