The Other End Of Red String

A String Across The Room

The night air was heavy, stifling in its silence. She sat on the edge of her bed, back straight, eyes hollow, her phone resting on her palm like a weight she couldn't discard.

She kept hearing Pushpa Ji's voice.
"She said maybe if she had gone to Dubai... if she had resigned..."

The guilt Karishma was carrying was slowly cutting Haseena open from within. And she couldn't even tell her-I'm here. I'm alive. I'm listening. I see you.

But she couldn't.

That was when her phone buzzed.

Incoming call: Vyom Singh.

She blinked at the screen. The name flashed like a wound that wouldn't stop bleeding.

Her first reaction was confusion. Why... him?

Then anger.

Then something worse-dread.

Her thumb hovered over the screen, hesitation dancing between instinct and emotion.

She didn't want to talk to him. She didn't owe him anything. And yet, the weight of the day, the image of Karishma's tired eyes, made her press "Answer."

She didn't say anything. Neither did he.

There was silence, the kind that said too much.

Finally, Vyom spoke, his voice low, worn down. "Urmila ji?"

A breath. Then his voice came through-soft, hesitant, careful.
"I know you don't want to hear from me. But I... I needed to say something"

Still, she didn't speak.

"I... I don't know if I should've called, but..." His voice trailed off, then returned, low and tired. "I'm worried about Karishma."

Haseena's eyes fluttered shut. Her fingers pressed into her palm.

"She's... not talking to anyone. Not eating. She's pretending everything is okay, but I can see she's drowning."

He paused, swallowing audibly.

"She thinks it's her fault. That maybe if she had just come to Dubai... maybe if she had resigned from the job... none of this would've happened."

Silence stretched between them.

"I tried to tell her otherwise," he continued, voice shaking now. "But she won't listen to me. And the only person she ever really listened to... was Haseena Ji."

Haseena flinched.

"I know she's gone. I know." A beat. "But Karishma-she's still looking for her. In you. In your face. In your words."

He exhaled, long and weary.

"She won't say it, but... she tried to find Haseena Ji in you, Urmila ji. And maybe, maybe that's why she can't even look at you right now. Because you're not her."

Haseena's throat tightened. She bit down on her lip to stop the sound threatening to escape.

"She misses her so much. And she's falling apart without her. If anyone can help her now... maybe it's you."

He didn't wait for a response. He knew he wouldn't get one.

"Goodnight," Vyom said finally, and the call ended.

The screen went dark again.

Haseena sat there, phone still to her ear, frozen.
She should've said something. She should've yelled at him, told him he had no right to hurt Karishma like that. But all she could feel was emptiness.