KAREENA: A Love Story

4. Confessions

'Karishma Singh...'

'Hmm?'

'Aaj aapne jo kiya... humein zinda rakhne ke liye.....
'Am I really worth fighting that hard for?'

Karishma, who was gently massaging balm on Haseena's forehead, stopped her movements and stared deep into Haseena's eyes. She wanted to give an indignant answer like — obviously yeh koi puchhne wali baat hain — type. But Haseena was looking at her with so much uncertainty, so much vulnerability and so much trust... that made Karishma pause. For once, she chose her words carefully instead of blurting out whatever came to her mind.

'Madam Sir aapke saath jo dhoka hua, usne shayad aapki self-confidence ko hila diya hain. Dekhiye hum baaki sabka toh nahi keh sakte par humare liye... fighting for you aur fighting to breathe... dono ek hi baat hain.'

As she spoke softly, Karishma's fingers had resumed massaging Haseena's forehead, occasionally her thumb rubbed across her eyebrows, pressed her temples, traced her eyes with feathery touches, even brushed against her cheek once.

'Haan jaante hain thoda filmy dialogue type laga sunne mein... lekin yeh sach hain. Aur kitna bada sach hain yeh humko bhi aaj hi pata chala hain.'

Haseena was listening to every word attentively. The balm was healing her headache. But Karishma's gentle ministrations were acting as a balm on her soul.

'Pata hain aaj jab aapne woh virus apni body mein inject kiya na... woh moment... us pal mein humko laga...' Karishma struggled to find the correct words. 'Humko laga ki jaise... Jaise humari duniya mein jitne bhi lights the sab ek saath kisine off kar diya ho.

'Sab andhera ho gaya tha. Saamne kuch nahi dikh raha tha. Woh hota hain na jab aapke ghar mein achanak se bijli chali jati hain? Achanak se jaani pehchani jagah bhi anjaan ban jaati hain... Jo ghar aapki panah thi, ek second mein wohi aapke liye pinjra ban jata hain... Thik waisa wala feeling aya humko. Humara praan na tadap raha tha, humare shareer se bahar nikal ke.. ya toh aapke praan bacha le ya phir... aapke saath hi chal de...'

She suddenly looked away in embarrassment and rubbed her own eyebrows — a nervous habit of hers — 'Sorry Madam Sir hum thik se samjha nahi paa rahe hain. Humko aapki tarah shayari karna nahi aata...'

'Karishma...' interrupted Haseena softly, eyes brimming with emotions. 'Itna pyar mat kijiye, hum deserve nahi karte.'  Her voice broke and the tears finally made their way down the corner of her eyes.

'Arrey yeh pehle bolna tha na Madam Sir... ab toh too late hain,' said Karishma smiling, as she wiped away Haseena's tears.

'Haan aap toh jaise kitne orders maanti hain humari,' said Haseena making a face and sniffing away the remaining tears.
'Umm sard dard kam ho gaya hain. Ab rehne dijiye, nahi toh aapka bhi haath dard karega.'

Karishma nodded and moved back to her place. They lay there, just quietly looking at each other.
After some time, Haseena spoke.

'Waise Karishma Singh aapko shayari seekhne ki zarurat nahi hain. Aapka dil itna saaf hain ki aapke lafz hi ghazal ban jaate hain.'

Karishma couldn't help the dark blush that spread across her cheeks. So she quickly rushed to make light of the comment.

'Achha? Jab hum kantaap maarne ki baat karte hain, tab bhi humara jabaan aapko gajal lagta hain ka?' She inquired, raising an eyebrow in amusement.

Haseena grimaced. 'Ji nahi. Maar dhaar ki baat chhor kar, jab aap dil se bolti hain sirf tab.'

Karishma chuckled. 'Chaliye ab so jaate hain. Raat bohot ho gayi hain. Hum dono thake bhi hain, aur aapko rest ki bohot jarurat hain.'