Karishma Singh sat, all bandaged up, at the foot of a tree and watched her senior Haseena Mallik, bring Karishma's motorbike, from where it had lain since the accident. The bike looked a little battered after the ordeal, but overall it was still in one piece, much like its owner.

Haseena parked the bike in front of her and commented, 'Aapki jangi jahaaz aap hi ki tarah strong hain. Jitni buri tarah se skid kiya tha uss hisab se damage nahi hua hain. Hum tow van ko call karte hain, woh aapki bike garage le jayegi—'

'Uski jarurat nahi hain. Hum abhi thik hain toh hum khud hi chalakar jaa sakte hain bike—'

Karishma looked up to find Haseena looking down at her, arms crossed, jaws tight.
Karishma U-turned. '— aisa kaun kehta hain accident ke baad! Tow van ki jarurat toh padhti hi hain... aap bula lijiye.'

But the moment Karishma tried to stand up, a sharp pain shot through her. She yelped and nearly fell over... but didn't because a pair of warm familiar arms grabbed her by the waist and prevented the fall. Karishma's arms automatically curled around Haseena's neck to steady herself. Their eyes met and the world slipped away, as usual.

They didn't know how long they stayed in that freeze frame. It could've been a few seconds, or it could've been a few minutes. Until, Haseena's face creased in concern and she helped Karishma stand.

'Karishma Singh kanha dard mehsoos kiya aapne abhi?'

Karishma limped back and touched her left knee in reply.

'Arrey wanha bhi chot lagi hain? Pehle kyun nahi bataya?'

— Kyunki aapne gale laga liya tha aur hum sab kuch bhool gaye — would not be an appropriate answer so Karishma just stayed quiet and shrugged.

Watching her friend limp precariously, Haseena put her arm back around Karishma's waist and held her tightly with one hand, then took Karishma's arm and swung it around her own neck. She gingerly led Karishma towards her car.

'Ya Khuda, haddi-vaddi toot toh nahi gayi,' muttered Haseena.

Karishma walked leaning on Haseena. She didn't have a choice since Haseena held her flush against her side. Not that she disapproved of their position...

'Toota nahi hain,' said Karishma. 'Woh jab giri thi tab iss wale ghutne padh giri thi, jalan ho rahi hain bohot, shayad chhil gayi hain.'

'Hum gaadi mein baith kar first-aid kar dete hain. Phir yanha se clinic jayenge aur ek x-ray karwa lenge,' said Haseena.

'Arrey baba nahi toota hain. Toota hota aise thodi chal pate?' argued Karishma.

'Aapko kya pata? Andar hairline crack ho gaya ho toh? Safety ke liye x-ray karwa lete hain.'

'Jarurat nahi hain.'

'Humein yaad nahi aa rahi aapne MBBS kab paas kiya?'

The argument continued as they crossed the road and reached the parked car. Haseena opened the backseat door and helped Karishma half-lie down with her knee propped up. Haseena herself perched on the edge of the seat and switched on the roof light, bathing them in a shadowy yellow glow.

Then she was faced with a problem. She tried to roll up Karishma's skin-hugging jeans, but that stupid thing wouldn't fold up beyond her calf muscle. On any other day, Haseena really appreciated the views of Karishma in skinny jeans, but right now, it frustrated her because how else was she going to inspect Karishma's knee?

She chewed her lip thoughtfully, then took out a pair of scissors from the box and proceeded to try and cut the cloth at the knee joint. Tried — but couldn't — because her hand was grabbed midway. Haseena looked up to find Karishma staring at her incredulously.

'Oh Madam, ka? Ka kar rahi hain aap humare jeans ke saath?' Karishma hissed.

'Toh phir dawayi patti kaise hogi?' complained Haseena. 'Itna tight hain ki roll up bhi nahi ho rahi hain.'

'Toh ka kaat hi dengi??? Nahi! Yeh pichhle hafte hi liya tha. Aaj pehli baar pehna hain. 6000 ke hain! Pushpa ji ko 1200 ka kaha hain. Hum isko nahi kaatne denge!!' said Karishma decidedly.

'Hmm... thik hain. Pant utariye.'

'KAA?????'

'Pant utariye phir. Dekhe ghutne ki kya haalat banayi hain aapne.'

Karishma's eyes had become as big as the car headlights. She instinctively clutched at the helm of her jeans, as if Haseena would forcefully drag it off her. Haseena noticed it and gave Karishma an unimpressed look.

'Aap—ko first aid karne ki — ahem — jarurat nahi hain. Aap — aap humein clinic le chaliye. Wanhi par treatment kara lenge,' stuttered Karishma.

Haseena frowned. 'Khoon beh rahi hogi. Clinic tak aise hi chhor de? Aur ek minute, aapko anjaan nurse ke saamne taang dikhane se problem nahi hain? Lekin humare saamne pant utarne mein problem hain?'

Karishma held her head in her hands. Under normal circumstances she would have noticed the slight jealousy in Haseena's tone, but right now Karishma was too busy trying to find a way out of her plight.

'Arrey aap samajh nahi rahi hain Madam Sir... achha, ek kaam karte hain. Aap bahar jaiye. Hum khud hi first aid kar lete hain, thik hain?'

Haseena considered this offer before unwillingly nodding. She got out of the car and closed the door softly.

'AUR JAB TAK HUM NA KAHE ANDAR NAHI JHANKIYE GA!!!' Came a frantic voice from inside.

Haseena rolled her eyes. 'Aap kya Bhool Bhulaiya hain jo hum tourist bankar taakne jhankne ayenge?' She snapped in response and dialled the tow truck to come and retrieve Karishma's bike.

Just as she finished the call however, Haseena heard a knocking on the window and a timid voice calling her from inside the car.

'Umm Madam Sir... jarra idhar ayiye please.'

Haseena returned to find Karishma still exactly how she had left her. Only more frustrated. With one hand bandaged up, Karishma had failed to unbutton her denims, let alone pushing it down her leg and doing first aid. Haseena raised an eyebrow in evil amusement. Karishma scowled.

'Aap kaat hi dijiye,' said Karishma sadly.

Haseena saw the dejected look on Karishma's face and sighed. She rubbed her chin trying to come up with a mutually acceptable solution. Her eyes lingered on a bit of dried mud on Karishma's jaw. Distractedly, Haseena took her dupatta and wiped the dirt from Karishma's face; then dusted some more mud stains off her shirt.

Suddenly Haseena had an idea. She took off her dupatta and handed it out to Karishma.

'Aap isko kamar par odh lijiye. Ek minute...' Haseena took the button off and laid the dupatta on Karishma's lap. Then held on to the sides and slowly began pulling the jeans down. All this happened before Karishma got a chance to deny so all she could do was clutch the dupatta tightly around her waist, as if her life depended on it.

And then Karishma made a mistake. Two mistakes.

Firstly, her gaze fell on Haseena's uncovered bosom. The kameez was low cut, giving Karishma a VIP seat view of the treasures on display. Karishma needed a glass of water.

Secondly, Karishma took in the full sight of Haseena between her own disrobed legs and it resembled that one particular scene from that one particular dream Karishma had had and sworn to never speak of. Karishma needed a glass of cold water.

Haseena meanwhile was completely focused on getting the cloth away without causing any further damage to the wound. The wound turned out to be pretty bad and it had taken away some of the skin, leaving the place raw and bloody. The rub of the trousers on top of everything, had made it worse. Haseena treated the injury tender love and care. She blew air over the sting whenever Karishma winced. She lovingly rubbed Karishma's leg every time the girl gasped out in pain.

Meanwhile, Karishma Singh, that poor soul, lay back with her eyes closed, breathing heavily and trying not to have a heart attack as Haseena's hands kept touching her bare legs. And thigh.
This was Karma. Karma was hitting her back for how Karishma had felt up Haseena's leg under her skirt the previous day and left her all flustered.

Yeah right before she had left to meet Anu Bhaiya and lied to you about it. Her brain rudely reminded her. Karishma sobered. Her heated skin cooled instantly. The talk had to happen. This was not the most ideal situation but it was now or never.

'Ahem... umm... Madam Sir, humein aapse kuch jaruri baat karni hain,' she said softly.

Haseena was finishing up and softly patted Karishma's leg. 'Haan baat karenge. Aap pehle uth jaiye. Patti ho gayi hain.'

Karishma sat up with Haseena's help. She automatically bent down to pull up the jeans from where it was bunched around her ankles, but Haseena gently stopped her. Karishma gave her a confused look.

'Yeh phirse ghisenge chot par toh aur zyada dard hogi. Aap chaliye hum aapko loose pants dilwa dete hain. Yeh tight wale abhi mat pehniye. Aur aap yanhi back seat pe relax hokar baithiye. Aage wale seat mein aapko dikkat ho sakti hain,' said Haseena looking into Karishma's eyes, making sure she understood.

Knowing she was right on both accounts, Karishma did not argue with Haseena... for once. And anyway, it would be easier to talk if there was a little distance between them. Haseena's proximity usually caused Karishma to blank out.

But then, something else happened that caused Karishma to blank out.

Haseena casually leaned in and took her dupatta away. Karishma immediately snatched it back and fiercely clutched her shield of self-respect tighter around her lap. Then glared at her senior.

'Haseena Madam aapke iraade humko bohut doubtful lag rahe hain!'

Haseena grimaced. 'Bakwas mat kijiye. Aap peechhe akeli rahengi na. Apna pant aise godi mein le lijiye bas. Yeh Lucknow hain, Delhi nahi. Hum bina dupatte ke sheher mein nahi jaa sakte. Hum ek respected police officer hain.'

'Toh hum ka Mowgli hain?' Adh-nange hokar jingalala-hu pingalala-hu karte phire?' snapped Karishma.

'Arrey lekin aap bahar kaha nikal rahi hain? Aap gaadi mein hi rahengi na. Hum clinic jaane se pehle aapke liye naye pants khareed lenge.'

'Aapki gaadi ke windows clear glass ki hain. Bahaar se sab kuch dikhta hain. Pant khareedne tak humara "munni badnaam huyi darling tere liye" ho jayega!'

'Oh' said Haseena frowning. She had missed that little detail about the windows not having privacy filters. Then added as an afterthought, 'Nahi nahi hum nahi chahte koi aur aapko aise dekhe.'

'Koi aur?' Karishma raised one eyebrow.

'Koi bhi... aapko aise dekhe,' corrected Haseena, not meeting Karishma's eyes. 'Ab kya kare... rakh lijiye aap dupatta?' She mumbled uncomfortably.

'Apna salwar utarke humko dijiye,' said Karishma out of the blue.

'KYAAA?' shrieked Haseena.

Karishma quickly raised her hands in surrender, pacifying the lady in front of her who was rapidly turning a ripe red.

'Puri baat complete karne dijiye Madam Sir! Aapka salwar loose type ka hain, toh usey hum pehen lete hain. Aur aap humari jeans pehen lijiye. Kameez ke saath jeans toh aajkal normal hain.'

Haseena's face brightened, and her shoulders sagged in relief. 'Wah Karishma Singh yeh toh best idea diya hain aapne! Great.'

Haseena readied to make the costume exchange. Then paused and looked at Karishma Singh watching her. 'Aap chehra uss taraf karke baithiye,' Haseena demanded.

This time Karishma rolled her eyes and turned her face towards the window. Haseena switched off the roof light for good measure, plunging the interior in darkness. She heard an amused snort from the woman beside her. She ignored it and quickly began changing in the cramped space.

'Ghalati se bhi iss taraf mat dekhiye ga,' she warned as she took off the salwar, threw it at Karishma's head and began to hurriedly pull on the jeans.

'Aap Taj Mahal hain ka jo aapko dekhne ke liye hum marey jaa rahe hain?' Karishma retorted, and grabbed the piece of clothing thrown at her. She put it on with some struggle.

They heaved and tugged side by side to become decent again. Haseena snapped the button close and sighed in relief, right about the same time she heard a frustrated grunt from the creature on her right.

'Iski maiyya ki sasu maiyya!'

'Ab kya hua?' asked Haseena, still keeping her face politely turned away.

'Yeh naada...' whined Karishma.

Haseena risked a glance and found that Karishma was now wearing her salwar but she had not been able to tie the drawstring with one hand bandaged. Something about seeing Karishma in her clothes made Haseena's heart skip a beat. She ignored that feeling, gently pushed Karishma's limp hand away and began tying up the string properly.

And then Haseena made a mistake. Two mistakes.

Firstly, after fumbling in the dark, she made a frustrated sound and switched the roof light back on so she could see what she was doing.

Secondly, she saw alright. She saw that Karishma had raised her tank top, probably while attempting to tie the salwar and then forgotten to pull it down. So now her smooth, flat, muscular abs were exposed and Haseena... poor Haseena's soul left her body, did one quick tour of Jannat and returned.

'Aap ab bhi kahengi aapke iraade nek hain?' asked Karishma, a glint of mischief in her eyes.

She had been caught staring! Haseena turned red and looked away. Karishma giggled, for the first time that evening. Haseena scowled at the teasing and knotted the pajama string really tight in retaliation, making Karishma yelp.

'Saans hi na le hum?' asked Karishma angrily, pulling at the knot to make it a little breathable.

'Haan toh hum bhi kanha saans le pa rahe hain?' asked Haseena, also angrily. 'Kitni tight hain aapki jeans. Bacchon ke section se liya tha kya?'

'Aapko wajan ghatane ki jarurat hain—' commented Karishma thoughtlessly.

Haseena stilled and in slow motion turned towards Karishma and looked directly into her eyes.

'— koi andhaa hi aisa kahega,' Karishma croaked. 'Aur hum andhe nahi hain. Aapke height ke hisaab se apka figure ekdum perfect hain. Woh toh hum aapse ek-adha inch slim hain isliye aap par jeans jyada tight ho rahi hain.'

Haseena held her glare for a couple of more seconds. But luck was on Karishma's side and the tow truck arrived in that moment, causing Haseena to leave the car.

'Poof,' Karishma breathed out. 'Tak se maut ko chhu kar wapis aa gayi Karishma Singh,' she whispered to herself, watching her bike being loaded on the van.

'Clinic hokar ghar le jayenge aapko seedha,' Haseena informed Karishma, as she returned to the car and settled into the driving seat.

'Par hum toh coffee ke liye jaane wale the na?' asked Karishma, testing waters.

'Aapne cancel kar di thi na? Aur waise bhi iss haalat mein aapko rest ki zarurat hain.'

'Aapko kahin aur jaane ki jaldi hain?'

'Nahi kyun?'

'Ghar chaliye phir. Aaj Pushpa ji night duty par hain. Hum ghar mein hi coffee pii sakte hain...'

'Not a bad idea. Lekin pehle clinic... aur x-ray.'

Karishma sighed and did not argue. It was impossible to change Haseena's mind once she was stuck on a point. Aur log humein jiddi kehte hain...

As Haseena drove, she suddenly remembered something. 'Karishma Singh, aap kuch baat karna chahti thi na humse?'

Karishma had forgotten about that part in the midst of the pants adventure they had gotten themselves into. Despite all the practice, now that the opportunity was here, Karishma had no idea where to begin.

She was quiet for so long that Haseena wondered if Karishma had dozed off. But one way or the other Haseena was going to wait patiently instead of poking and prodding.

Finally Karishma decided she would never actually be ready so it was better to just dive in and take it from there. So she blurted out that first thing that came to her mind... because that's what she had been thinking about all evening...

'Madam Sir, hum na Anubhav Bhaiya se kabhi nahi jeete hain...'

Haseena, who had been about to give up on her wait for Karishma to say something, startled a little and immediately paid careful attention to the words.

'Bhaiya hain, jisko kehte hain "golden boy of the family"... padhayi likhayi, khel kud, samaj seva, sanskar, vyavhaar... har cheej mein ekdum perfect. Humare parivar ke garv hain woh. Lekin humko iss baat se kabhi koi problem nahi thi. Arrey woh toh humare bhi hero the. Aur kyun na ho, jab se hosh sambhala hain sabne yehi kaha hain ki "apne bhai se sikho, apne bhai ke jaisa bano". Problem yeh thi Madam Sir ki wohi log yeh bhi kehte the ki "kitni bhi koshish karle Anu jaisa thodi ban payegi"... toh hum karte bhi toh ka karte? Humari bhasha jo hain unki tarah shuddh nahi hain... woh itne gore chitte, lambe... aur hum naate, sanwle... Aur uss waqt hum itne nadaan the Madam Sir ki humko yeh saari tulnaye samajh nahi aati thi.

'Samajh aata tha toh bas itna ki hum jo hain jaise hain, waise kaafi nahi hain... Bohot bura lagta tha par ka karte hum usko sudhaarne ke liye? Woh koi nahi batata tha.

'Humare Amma Babuji waise nahi hain Madam Sir. Woh log bohot bhale hain, bohot pyar karte hain humse... lekin bohot simple se hain dono toh ass padhos, risthedaar, sabka bohot prabhav tha unpar. Hain...'

Karishma took a deep breath and continued. Now that she had started confiding in her Madam Sir, she couldn't seem to stop herself from opening her heart up. Her Madam Sir had always been her safe space.

'Madam Sir, ek baat kahe... bohot kam logo ko yeh pata hain... Pushpa ji ko bhi kabhi nahi bataya... lekin humari na ek behen thi... Judwa behen, lekin humse ek minute chhoti thi.'

Haseena, who had been listening without a word, turned to look back in undisguised shock. Karishma nodded sadly. Haseena bit her lip to hold in the barrage of questions that was flooding her mind.

'Kaushalya naam tha uska. Bachpan se Amma ki jyada laadli thi. Kyunki shaant, mithi swabhav ki thi. Humari tarah todh-phodh wali nahi thi. Phir jab thode badhe huye, hum tomboy type ke bann gaye toh uss baat se bhi logo ko problem thi. Kaushalya thi sundar, susheel, sajne dhajne wali... matlab future mein pati milne ke liye ekdum perfect. Toh woh aur bhi chahiti ho gayi, aur hum aur bhi bekaar.

'Bachpan se sunte aa rahe hain, kuch rishtedaar har mauke par Amma-Babuji se kehte rehte the ki "ek beta hona chahiye... ek bete ke liye koshish karo... beta burhape ka laathi banega. Betiyan toh dono chali jayengi, kaun dekhega aap dono ko... betiyan paraya dhan hoti hain", wagayrah wagayrah. Aur pata hain Madam Sir, woh log yeh sab humare aur Kaushalya ke saamne hi kehte the. Unko jarra bhi iss baat ki fikar nahi thi ki hum dono ko kaisa lagta hoga sunn kar. Ek time ke baad, Kaushalya ne yeh sab unsuna karna seekh liya. Par hum nahi kar paye. Wohi feeling... wohi kisi ke liye kaafi na hone ki feeling humko andar hi andar kha jaati thi. Magar hum kisise kuch keh nahi paate the. Kabhi react kar bhi dete toh "dramebaaz" kehkar sab ignore kar dete.

'Babuji rishtedaron ko kehte the ki — "Anubhav hain na... wohi hain humara beta".' Karishma gave a humourless laugh. 'Aur phir ek din, jab hum unnis saal ke the, Amma-Babuji ki laadli Kaushalya filmo mein kaam karne ki jidd lekar ghar se bhaag gayi. Aur jaate jaate Amma ke kuch gehne aur Babuji ke saare savings lekar bhaagi.'

The more Haseena heard, the more surprised she became; struggling to keep her focus on the driving. But more than that, her heart went out to little Karishma, and Haseena just wanted to stop the car and engulf the woman in a bear hug. But she knew better than to invade Karishma's space. So Haseena stayed put and shifted her attention between the road and the rear-view