Delhi | 11:48 PM

Outside, the ocean waves crashed heavily against the rocky shore below. The night breeze was sharp, rustling the curtains of the dimly lit balcony.

Monika sat alone on a wooden chair, her long legs stretched out straight. In her hand was a plain paper plate holding a single, untoasted sandwich. She wasn't eating it. She was just staring blankly into the endless dark horizon of the sea, her usual sharp, military focus completely lost in thought.

She looked down at the bread, poking the corner of it with a sigh.

A memory triggered.

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(Flashback begins)

Six Years Ago.

The academy hostel room was suffocatingly quiet.

Monika was sitting aggressively on her neatly made bunk bed, her arms crossed tightly over her chest, staring at the wall with a deadly glare. Right at that moment, her stomach let out a loud, incredibly embarrassing rumble.

The door clicked open.

Her best friend walked into the room, holding a grease-stained brown paper parcel from the canteen.

Monika didn't even turn her head.

Monika: "Bilkul dimaag nahi hai na tumme? Aaj se main tujhe 'Bin' bulaungi."

The girl stopped mid-step, tossing the parcel onto the study desk. She popped her hands on her hips, completely unbothered by Monika's glare.

Girl: "Achha? Toh main bhi aaj se tumhe 'Monster' bulaungi. Vaise bhi tumhara ye khunkhar gusse wala chehra dekh ke bache darr jayein."

Monika turned her face further away, huffing proudly.

The girl rolled her eyes, pulling a fresh sandwich out of the paper bag and sliding it onto a plate.

Girl: "Canteen se special order deke sandwich laayi hoon. Bina shimla mirch aur bina beetroot ke. Kyunki mujhe pata hai hamari Monster ko ye dono dekh ke daure padte hain."

Monika's jaw twitched.

She was starving, and she had been craving a sandwich all afternoon, but her stubbornness was holding her back.

She refused to look at the food.

Girl: "Ab ye gussa thuk do aur kha lo. Jao jao, main tumhare rag-rag se wakif hoon, mai janti hu tumko sandwich khana hai. Mujhse kya chhupaoyegi? Jab bhi bhook lage na, ek baar bas dil se yaad kar lena... jin ki tarah samne aa jaungi dekhna. Ginny hoon main, Ginny!"

(Flashback ends)

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Present Day

Monika took a slow, heavy breath, the rhythmic sound of the crashing ocean pulling her back to reality. The room behind her was pitch black and completely silent.

She looked at the empty chair across from her on the balcony.

Monika: "Kya hua Ginny? Powers chali gayi kya teri?"

Her voice was barely a whisper, swallowed by the sound of the wind. A self-deprecating smile touched her lips.

Monika: "Pehle toh humara ego aur gussa do ghante se zyada tikta nahi tha aapas mein. Itna bhi kya ho gaya ki aaj main yahan baith ke tujhe yaad kar rahi hoon, aur tum chirag se Aladdin ki tarah prakat nahi ho rahi samne? Rag-rag se wakif nahi ho kya ab?"

She carefully flipped open the top slice of the bread, looking at the layers inside.

Monika: "Dekh... tumhe sandwich mein tamatar nahi pasand na? Toh shimla aur beet ke sath maine aaj tamatar bhi nahi dalwaya. Just missing you a little more today."

Her expression hardened slightly, the stubborn, unyielding Major returning to her eyes. She closed the sandwich firmly.

Monika: "But agar tumhara gussa aasmaan chu raha hai na, toh mera bhi chaand tak pahunch gaya hai. This time you will call. Main toh nahi karne wali."

She took a decisive bite of the plain sandwich.

As she chewed, her face twisted in mild disappointment.

Monika: "Yuck. Bas pyaaz, cucumber aur aloo hai isme. Ajeeb sa feeka sandwich hai."

A sudden, unexpected chuckle escaped her lips.

It was small, a quiet sound of fond remembrance as she stared at a stray slice of onion peeking out from the bread.

Monika: "Waise... tum toh apni uss behen ke chakkar mein pyaaz bhi chhodne wali thi na? Agar tumhare hisab se chali, toh agli baar se mujhe khaali bread-butter khana padega lagta hai."

The chuckle slowly faded, leaving behind the heavy silence of the night.

Monika took another bite of the tasteless food, her eyes locking back onto the dark, restless ocean.

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Bangalore

For the first time in days, the academy felt peaceful.

No instructors screaming.

No whistles.

No obstacle course trying to assassinate them.

Just a rare Sunday morning.

Karishma was sitting on her bed, tying her shoelaces.

Across the room, Santosh was lying upside down on her bunk, scrolling through her phone.

Karishma glanced at her.

Karishma: "Oye. Chal shopping pe chalte hain."

Santosh immediately lowered her phone.

Her eyes narrowed suspiciously.

Santosh: "Tum mujhe academy ke bahar le jaake maar dogi kya?"

Karishma stared.

Karishma: "Kya?"

Santosh: "Pehle dost banao. Fir shopping bulao. Fir sunsaan jagah le jaake khatam."

Karishma: "Tum crime documentaries kam dekha karo."

Santosh sat up.

Santosh: "Shopping karogi bhi toh kya? Punching gloves kharidogi?"

Karishma looked offended.

Karishma: "Toh kya tumhari tarah machhar daani kharidu?"

Santosh gasped dramatically.

Santosh: "Machhar daani ek protection layer hoti hai."

Karishma rolled her eyes.

Karishma: "Chal na."

Santosh folded her arms.

Santosh: "Kiske paise se?"

Karishma: "Obviously dono ke."

Santosh immediately lay back down.

Santosh: "Phir nahi aa rahi."

Karishma closed her eyes.

Took a deep breath.

Karishma: "Theek hai. Shopping ke baad golgappe khayenge."

Silence.

Santosh slowly sat back up.

Karishma continued.

Karishma: "Aur waise bhi... humari Major ne tumpe daya khane ko bola hai. Tum hume itna time deti ho. Aaj hisaab barabar kar dete hain."

The words golgappe and khana had already done the damage.

Santosh's eyes sparkled.

Santosh: "Golgappe, pehle bolna tha na!"

Karishma smirked.

Santosh jumped off the bed.

Santosh: "Waise mujhe mini cooker bhi kharidna hai."

Karishma: "Kya?"

Santosh: "Aur chaar kilo aam papad."

Karishma stared.

Karishma: "Kabadi kahin ki."

Santosh looked deeply offended.

Santosh: "Huh. Cook se humari achhi dosti ho gayi hai."

Karishma snorted.

Santosh continued proudly.

Santosh: "Aur aam papad ghar le jaane ke liye hai."

Karishma paused.

Karishma: "Ghar? Kab ja rahi ho?"

Santosh blinked.

Santosh: "Tumhe nahi pata?"

Karishma frowned.

Santosh: "Academy mein ek hafte ki leave mili hai."

Karishma sat upright.

Santosh continued.

Santosh: "Border pe war situation chal rahi hai na. Toh family ko milne ke liye leave di hai."

A pause.

Santosh smiled.

Santosh: "Tum bhi jao na. Major se mil lo."

Karishma fell silent.

For a second, all the jokes disappeared.

Major.

Home.

Family.

Haseena.

The words hit differently now.

Without saying anything, she picked up her phone.

Karishma: "Taiyaar ho jao."

Karishma smiled for the first time that morning.

Karishma: "Hum abhi aate hain."
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Mumbai

At that exact moment in Mumbai...

Kridha was trying to make dosas.

Trying being the important word.

Because every time she turned around-

Haseena was there.

Standing behind her.

Silent.

Watching.

Following.

Like a lost puppy.

Kridha moved toward the fridge.

Haseena followed.

Kridha opened a cabinet.

Haseena followed.

Kridha walked to the sink.

Haseena followed.

Finally, Kridha stopped.

Slowly turned around.

And found Haseena standing less than two feet behind her.

Kridha jumped.

Kridha: "Bhagwan!"

Haseena blinked.

Kridha put a hand over her heart.

Kridha: "Tum piche piche paanch saal ke bachche ki tarah kyun ghoom rahi ho?"

Haseena looked completely serious.

Haseena: "Hum dekh rahe hain."

Kridha: "Kya dekh rahi ho?"

Haseena: "Dosa."

Kridha stared.

Haseena stared back.

Kridha: "Madad kar do phir."

Haseena immediately shook her head.

Haseena: "Wahi toh nahi aata."

Kridha sighed.

Haseena continued.

Haseena: "Kuch ulta kar diya toh OCD patient ho tum. Tum mujhe kitchen se nikal dogi."

Kridha opened her mouth.

Closed it.

Because annoyingly...

that was exactly what would happen.

Haseena folded her arms proudly.

Haseena: "Isliye hum moral support de rahe hain."

Kridha just stared.

In her mind, however-

Kridha (in mind): Khali skeleton ki tarah chup chap baithne se toh achha hi hai. Meri dono nautanki behno ki tarah piche piche ghoom rahi hai. Chalo... progress toh hai.

A small smile appeared on her face.

She turned back toward the stove.

Today's menu-

Dosa.

Her favourite.

The batter hissed loudly as it hit the hot pan.

A few seconds later-

Haseena appeared beside her again.

Haseena: "Dekho."

Kridha: "Kya?"

Haseena: "Humari behen Major ka order hai ki tumse baat karni hai."

Kridha blinked.

Haseena pointed dramatically.

Haseena: "Toh jo bhi hai mann mein mat bolo. Aise chup chup haso mat. Suspicious lagta hai."

Kridha chuckled.

Kridha: "Hum tumpe nahi has rahe."

Haseena narrowed her eyes.

Haseena: "Pakka?"

Kridha: "Haan."

Haseena: "Phir?"

Kridha flipped the dosa.

Kridha: "Bas kuch soch rahe hain."

A few moments passed.

Then Haseena noticed the growing pile beside the stove.

Four dosas.

Five.

Six.

Seven.

Her eyes narrowed.

Haseena: "Ek minute."

Kridha: "Hmm?"

Haseena pointed.

Haseena: "Ye extra kyun bana rahi ho?"

Kridha: "Khana hai."

Haseena: "Hum do log hain."

Kridha: "Haan."

Haseena: "Toh dus kyun bana rahi ho?"

Kridha casually answered.

Kridha: "Kyuki ghar le ja rahi hoon."

The spatula froze mid-air in Haseena's hand.

Silence.

Haseena: "Kya?"

Kridha: "Ghar."

Haseena: "Kab?"

Kridha: "Leave mili hai meri sisters ke academy mein, phone kholke dekho 500+ GIF and Emoji hai. bula rahe hai meko"

Haseena: "Aur ye mujhe ab bata rahi ho?"

Kridha winced.

Oops.

Haseena looked genuinely offended now.

Haseena: "Aise kaise decide ho gaya?"

Kridha: "Arre behno mein sab instant decide ho jata hai."

Haseena folded her arms.

Haseena: "Achha."

Kridha nodded.

Haseena: "Aur mujhe akele chhod ke ja rahi ho?"

Kridha blinked.

Haseena continued immediately.

Haseena: "Mai yaha akeli pagal ho jaungi."

Kridha stared.

Haseena continued.

Haseena: "Mujhe bhi le jao."

Kridha laughed.

Actually laughed.

Kridha: "Tumko kya lagta hai? Tumhe akele chhod ke jaungi?"

Haseena paused.

Kridha pointed the spatula at her.

Kridha: "Tumhare jaise insaan ko akela chhodna matlab public safety ke khilaaf crime hai."

Haseena looked offended.

Kridha continued.

Kridha: "Major ko text kar diya hai. Ek hafte ke liye ja rahe hain."

Haseena froze.

Then narrowed her eyes.

Haseena: "Yaar..."

Kridha: "Hmm?"

Haseena: "Behen meri hai ya tumhari?"

Kridha burst out laughing.

Haseena pointed dramatically.

Haseena: "Mujhe bina bataye sab decide kar rahe ho."

Kridha was still laughing.

Haseena: "Not fair."

Then she folded her arms.

Haseena: "Nahi khana mujhe dosa."

And with maximum drama-

she marched away and flopped onto the sofa.

Exactly seven seconds later-

TING.

Her phone lit up.

Haseena frowned.

Picked it up.

Opened the notification.

Then froze.

Ticket Confirmed
Karishma Singh
Bangalore → Mumbai

Booked By: Major

For two whole seconds-

her brain stopped working.

Then-

the biggest smile Kridha had ever seen appeared on her face.

Haseena shot off the sofa.

Ran across the room.

And launched herself at Kridha.

Kridha nearly dropped the spatula.

Kridha: "AREY!"

The hug almost sent both of them crashing into the stove.

Kridha barely managed to keep them upright.

Haseena didn't care.

She was grinning like an excited child.

Haseena: "Humari behen aa rahi hai!"

Kridha smiled despite herself.

Haseena: "Choti wali yaha rahegi chalega na?"

Kridha nodded.

The smile on Haseena's face somehow grew even bigger.

Kridha had never seen her like this.

Not once since the day they met.

For the first time-

there was no grief.

No anger.

No sadness.

Just happiness.

Pure happiness.

Haseena laughed.

Haseena: "Pata hai? Kab se Karu ke saath time spend karna chah rahe the."

She stopped.

Her voice softened.

Haseena: "Us din ke baad hum sab alag ho gaye."

A pause.

Haseena smiled again.

Haseena: "Bilkul achha nahi lag raha tha."

Then the words spilled out before she could stop them.

Haseena: "I really needed this."

Kridha listened quietly.

Haseena: "I need her."

A small laugh escaped her.

Haseena: "Uske bina humari heartbeat bhi sahi se nahi chalti."

Kridha smiled.

Haseena pointed dramatically.

Haseena: "Nineteen times slow chalti hai."

Kridha snorted.

Haseena shook her head.

Haseena: "Wo jaan hai humari."

Only after saying it did Haseena realize how much she had revealed.

But strangely-

she wasn't embarrassed.

Not anymore.

Kridha simply smiled.

Then-

she slowly raised the spatula like a warning weapon.

Kridha: "acchi baat hai."

Haseena blinked.

Kridha pointed the spatula.

Kridha: "Lekin sun lo."

Haseena: "Kya?"

Kridha: "Tumhari behen aaye."

The spatula moved.

Kridha: "Choti wali aaye."

The spatula moved again.

Kridha: "Badi wali aaye."

Another move.

Kridha: "Jo bhi aaye."

Then she pointed dramatically toward her bookshelf.

Kridha: "Meri ek bhi book idhar se udhar hui na..."

Haseena immediately nodded.

Kridha pointed toward the kitchen.

Kridha: "Aur kitchen ganda hua na..."

Haseena nodded faster.

Kridha: "Toh phir dekh lena."

For a second Haseena actually imagined Karishma and Kridha together.

Then decided-

future problems.

Present happiness.

And right now-

she was far too excited to care.

Meanwhile, Kridha simply smiled to herself and continued packing the dosas.

One box.

Two box.

Three box.

For home.
For family.
For her sisters.
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Karishma had just looked at her phone.

For a second she froze.

Then looked again.

Then again.

The ticket was real.

Mumbai. Confirmed.

A huge grin exploded across her face.

Karishma: "YEHHHHHHHHH!"

Before anyone could react, she sprinted across the room.

At that exact moment, Santosh was standing in front of the mirror, trying to decide which crochet hair rubber matched her outfit best.

She had three options spread across the bed.

Lavender.

Yellow.

And pink.

Santosh was holding the lavender one in her hand when-

Karishma arrived like a missile.

Karishma: "SANTUUUU!"

And before Santosh could process the danger-

Karishma lifted her straight off the ground.

Full bridal style.

Santosh's soul immediately exited her body.

Santosh: "MUMMYYYYYYY!"

Karishma started spinning.

Karishma: "HUM MUMBAI JA RAHE HAI!"

Spin.

Karishma: "HASU DIII KE PAAS!"

Spin.

Karishma: "TICKET AA GAYI!"

Spin.

Karishma: "YEHHHHHH!"

Santosh was violently flailing.

Santosh: "UTAROOO!"

Karishma: "MUMBAIIIIII!"

Santosh: "MEKO NICHE UTARO!"

Karishma: "HASU DIIII!"

Santosh: "MERA RUBBER!"

Karishma: "KYA?!"

Santosh: "MERA CROCHET RUBBER!"

Karishma: "ABHI RUBBER KI PADI HAI?!"

Santosh: "HAAN!"

Meanwhile-

the lavender crochet hair rubber had slipped from Santosh's hand and fallen onto the floor.

And unfortunately...

while dancing...

Karishma had stepped directly on it.

The second Santosh's feet touched the ground-

she shot away from Karishma.

Straight toward the fallen rubber.

Karishma blinked.

Santosh carefully picked it up.

Held it in both hands.

Inspected it.

Then immediately pressed it dramatically against her chest.

Santosh: "Aleeeeeee..."

Pause.

Santosh: "Mela babyyyy..."

Karishma froze.

Oh no.

Not again.

Santosh gently patted the crochet rubber.

Santosh: "Lag gayi na tumko..."

Then she slowly turned.

Big eyes.

Pure betrayal.

Santosh: "Dikhayi nahi deta kya?"

Karishma blinked.

Karishma: "Kya?"

Santosh pointed at the rubber.

Santosh: "Babyy ko lag gayi!"

Karishma stared at the rubber.

Then at Santosh.

Then at the rubber again.

Karishma: "Babyyy?"

Santosh nodded furiously.

Karishma: "Amma... rubber hai wo."

Silence.

Dangerous silence.

Santosh immediately stood up.

Eyes huge.

Santosh: "KHABARDAAR!"

Karishma actually stepped back.

Santosh hugged the rubber protectively.

Santosh: "Jo isse mamuli rubber samjha toh!"

Karishma: "..."

Santosh: "Mummy ne bana ke diya tha!"

That instantly changed things.

Karishma's expression softened.

Santosh continued dramatically.

Santosh: "Crochet hai!"

Santosh: "Wool wala hai!"

Santosh: "Handmade hai!"

Santosh: "Aur mere paas saare colors ka collection hai!"

She pointed toward the dressing table.

Santosh: "Pink."

Point.

Santosh: "Blue."

Point.

Santosh: "Green."

Point.

Santosh: "Yellow."

Then she held up the lavender one.

Santosh: "Aur ye mera favourite hai!"

Karishma looked at the perfectly unharmed rubber.

Then at Santosh's watery eyes.

Then back at the rubber.

The thing wasn't even bent.

Santosh however looked ready to file a police complaint.

Karishma: "Mummy ne sach mein banaya tha?"

Santosh immediately nodded.

Santosh: "Haan."

Karishma sighed.

Santosh clutched it tighter.

Santosh: "Ab khadi khadi dekh kya rahi ho?"

Karishma: "Kya?"

Santosh: "Sorry bolo."

Karishma: "Kis baat ka?"

Santosh: "Babyy ko pair lagaya."

Karishma closed her eyes.

Santosh folded her arms.

Santosh: "Nahi toh main market nahi aa rahi."

That got Karishma's attention.

Karishma: "Accha theek."

She carefully took the rubber from Santosh's hand.

Looked at it.

And sighed.

Karishma: "Sorry."

Santosh immediately shook her head.

Santosh: "Aise nahi."

Karishma: "Ab kya?"

Santosh: "Sorry please bolo."

Karishma frowned.

Karishma: "Sorry please."

Santosh: "Sorry please Titli."

Karishma: "KAAAAA?"

Santosh nodded seriously.

Santosh: "Naam hai uska."

Karishma looked genuinely horrified.

Karishma: "Tumne rubber ka naam rakha hai?"

Santosh: "Maine saare rubbers ka naam rakha hai."

Karishma: "Saare?"

Santosh proudly opened a small pouch.

Inside were dozens of colorful crochet hair rubbers.

Santosh pointed one by one.

Santosh: "Ye Chikoo."

Point.

Santosh: "Ye Pudding."

Point.

Santosh: "Ye lichi."

Point.

Santosh: "Ye Furry"

Then she held up the lavender one.

Santosh: "Aur ye Titli."

Karishma looked at the ceiling.

Perhaps this was her punishment for something she had done in a previous life.

Karishma: "Sorry please Titli."

Santosh nodded approvingly.

Like a judge accepting an apology.

Karishma immediately shoved it back into her hand.

Karishma: "Bas."

Karishma: "Ab rakho isse."

Karishma: "Aur ye saare tante humse nahi hote."

Karishma: "Aaj first and last time maine sorry bola hai."

Karishma: "Apna saman apne paas rakho."

Santosh gasped.

Santosh: "Haan toh maine kaha tha kya rocket ki tarah aake mujhe uthane?"

Karishma: "Main excited thi."

Santosh: "Ek toh mujhe uchayi se darr lagta hai."

Karishma blinked.

Then slowly looked at herself in the mirror.

Then at the floor.

Then at herself again.

Karishma: "Uchayiiii?"

Santosh nodded seriously.

Karishma rolled her eyes.

Karishma: "Chalo ab."

Santosh: "Hmm."

Karishma's grin returned instantly.

Karishma: "Late ho raha hai."

Karishma: "Train hai humari."

Karishma: "Mumbai jayenge."

Karishma: "Hasu Diii se milenge."

Karishma practically started bouncing.

Karishma: "Waah waah!"

Karishma: "Pet mein abhi se titli udd...."

Mid-sentence-

she froze.

Very slowly.

Her head turned toward Santosh.

Specifically-

toward the lavender crochet rubber in her hair.

Karishma imagined a tiny butterfly named Titli living inside it.

A visible shiver ran down her spine.

Karishma: "Blaaaaaaaah."

Santosh gasped.

Santosh: "Titli ke saamne aise nahi bolte!"

Karishma immediately started walking toward the door.

Karishma: "Chalo."

Santosh followed behind her protectively adjusting the rubber.

the two idiots finally headed out for shopping.
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✍️ - 3031 Words

That's it for today's chapter! ✨
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