Bangalore: The Hypermarket

The hypermarket was massive, a brightly lit maze containing everything from imported electronics to fresh vegetables.

Santosh stood at the entrance, staring intensely at the shopping cart station. There were three options: a compact hand basket, a medium-sized basket, and a giant, deep steel trolley.

Without a second thought, she grabbed the giant trolley, pulling it out with a loud metallic clatter.

Karishma, standing beside her with both hands shoved deep into her jacket pockets, widened her eyes. She had only come along to clear her head, not expecting a full-scale raid.

Karishma: "Amma, tum ghar ke liye poore mahine ka rashan le rahi ho ya normal shopping karne aayi ho?"

Santosh grabbed the handle of the trolley with both hands, adjusting her stance like she was driving a truck.

Santosh: "Gifts lene hain Karishma, sabke liye. Mummy ke liye special tea powder, Papa ke liye shaving cream, aur doston ke liye... umm, nahi, dost sab kanjus hain hamare, unhe chhoro. Meri behen ke liye aam papad, aur mere liye main lungi ek piggy bank. Aaj kal bohot kharche ho rahe hain yaar, saving karni hogi. Wo ATM style wala piggy bank chahiye mujhe."

Karishma stared at her, completely deadpan.

Karishma: "Tum apni mummy ke liye chai patti aur papa ke liye shaving cream le jaogi gift mein? Kahan se aate hain ye ideas?"

Santosh (completely casual): "Haan toh? Useful cheezein hain na. Roz subah mujhe yaad karenge dono."

Karishma pointed a finger at the massive empty cage of the trolley.

Karishma: "Aur iske liye tumne ye poori gaadi khinch li?"

Santosh: "Haan toh baki dono baskets mein wheels nahi the na. Itna saara bhaari saaman mere nazuk haath utha nahi payenge. Chalo ab, tum khadi kya ho yahan? Bohot kuch dhoondna hai, let's go!"

Karishma rolled her eyes, letting out a quiet mutter under her breath.

Karishma: "Iska sach mein kuch nahi ho sakta..."

They began walking down the aisles. Karishma looked around aimlessly, her eyes scanning the passing shelves without much interest.

Santosh leaned over the trolley handle, glancing at her.

Santosh: "Tum kuch nahi le rahi ho? Le lo na kuch Hasu Di aur Major ke liye."

Karishma's shoulders dropped slightly. She kicked a tiny stray pebble on the floor.

Karishma: "Nahi... kya hi le? Major ka toh pata bhi nahi ki wo aa bhi rahi hain ya nahi."

Hoping for some news, Karishma pulled out her phone and logged into the secure network.

She initiated a server room session.

---

In Mumbai, the apartment kitchen was a complete disaster area.

Kridha was trying to pack her travel bag on the dining table, and Haseena was hovering right behind her like a silent, persistent tail.

Everywhere Kridha moved to grab a container, Haseena took two steps behind her.

Ping.

Haseena's phone buzzed with the server notification.

She pulled it out and accepted the call instantly, holding the camera up.

On the screen, Karishma's face appeared against the backdrop of bright hypermarket lights.

Karishma: "Hasu Di! Aap kya kar rahe ho? Aur peeche wo kya chal raha hai? Bag kyun pack ho raha hai wahan, hum aa toh rahe hain na?"

Haseena shifted the phone to show Kridha aggressively stuffing items into a backpack.

Haseena: "Humari roommate Kridha ja rahi hai apni sisters ke paas. Toh... bas hum unki help kar rahe the."

Kridha stopped freezing a tiffin box mid-air.

She looked at Haseena.

Then glared at the screen.

Her eyebrow twitched violently.

Ha, bohot help ho rahi hai meri.

Saare kapde galat fold kiye hain.

Charger wale pouch mein toothbrush daal diya.

Aur shampoo wale pouch mein mera adapter ghusa diya.

Huu! Help nahi, saza de rahi hai ye mujhe.

Miles away, in a quiet field office, a secure monitor blinked.

Monika was sitting at her desk, reviewing a stack of sensitive operational files.

Seeing the server room flash active, a rare, genuine smile touched her lips.

She hit connect.

Instantly, the atmosphere on the call shifted.

Both Karishma in Bangalore and Haseena in Mumbai straightened their postures.

Monika's voice cut through the speakers, steady and firm.

Monika: "Kya ho raha hai yahan?"

The sudden, stern tone boomed through Haseena's phone.

In the kitchen, Kridha was completely startled.

She jumped, her foot catching the sharp wooden corner of the dining table leg with a horrific thud.

Kridha: "AH! Sss!"

Kridha instantly dropped her bag, clutching her right foot and hopping wildly on one leg in a painful, clumsy circle.

Haseena bit her inner cheek, her shoulders shaking violently as she desperately tried to control a massive laugh on camera.

Monika ignored the background noise, her eyes fixed on Karishma.

Karishma: "Kuch nahi Major... bas aise hi market aaye the Santosh ke sath."

Monika: "Raat ki train hai tumhari. Aaram se chadna, aur pochkar pehle mujhe call karna. Dhyan rakhna apna, aur bhagkar train pakadne ki zaroori nahi hai, time se nikalna."

Karishma: "Haan Major, noted."

Haseena leaned closer to her screen, her voice dropping into a quiet, hopeful plea.

Haseena: "Yaar Di... aap kyun nahi aa rahe ho?"

Karishma immediately chimed in, her tough exterior cracking.

Karishma: "Haan Major, please aap bhi aao na. Ek hafte ki hi toh baat hai."

Monika looked down at the documents on her desk, her expression tightening back into her professional mask.

Monika: "Kaam bohot hai abhi. Not possible. You know the situation, border par high alert hai, isi wajah se tum sabki academies ko leave mili hai. Main nahi nikal sakti."

Karishma and Haseena both looked down, their faces visibly falling.

The screen grew quiet.

Monika watched them for a moment.

She let out a soft sigh, her voice easing up just a fraction.

Monika: "Dekhte hain. Ek week ka time hai na abhi."

A tiny, instant smile broke across both sisters' faces.

Dekhte hain was Monika-code for the situation is trackable, there is a chance.

Karishma thought for a few seconds, an idea popping into her head.

Karishma: "Major... agar aap aogi na, toh wahan se teen stones le aana hamare liye. Medium size ke."

Monika paused, looking genuinely confused.

Monika: "Stones? Patthar ka kya karogi tum.?"

Karishma looked away from the camera, a stubborn expression locking on her face.

Karishma: "Bas le aana aap. Rakhte hain ab, shopping khatam karni hai."

They exchanged quick goodbyes and the server line disconnected.

---

Karishma slid her phone back into her pocket.

Her mood had completely changed.

Monika's hint was enough to ignite her focus.

She walked briskly down the home décor section, thinking deeply about what she could actually buy.

After ten minutes of careful selection, she grabbed four specific items:

A clean, empty wooden photo frame.

Three vintage-looking glass jars.

And two small architectural miniature models.

She tracked back to the food section and found Santosh standing frozen in front of the international noodle aisle, staring at a brightly colored packet of Korean ramen.

Karishma walked up behind her, looking over her shoulder at the strange packaging.

Karishma: "Amma, ispe toh alag hi bhasha likhi hai. Kuch samajh bhi aa raha hai tumhe?"

Santosh (deeply emotional): "Bilkul samajh aa raha hai. Hamari pasand likhi hai ispe."

Santosh turned around to dump the packets into her giant trolley, but stopped when she noticed the strange cluster of items in Karishma's hands.

She narrowed her eyes.

Santosh: "Tum mujhe kabadi keh rahi thi na? Tum khud kya ajeeb cheezein utha ke laayi ho? Ek khaali frame, teen glass ke dabbe, aur ye do khilona models? Kya kaam ke hain ye?"

Karishma shielded the items slightly, her chin lifting.

Karishma: "Bohot kaam ke hain. Useful cheezein hain ye. Tum apna dhyan rakho. Chalo ab billing karwate hain warna meri train chhoot jayegi."

After settling the bill-which included Santosh's four kilos of aam papad and the heavy ATM piggy bank-they hurried back to the academy base.

An hour later, the Bangalore night was cool and damp.

Karishma sat by the window of her train compartment, her backpack tucked safely under the lower berth.

As the train let out a heavy whistle and slowly began to move against the dark tracks, she rested her chin on her hand, her eyes reflecting the passing city lights.

Heading straight toward Mumbai.

Haseena kept calling Karishma throughout the journey, just to make sure she was safe.

Sometimes she asked if she had eaten.

Sometimes she asked where the train had reached.

Sometimes she called for no reason at all and simply asked if everything was okay.

Karishma normally would have found it annoying, but this time she answered every call without complaint.

She knew Haseena was worried.

---

The next morning, Karishma finally reached Mumbai station.

She stepped off the train with a backpack on one shoulder and a small bag in her hand.

She didn't have much luggage.

It was only a one-week vacation, so she had packed a few clothes and some basic things.

Karishma was also a bit tomboyish.

She never cared much about makeup, accessories, or carrying extra things.

Because of that, half her bag was practically empty.

As she walked through the station, she thought maybe Haseena had booked a cab.

Or maybe she would have to find one herself after getting outside.

But the moment she stepped out of the station and looked ahead through the crowd-

She saw Haseena.

Standing there.

Waiting for her.

A huge smile instantly appeared on Karishma's face.

Without thinking, she ran straight toward her.

Haseena barely had time to react before Karishma reached her and hugged her tightly.

Haseena smiled and hugged her back.

For a few moments neither of them said anything.

They were simply happy to see each other.

---

When they finally pulled apart, Karishma noticed something parked nearby.

She looked at it.

Then looked again.

A scooty.

Karishma immediately turned toward Haseena.

Karishma was genuinely surprised.

She loved scooter rides.

Especially when Haseena was driving.

Haseena always drove fast, and Karishma loved sitting behind her and enjoying the ride.

The scooty wasn't Haseena's, though.

It belonged to one of Kridha's friends.

Haseena had borrowed it for a few days.

She knew how much Karishma liked scooter rides, so she had arranged it before Karishma arrived.

The smile on Karishma's face grew even wider.

She put her bag on the scooty and climbed on behind Haseena.

A few moments later, they pulled away from the station and headed into the city together.
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✍️ - 1780 Words

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