The morning breeze felt surprisingly pleasant. Mumbai's roads were unusually open today, and Haseena was taking full advantage of it. The scooty moved smoothly through the wide roads while cool air rushed past them, no endless traffic jams, no honking competitions, no impatient drivers trying to squeeze through impossible gaps.

Karishma sat behind her, gripping the metal support behind the seat with both hands. Usually, whenever Haseena drove, she would either hold onto her shoulder or complain about the speed while secretly enjoying every second of it. Today felt different. She was smiling, talking normally, but at the same time she seemed hesitant, like she was stopping herself from doing things she would normally do without thinking.

Haseena noticed.

But she didn't say anything.

A few moments later, her eyes narrowed when she spotted a group of traffic police standing near the roadside. Karishma followed her gaze and understood instantly. The problem was obvious. Haseena wasn't wearing a helmet.

For a second Karishma wondered what brilliant plan was forming inside her sister's head. The answer arrived immediately. Without slowing down, Haseena smoothly shifted closer to a large truck moving beside them. The truck blocked the officers' view completely, and for a few seconds the scooty practically disappeared behind it. They passed safely.

Karishma stared at her in disbelief. Haseena looked extremely proud of herself, and despite herself, Karishma looked genuinely impressed. Haseena's grin instantly widened. That grin alone screamed Dekha? Karishma rolled her eyes, though the small smile on her face completely ruined the effect.

Unfortunately, their victory lasted less than five minutes. The next signal was red, and this time there were even more officers standing ahead. The scooty came to a stop. Haseena looked ahead. Karishma looked ahead. Then both looked at each other.

No words were needed. This wasn't their first operation.

The signal timer started counting down. Karishma jumped off while Haseena unlocked the storage compartment, and Karishma pulled out the helmet and waited.

Five. Four. Three. Two. One.

The signal turned green. Karishma hopped back onto the seat and, with perfect timing, placed the helmet directly onto Haseena's head before the scooty had even properly moved. The strap clicked into place. Mission successful. They now looked like two perfectly responsible citizens. Haseena even sat a little straighter.

Karishma immediately started laughing.

"Haan haan. Bohot shareef lag rahe ho," she teased.

Haseena replied with complete confidence, as if she genuinely believed it.

"Hum toh hamesha se shareef hain."

Karishma snorted. "Bilkul."

The sarcasm was impossible to miss.

A little later, Haseena suddenly slowed down near a roadside sandwich stall and parked the scooty. Karishma frowned, looking around in confusion.

"Kya hua?"

Haseena removed her helmet and pointed toward the stall.

"Bhook lagi hai."

"Hume nahi lagi," Karishma replied without missing a beat.

Haseena gave her the look only elder sisters could give. The look that said jhoot bol rahi ho.

"Haan, tumhe hi lagi hai."

Before Karishma could argue further, Haseena had already walked toward the counter. She ordered one sandwich. Then looked back at Karishma. Thought for two seconds. And ordered another.

Karishma folded her arms suspiciously, watching the second sandwich being prepared.

"2 sandwich kyun? Hum tho humesha se 1 mai share karte hai."

Haseena didn't even bother looking at her.

"Dono tumhare liye he hai, kha lena chup chap."

A few minutes later, both sandwiches had mysteriously disappeared. Karishma was finishing the last bite while Haseena stood beside her with folded arms, waiting patiently, her expression clearly saying maine kaha tha.

Finally giving up, Karishma sighed.

"Waise... bhook toh kafi lagi thi."

A victorious expression appeared on Haseena's face. She looked far too pleased with herself.

"Pata hai."

Karishma looked genuinely surprised. "Humne bataya bhi nahi."

Haseena took a sip from her water bottle before replying.

"Tumhare rag rag se wakif hai."

For a second, Karishma simply looked at her. There were some things Haseena always seemed to know without being told.

Haseena lightly bumped her shoulder. This time the teasing disappeared from her voice, replaced by quiet concern.

"Aage se aise chupana mat."

"Kya?"

"Bhook lagi ho, thakan lage, ya kuch chahiye ho toh bata diya karo."

Karishma immediately looked away. Like always, she wasn't very good at handling concern directed toward herself.

"Theek hai."

Haseena wasn't satisfied. She pointed a finger at her.

"Promise?"

Karishma rolled her eyes dramatically.

"Promise."

Only then did Haseena look satisfied.

A few minutes later they were back on the road. This time Karishma didn't immediately grab the metal support. She sat quietly, watching the road while the wind rushed past, and then slowly, almost without noticing, one hand moved forward and rested on Haseena's shoulder. A few minutes later, the second hand followed.

Everything instantly felt normal again.

Haseena noticed. Without saying a word, she became more careful while driving, slowing near potholes, taking turns more smoothly, making sure sudden brakes wouldn't throw Karishma forward.

Karishma noticed that too. She didn't mention it. She simply sat comfortably behind her sister, enjoying the ride while the cool wind brushed past them. For the first time in a long while, neither of them felt like they needed to say much. The ride itself was enough.

---

The moment they entered the apartment, Karishma dropped her travel bag near the sofa and stretched her arms. The train journey hadn't been terrible, but it had definitely been long. Before she could properly sit down, her phone buzzed.

A message. From Santosh.

- Hii
- Ek urgent kaam hai. Free ho?

Karishma immediately straightened. The word urgent was enough to make her nervous.

Haseena walked out of the kitchen carrying a glass of water and handed it over without saying anything. Karishma accepted it and quickly typed back.

- Haan free hu. Kya hua?

The reply came almost instantly.

- Yaar papa ka sirf card hai mere paas. Paise apne account mein transfer karne hai. Kaise kare?

Karishma blinked. Then blinked again. That was definitely not the emergency she had expected. Still, something felt odd, and her mind immediately jumped to several worst-case scenarios.

Haseena noticed the sudden change in her expression and sat down beside her.

"Kya hua?" she asked.

Karishma turned the phone toward her.

"Lagta hai humari dost hospital mein hai."

Haseena almost dropped her own glass.

"KYA?"

Karishma quickly showed her the messages.

"Paise transfer karne hain bol rahi hai."

Haseena leaned closer.

"Theek hai. Kitne chahiye pucho."

Karishma typed:

- Kitne paise chahiye?

Santosh completely ignored the question.

- Kaise transfer kare?

Karishma typed again.
- Pehle batao kitne paise chahiye?

Once again, ignored.

- Papa ka card hai bas. Kaise kare?

Karishma slowly lowered the phone. Her patience had officially started packing its bags.

---

A few minutes later, Karishma was sitting with her laptop open while Santosh sat somewhere hundreds of kilometers away holding her phone. Somehow, Karishma had become unpaid customer support.

She rubbed her forehead.

- "Bank ka app download karo."

A second later, Santosh replied proudly.

- "Kar liya."

- "Open karo,"
Karishma typed back.

- "Kar liya," came the immediate reply.

Karishma sighed.

- "Ab kya aa raha hai?"

There was a brief pause. Then Santosh answered confidently.

- "Deatils mang raha hai."

- Dalo

- "Nhi ho raha invalid dikha raha hai"

Karishma frowned.

- "Nahi. Kya likha hai exactly?"

Santosh read it aloud.

"CRN number, Account number ya PAN number."

"Toh tumne kya daala?"
Karishma asked, already bracing herself.

- "Maine Aadhar number daal diya, sahi hai na?"

For three full seconds Karishma didn't respond. She simply closed her eyes. Beside her, Haseena was already biting her lip to stop herself from laughing.

Finally Karishma spoke.

"Hume phone phenk dena chahiye."

- "Nahi ho raha, yaar" Santosh informed helpfully.

"KYUNKI AADHAR MANGA HI NAHI THA!"
Karishma shouted on Voice note.

"Oh." A pause. Then, innocently, "Toh kya daalu?"

Karishma took a very deep breath. The kind people take before committing crimes.

Five minutes later another problem appeared. Karishma pointed at the screen.

- "Account number daalo."

"Theek hai," Santosh said. A minute passed. Then another.

- "Nahi ho raha," she reported.

Karishma already knew. She just knew.

- "Tumne kya daala?"

"Card number."

Karishma slowly lowered her forehead onto the table. A muffled groan escaped her. Across the sofa, Haseena completely gave up controlling herself and burst out laughing.

Santosh sounded genuinely confused.

- "Card nunber aur account number alag hote hain?"

Karishma looked up toward the ceiling. Maybe answers were written there. Maybe peace was written there. Nothing was written there.

- "Haan," she finally said.

"Oh."

- "BOHOT alag hote hain," Karishma added.

"Oh, bank ka he tho hai phir bhi, kitne number hote hai aisa hona chahiye sab kuch 1 number se ho jaye uff"

Twenty-seven painful minutes later, against all odds, the app finally opened. Login successful. Karishma looked like she deserved a national bravery award. She leaned back in exhaustion.

- "Hua?"

- "Finally Ho gaya"

- "ab batao kya emergency hai"

Santosh brightened instantly.

- "Kuch nahi."

Silence.

- "Kya?" Karishma asked.

"Mummy ne machine mangayi thi."

- "Konsi machine?"

"Silai machine," Santosh said. "Bas uske paise transfer karne the."

Even Haseena stopped laughing. A dangerous silence settled over the room. Very slowly, Karishma sat upright.

- "Toh emergency kyu bola tha?"

"Arre emergency hi toh thi," Santosh said, sounding genuinely confused. "Mummy ne kaha tha aaj karna. Warna daant padti." A pause. "Daant emergency hoti hai."

Karishma stared at the screen. Then at the wall. Then back at the screen. For the first time in her life, she understood why people threw phones.

A second later she disconnected the call. Not dramatically. Not angrily. Just for her own peace of mind.

Across the sofa, Haseena was still watching her. Thoughtfully. Something felt strange. The Karishma she knew would have exploded fifteen minutes ago. The current Karishma looked angry enough to fight a tiger, yet she was somehow controlling it. Too much. Almost intentionally.

Karishma stood up suddenly.

"Nahake aate hain."

Without waiting for a reply, she disappeared toward the bathroom. The moment the door closed, Haseena grabbed her phone and called Santosh.

---

The call connected instantly.

"Hello Hasu Di!"

Haseena smiled slightly. "Hello. Ek baat puchni thi."

"Puchiye."

Haseena hesitated, then spoke honestly.

"Santosh... Karishma thoda alag behave kar rahi hai. Samajh nahi aa raha."

The cheerful tone on the other side softened immediately.

"Oh." A pause. Then Santosh spoke carefully. "Di... wo raat ko kafi baar uth jaati hai."

Haseena sat straighter.

"Kya?"

"Haan," Santosh said, her voice dropping lower. "Kayi baar neend mein bolti rehti hai."

"Kya bolti hai?" Haseena asked.

Santosh's voice grew quieter. "Mumma uth nahi rahi...aur taffy taffy karti hai"

The words hit harder than expected. Haseena's throat tightened, and for a second she couldn't speak.

"Taffy..." she finally managed.

"Haan," Santosh said, sounding confused. "Ek baar toh mai sach mein toffee le aayi thi, tho usse mai mere muh pe pehka usne"

Haseena closed her eyes, a sad smile appearing despite everything.

"Woh toffee nahi tha. Taffy humare dog ka naam tha."

Silence.

"Oh..."

"Aur?" Haseena asked softly.

Santosh sighed. "Kabhi kabhi sapne aate hain usko."

"Kaise?"

Santosh exhaled. "Pata nahi. Par uss din mai glucose mila ke paani pi rahi thi, achaanak aayi aur glass hi phenk diya."

Haseena listened quietly. The more Santosh spoke, the more the pieces started connecting.

"Ek aur cheez hai," Santosh added.

"Kya?"

"Khana. Di, agar khana khane ke liye bulati hai na meko wo, toh exact time pe pahunchna padta hai. Ek minute bhi late hue toh lecture milta hai. Kya pata usse kya ho jata hai"

For a second, a memory flashed inside Haseena's head. Their parents calling her for dinner, again and again, while she kept saying aa rahe hain...abhi nhi major ke sath khayenge and never actually going.

The memory hit unexpectedly. Her eyes filled instantly.

---

A few minutes later, after ending the call, Haseena sat quietly on the sofa, lost in thought. Then she opened her contacts and called Monika.

The call connected after two rings.

"Hasu?" Monika asked immediately, a small smile audible in her voice. "Aaj normal call? Server pe nahi? Waise Karishma pahunch gayi?"

"Haan Di," Haseena said. Then, quietly, "Di... suno na."

"Hmm?" Monika asked.

"Lagta hai Karishma abhi bhi trauma mein hai," Haseena said quietly.

The smile disappeared from Monika's voice instantly. Haseena slowly told her everything Santosh had shared, the nightmares, Taffy, the glass, the food.

When she finished, a long silence followed. Then Monika finally spoke.

"Hasu..." Her voice was gentle, very gentle. "Wo attach hone se darr rahi hai. Kayi baar jab insan kisi apne ko kho deta hai, toh kisi dusre insaan se attach hone se bhi darrne lagne lagta hai."

The words made painful sense.

"And sandwich wali baat," Monika continued. "Pehle Papa se haq se bol deti thi. Ab sochti hogi hum pe bojh na ban jaye."

Haseena's eyes watered again.

Monika sighed softly. "Hume usse samjhana hoga ki wo akeli nahi hai, wo humari hai humari jaan"

"Hmm," Haseena murmured.

"Hume bhi waqt hi kitna mila saath mein?" Monika said. "Sab ekdum se alag ho gaye."

For a few seconds neither sister spoke. Then Monika said, "Tum baat karo usse." A small smile returned to her voice. "Hum bhi karenge. Pyaar se, kuch karte hai dekhte hai hum kaise sath raha ja sakta hai"

"Hmm," Haseena murmured.

The call ended.

Haseena remained exactly where she was, phone still in her hand, lost in thought, waiting for Karishma to come back.

.
.
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✍️ - 2420 Words

And that's where we'll pause for today.

Today's chapter taught us a few important life lessons:

1. Never trust someone who says, "Bas ek chhota sa kaam hai."

2. If Santosh ever texts you "Emergency hai," first confirm whether it's actually an emergency or just chaos.

3. And most importantly...

If someone notices you're hungry before you do, keep them. Such people are rare.

🌸 Author's Note 🌸

Sorry for disappearing for a while.

Office work, Studies, Exam, Class, and adulthood have formed a group project against me, and unfortunately I'm the only one doing the work.

Most days I feel like Santosh trying to log into a peace account.

I have twenty open tabs in my brain and none of them are responding.

But I'm trying. 😭

Thank you for being patient with me and sticking around despite my chaotic schedule.

See you in the next chapter. ✨💙