UNLIKELY ALLIES || KarEena

✨ Chahat aur Aadat ✨

The sound of raindrops echoed in the silent night, filling the empty spaces around Karishma as she sat by the window. The cold breeze brushed against her face, but she didn't flinch. She simply stared at the falling rain, lost in its rhythm, as if waiting for it to wash away something unseen—something heavy that she couldn't name.

Meera entered the room and stood beside her, observing her closely. This wasn't the Karishma she knew—the fierce, stubborn, and strong-willed girl. Something had changed. No, someone had changed her.

Meera sighed softly before speaking. "Karu... jab se Haseena gayi hai, tu badal gayi hai."

Karishma turned her head slightly and gave a faint smile. "Nahi, mai theek hu." But the weight in her voice betrayed her words. Her breath was heavy, as if carrying unspoken emotions she refused to acknowledge.

Meera frowned. "Tu theek hai na?"

Karishma nodded. "Haan, bas thoda tabiyat theek nahi lag rahi."

Meera didn't believe her. She looked deeper into Karishma's eyes, trying to find the truth she wasn't saying aloud. "Kal chal, doctor ko dikhate hai."

Karishma let out a small chuckle, shaking her head. "Arey nahi, zyada kuch nahi hai. Bas season change ki wajah se aisa ho raha hai."

Meera didn't push further. She just smiled and let it go—for now.

The room fell into silence again. Karishma turned back to the window, watching the rain fall endlessly. The water droplets ran down the glass, just like the thoughts running in her mind—unceasing, unanswerable.

Meera, sensing Karishma's silence, took a deep breath before breaking it.

"Tune ek sawal pucha tha... uss uljhi huyi gutthi ka..." Meera began. "Mujhe lagta hai, uss pehli ladki ko pyaar hai... uss dusri ladki se."

A thunderclap roared in the distance. Karishma's eyes widened. "Kya bakwaas kar rahi hai tu?" She turned toward Meera in disbelief.

Meera didn't flinch. She smiled knowingly. "Bakwaas nahi, sach keh rahi hoon."

Karishma frowned. "Par vo toh jwa... I mean, uss ladke se pyaar karti thi na? Toh ye kaise possible hai?"

Meera let out a small laugh. "Kai baar hum aadat ko pyaar ka naam de dete hain... jabki pyaar toh waqt ke bandhan se pare hai."

Karishma looked at her, still trying to process her words.

Meera continued, "Pyaar do pal mein ho sakta hai, aur poori zindagi saath nahi chhodta. Aadat, saath rehte rehte ban jaati hai... aur aksar uss aadat ko hum pyaar samajh baithte hain."

Before Meera could say more, Karishma whispered, as if realization was dawning upon her, "Sahi kaha... kuch rishtey chahat se zyada aadat ke hote hain... aur aadat chhootne mein waqt lagta hai... aur aadat chahat ho, yeh zaroori nahi hota."

A single tear escaped Karishma's eye. It fell silently, landing on the cold windowpane.

Outside, the rain continued to fall.

Meera watched Karishma carefully. "Ab tere sawal ka jawab mil gaya?"

Karishma exhaled deeply. A small, uncertain smile played on her lips. "Pata nahi... shayad..."

Meera didn't say anything further. Some answers, she knew, had to be found on one's own.

The rain poured harder.

Karishma suddenly changed the subject, her tone lighter, though still laced with something unspoken. "Aajkal tu mujhse jhagda nahi karti... theek hai na?"