#PRESENT

Haseena took Karishma to her orphanage. A bunch of cute little children came running towards her and jumped on her. "Arre bachho... kaise ho aap sab...?" She asked. "Didi aap kitne dino ke baad aaye ho... aapko hamari yaad nahi aati..?" A little girl asked. Haseena lifted her in her arms..."baby Aisha! Didi thodi busy thi... par ab se late nahi hoga...promise..." She said in a childish tone. "Okay! aap mere chocolates laaye ho na..." Aisha asked. "Of course! Aisha ke chocolates kaise bhool sakte hain hum..." She took out the chocolates from her handbag and distributed them among all the kids over there. Aisha kissed her on her cheeks and Haseena kissed her back before placing her back to the ground. Karishma was looking at them. Only she has the right to get pampered by Haseena, not even the little kids. "Anaya Didi! ye Kaun hai?" A little boy asked pointing towards Karishma. "Ye... ye Karishma didi hain..." She introduced. "aapki friend hain?" he asked again and Haseena looked at Karishma. They were not friends yet. Karishma was waiting for her answer. "Ye...vo... Ayan..." Haseena fumbled as she doesn't know what relation she shares with her. "mujhe bhi inse friendship karni hai..." said Ayan cutely forwarding his hand towards Karishma for a handshake. Karishma smiled and forwarded her hand but before she could shake her hand with Ayan, Haseena held her hand and shook with hers. Karishma was surprised by her sudden action. "" Kids were shocked at her rude behavior and Karishma smiled at her cuteness. Her maddam Sir was literally jealous for the first time and that too of an innocent ten-year-old kid. "How rude didi!" Ayan frowned and Haseena realized what she said and was again lost in deep thoughts which were broken by Aisha, "Ohhhoooo.... possessive??!!!" "No...no baby, why would I?" She said and passed a mere smile. "aap log kar sakte ho friendship Karishma se" and Ayan again came forward to shake her hand. "My self Ayan! I am in the fourth standard. I am a good boy. nice to meet you Karishma" He introduced himself and Karishma laughed and ruffled his hair. "Nice to meet you too Ayan" She looked at Haseena through the corner of her eyes and smirked looking at her face which had turned pink in jealousy. She thought to take the advantage of the opportunity. "Ayan! humne aapko sikhaya tha na respect your elders... aap Karishma ko naam se bula rahe ho... bad manner na" Haseena said to Ayan. "Didi! ruk jaiye... let me talk to Karishma once" Ayan said and Haseena rolled her eyes. "Karishma, aap boht pretty ho... aur mai bhi boht handsome hoon...So, will you be my girlfriend?" He asked. The cutest proposal a girl ever had. Karishma smiled and looked at Haseena and then said, "itna cute proposal hum kaise reject kar sakte hain bhala..." Ayan jumped in excitement and gave her a kiss on her cheek. Haseena was fuming in anger. Karishma is her bestie and only her bestie and How could she be too friendly with anyone. Karishma was going to return his kiss but Haseena pulled Ayan towards herself. "Ayan beta, batao aapki studies kaisi chal rahi hain..." "Didi aapko toh pata hi hai... mai topper hoon" he said and smirked at Karishma. "Arre wah Ayan!" She said. "haan haan okay okay... baaki sabki studies kaisi chal rahi hain?" Haseena asked. But none of them bothered at her question and they asked Karishma to play with them. Karishma agreed to play hide and seek. As she was going with them, Haseena held her hand. "aap... ghar chaliye na... kuch kaam hai..." she said. "Anaya, khelne dijiye naa... dekhiye na baccho ka kitna man hai... bass thodi der..." Karishma said..."aap hamare saath khel lijiyega na... hum khelenge aapke saath" She said in flow-flow..."Didi! aap hamare saath toh khelti nahi hain...jab hum sab aapse kehte hain to Aryan bhaiya ko bol deti hain khelne k liye.... aur Karishma ke saath khelengi... Karishma itni special hain?" Aisha asked cutely... "Boht zyada special!!!" Haseena replied lost in Karishma. "Sorry to say didi! but ab vo meri girlfriend hain to ab vo mere Saath hide and seek khelengi" Ayan said. "Nahi vo hamare saath khelengi" Haseena replied. "mere saath!!!!" Ayan retorted back. "humne kaha naa hamare saath khelengi" "Didiiiii!!!!!" "Ayaaaaan!!!!" "Shaaant!! Shaant ho jaaiye aap dono...hume kisi ke saath nahi khelna hai... hum jaa rahe hain... bye!!" Karishma shouted getting irritated but was dancing inside as she was loving this side of her maddam sir. She never thought Haseena would be this much possessive for her and even when she doesn't remember her. Ayan and Haseena shut their mouths and bowed their heads. "Sorry!" they mumbled. Karishma smiled at their cuteness and said, "Chaliye phir sab saath mein khelte hain..."

In the evening, They were going to leave. "Didi please jaldi aaiyega..." the kids said... "haan baccho... ab jaane bhi do..."Haseena said. "Karishma... aap yaha ruk jaaiye na.. mujhe aapko apne new toys aur sketch pens dikhane hain..." Ayan said... "Ayan... abhi boht der ho gaya hai... hum aayenge na dobara... phir aap sab ke liye gifts bhi layenge... okay?" she replied. They all engulfed her in a group hug. "waah! Karishma aa gayi toh hume bhool gaye sab!!" Haseena frowned. they laughed and took her in the hug too.

-

After having dinner, KarEena went to their room. Karishma was in the washroom when her phone which was lying in front of Haseena, rang. She looked at the caller ID 'Jadbuddhi'. "ye kaisa naam hai" She thought to herself but a blurred picture of a girl flashed in her mind. Accidently she received the call. "are ye to receive ho gaya... ab kya karein... haan...bol dete hain kuch waqt ke baad call karne ko" She brought the phone close to her ear...

"Karishma madam... kaisi hain aap... aur maddam sir... unhe yaad aaya... unhe mai yaad hoon na...vo mujhe toh bhool hi nahi sakti... kab aa rahi hain aap vapas... boliye na madam..." She was continuously blabbering until the voice on the other side left her speechless. "maaf kijiyega... Jad..jadbuddhi ji... Karishma abhi yaha par nahi hain... hum unhe bata denge ki aapka call aaya tha..." Haseena said but Santosh was silent... listening to the voice of her maddam sir after eight months. She never wanted her to stop. She was dying to get some scolding from her or to tell her quarter updates to her. How long she'd waited for her, keeping aside all her masumiyat, she had become responsible in the absence of her. The chirpy girl whose innocence was the soul of thana had lost all her nonsense.

"Hello... are you there..." Haseena asked having no reply from the other side. Santosh came out of the shock and tears started flowing from her eyes..."maddam sir..." She mumbled..."maddam sir aap... aap kaisi hain... aapko pata hai aapko kitna miss kia maine... aur sabne... aap...aap to kuch dinon ke liye mission par gayi thi na.. phir itna waqt kyu laga dia maddam sir... aapko pata hai aapke bina ye thana... hum sab... aur specially Karishma madam ki kya haalat thi... aap jaldi se aa jaiye bass..." She said while crying. "inki awaaz kahi suni hai kya humne pehle kabhi... boht hi apna pan as lag raha hai" Haseena thought while her head started showing some flashback of Santosh.

"aa...a... I am sorry... shyad aapko koi galatfehmi hui hai... hum vo nahi hain jo aap soch rahi hain...hum..." meanwhile Karishma came out and saw her phone in Haseena's hand. She raised her eyebrows to ask her what's the matter. Haseena handed the phone to her and Karishma looked at the caller ID before answering..."haan santu... bolo" Karishma said... "madam... vo... maddam sir...vo... unhone mujhse baat ki madam..." happy tears were flowing down from her eyes... Karishma could feel her happiness..."Santu, tumhe pushpa ji ne sab bataya hai na..." "ji..ji madam" "tum fikar mat karo...boht jald hum maddam sir ko leke vapas lucknow aayenge...hmm" She said looking at Haseena. "okay madam... jaldi aaiyega please... mai na kal cheetey pushpa ji DSP sir aur billu ji ko bataungi ki maine... maine maddam sir se baat ki hai..." "haan haan abhi rakho" "ek minute... madam aapne mera number jadbuddhi ke naam se save kiya hua hai???" She asked "Nahi... matlb haan vo... tumhe kaise pata??" "Jab Haseena madam ne phone uthaya toh mujhe jadbuddhi ji bola..." She complained cutely and Karishma chuckled... "accha ab jaao so jaao... kal thane jaane me late ho jaaogi varna" Karishma said..."haan madam good night".

Karishma went to the other side of the bed and shoved herself inside the blanket. Haseena was looking at her through the corner of her eyes. She wanted Karishma to talk with her but it had been 10 minutes of waiting. Finally, she snatched the blanket from her.

KS: kya hua?

HM: (doesn't had any answer) vo... hum keh rahe the ki

................she fumbled

KS: ka keh rahi thi??

HM: vo phone pe kaun thi? aur vo hume maddam sir kyu bula rahi thi? aapne bhi hume pehle maddam sir hi bulaya tha... aur unhone toh hamari awaaz hi suni thi sirf...toh kya humari awaaz bhi aapki Haseena jaisi hai??

KS: (slowly) aap hi toh Haseena hain...!!

HM: kuch kaha??

KS: haan vo... galatfehmi ho gaya hoga usko bhi...aap load mat lijiye...

HM: lekin ek baat kahein... hume bhi unki awaaz kuch jaani pehchani si lagi thi...

KS: (getting up and looked at her) kaha suni hai aapne Santu ki awaaj... yaad karne ka koshish kijiye... thoda zorr daliye na dimag par... shyad kuch yaad aaye!!

.....Haseena closed her eyes to think about it but to no avail.

HM: (nodded in no) nahi yaad aaya...

KS: (dissappointed) koi baat nahi...umm.... vaise ek baat kahein?

HM: ji boliye...

KS: (having a naughty smile on her face) aapke orphanage ke bacche bade pyaare hain...

HM: Haan boht pyaare hain...

KS: aur sabse zyada toh vo Ayan... kitna sweet hai...aapko pata hai usne apna chocolate bhi khilaya humko... humara man kar raha tha ki vahi par rukk jayein..

HM: kyuuuu!!! kyu rukk jaayengi vahi par... hamare paas kya dikkat hai aapko??? aur chocolate...chocolate toh humne bhi khilayi thi na aapko!! toh aapne hume to sweet nahi bola... kyu nahi bola... aur agar nahi bola to Ayan ko kyu bola...boliyee... boliye naaaa abbbb!!!!! chup kyu hain aaaaap!!!!!!!

KS: (suppressing her laughter) aap jealous hain?

....Haseena paused for a while and realized what the hell was she saying...and nodded her head negatively.

HM: (fumbled) hum... aur jealous!!! hum kyun jealous honge bhala...

KS: Possessive??

HM: Possessive kaise ho sakte hain hum... possessive to us cheez ke liye hua jaata hai na jispe aapka haq ho... par aap par toh..(making a sad face)aapki Haseena ka haq hai...

KS: haan baat to aapka ekdum sahi hai... Lekin aapko pata hai... hamari Haseena kabhi bhi hamare liye possessive nahi hoti hain... vo bolti hain ki jab unhe pata hai ki hum unki Karishma hain toh apni hi cheez ke liye bhala kyun jealous aur possessive hona...

HM: (nodded) agar aap bura na maanein to aapse ek dil ki baat keh sakte hain??

KS: kahiye na..

HM: (took a deep breath) Dekhiye... hum jaante hain ki aap yaha par apni dost ko dhoondhne aayi hain na ki naye dost banane lekin phir bhi hume aisa lagta hai ki kuch hai aap mein jisse hume aapke saath ek alag vali feeling aati hai... hum... nahi samjh paa rahe hain vo feeling... na jaane hume kya ho jaata hai hume jab aap saamne hoti hain... hume nahi pata... humari zabaan par hamara control hi nahi rehta... hum vo shabd bolne lag jaate hain jo hamare dimag me bhi nahi hote... toh ghoom phir kar hum aapse kuch poochna chahtein hain!!

Karishma was continuously smiling at her words... She knew that her destination is not so far... Her maddam Sir was slowly remembering her and soon she will recognize her Karishma completely.

KS: poochiye...

HM: kya aapko bhi aisa kuch mehsoos hota hai ya hum hi pagal hain??

KS: aapko aisa kyun mehsoos hota hai lekin?...kya hamara koi rishta hai??? kya aap hume jaanti hain?? kuch hai hamare beech??

HM: hume nahi pata... hum jab bhi sochne ki koshish karte hain... hamara sar ghumne lagta hai... bass sab kuch blurr sa dikhta hai...kuch samjh mein nahi aata...

KS: Kahin aapko humse pyaar toh nahi ho gaya❤️??

HM: hum yaha aapse itna serious disscussion kar rahe hain aur aapko mazak soojh raha hai... jaaiye baat hi nahi karni

........She took the blanket and covered herself completely. Karishma was continuously laughing at her cuteness. If her team would be here, their hearts would get a lot of peace watching Karishma laughing. Karishma slightly removed the blanket from her face..

HM: (frowned)kya hai!

KS: (suppressing her laughter and said sweetly) accha sorry... aap boliye hum nahi karenge mazak...

HM: (covering herself again) nahi aap kar lijiye...

KS: (removing the blanket and made a cute pout) nai na.. sorry...

HM: (pouted) aise nahi...

KS: toh kaise??

Haseena got up with a jerk and forwarded her cheek in front of her... Karishma was really shocked. She remembered the days when she used to kiss her with all her love.

HM: vahi jo aap Ayan ko dene jaa rahi thi... hume chahiye hai😚!!!

KS: lekin aapne dene kaha di thi... jalan ki vajah se...

HM: (rolled her eyes and pouted again) hume jalan nahi ho rahi thi... lekin abhi hume ye dijiye varna aage baat nahi batayenge hum...

KS: lekin vo to hamara boyfriend hai na... to uska haq banta hai... lekin aap kaun hain hamari??

Haseena again lost herself in deep thoughts... She is no one to her yet... Just two strangers sharing a room together because of the circumstances.

HM: hmm... koi baat nahi... chaliye so jaate hain... good night...

Karishma was disappointed. She was not expecting this reply from her. Haseena turned off the lights and they both lied on the bed. Fifteen minutes had passed but there was complete silence. Suddenly Haseena got up and turned on the lights and removed the blanket from Karishma. Karishma immediately wiped her tears and got up.

KS: ab kya hua??

HM: HUMSE DOSTI KARENGI??

.........She asked suddenly. Karishma was surprised. Does she have to start from the beginning? It came back to where all this had started. 'hum aapse ek senior ki tarah nahi... ek dost ki tarah baat karne aaye hain Karishma Singh' the sentence Haseena said from where this beautiful friendship and cherishable relation began. And they are once again at the same point on the circle from where the journey might be continued or may give rise to a new journey.

HM: aap kuch bolengi nahi?

.........She asked a lost Karishma.

KS: (coming back to her senses) H...haa... kya..kuch bola aapne??

HM: (hesitated) humne poocha ki... kya...a..aap...humse dosti karengi?

KS: (trying to say in a serious tone) soch lijiye...aasaan nahi hoga...

HM: (confidently) soch liya...!!! ab aap boliye

KS: (smiled and forwarded her hand) DOST..!!

HM: (shook her hand with hers and smiled wholeheartedly) DOST..!!

After a few minutes, Haseena gave a sheepish smile...

KS: ka hua??

HM: (forwarding her cheeks again and made a cute face😙) ab toh de dijiye naa...pleaseee🥺

Karishma chuckled and kissed her on her cheek... Haseena hugged her tightly...

HM: thankyou.... thankyou so muchhhh....

Finally, they slept peacefully... I guess KarEena would be the happiest souls on the earth today...!!

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Hope y'all liked it.

waiting for your valuable response..

.and take care.