Hello everyone, I hope you all would be in best of health and spirits. First of all I am extremely sorry for not being able to update any of my stories from a very very long time. Reason is I am preparing for examination which is to be held in Feb 2023. Balancing my studies and professional life is giving me tough time. I hope you will understand my issue.

You may find certain things illogical but please bear with it as I have taken some creative liberty.

Enjoy the part below...

Not proofread ignore spelling and grammatical errors.

Sitting at the edge of the pool, putting their legs in the water, holding each other’s hands side by side, Haseena started narrating her tale.

“Ten years ago, when I opened my eyes in Hospital after the accident. It was like a rebirth to me. I knew absolutely nothing about my previous life…it….it was all blank, t…total wipe out.” Her voice choked in her throat. Karishma pressed her hand in her hold to give her much needed support while her own eyes were moist.
“For two months, I had been encaged in that so called V.V.I.P room of that hospital…..i…..i hated that. Only two people used to come to meet me, twice a day, a lady who had introduced herself as my mother and a doctor who called himself world’s best neurologist. Other than them, I haven’t seen any faces for what it felt like eternity….i….i shouted, cried, begged them to let me go but all I got in return was sedative injections and apologetic look of my mother with one line ‘I am compelled, my child, I am sorry. It is necessary for your health.’

At that time, I used to think what have I done to be sentenced with alone improsenment. The feeling of hatred for myself had developed then only.”

As she was narrating that, she doesn’t realized when her hand clenched the edge of the pool side leaving Karishma’s hands. Her grip was so tight that it had turned red, she was gritting her teeth and her nerves were appearing on her face out of anger.

Karishma’s condition was also worse, she had bitten her lips to suppress her sobs, her fists were clenched so tightly that her nails were pierced in her palms. She was feeling her heart sinking with each minute and she was feeling extremely angry on Haseena’s mother. She asked helplessly, “Why? Why she did that to you?”

Haseena chuckled at her question and added, “She did not want to take risk with my life. Accident had weakened certain part of my brain and doctor’s adviced minimum interaction with the people and world until it recovers enough…..so she can’t allow anyone else near me and she could not waste her precious time by sitting with me whole day.”

A sob escaped Karishma’s lips as she realized what Haseena had been through all this while.

“When things went above my tolerance capacity, I decided to end my life.”

“Haseena!!” a shocked whisper escaped Karishma’s lips.

However Haseena continued, “I intentionally injured my foot with the edge of the table and when doctor was bandaging it, I hid the scissor from his kit. Later on, I cut my wrist…but I was saved… I threatened them either free me from this cage or I will keep on attempting suicide. It affected mom and she agreed to me but on a condition. She took a promise to me that I will not come in Lukhnow until she allows me. At that time, all I want is to be free of that cage that was sucking my breathes so I agreed to her. What next, we left Lukhnow forever.”

By this time, Karishma was crying heavily with hiccups, “Karishma….please…hold yourself….it…it was past…look at me now, I am alright…absolutely fine, healthy and happy with you….and….if you kept on crying like this, I won’t be able to continue. Your tears are giving me more pain than I have felt at that time….please…” Haseena added taking her in her arms.

When Karishma had calmed down a bit, Haseena started again, “After that things came back on track, Mom had started keeping me busy with business, she had admitted me in college for the completion of my degree. However, she never allowed anyone to befriend with me. I don’t know what obsession she had with me. Her overprotective attitude and too much interference in my life had irritated me a lot. On one hand mom’s behavior was creating anger issues in me and her caused loneliness was pushing me in depression while on other hand, there was one more thing which had kept me anxious all the time."

"What was that?" Karishma asked curiously.

"I used to feel that someone is calling me and not just calling me, yearning for me. I used to hear someone’s screams. Not only this, I used to feel as if….as if I had lost a part of my soul,” Drowned in her thoughts, Haseena was trying hard to explain her feelings with right words while on the other hand, Karishma’s breath had stuck in her throat as she was understanding the meaning of her words.

“On some days, I used to feel extremely happy as if it was a very special occasion but as much as I try, I never remembered anything except a black and white figure of a giggling human. While on other days, I used to see that same black and white figure crying and calling my name. I wasn’t able to understand what was happening to me.

Initially, it was all in my dreams but later on it came out of my dreams. As the time was progressing, not only I had started visualizing that blurry black and white figures but also I used to feel its happiness, sadness, restlessness, anger and cheery moods in its aura.

Whether I was asleep or awake, working or resting, all my days and nights were occupied by that mysterious aura. I wasn’t understanding what it was and why I feel it, on top of that I had no one, no friends or family to share my problems and feelings except mom. So, I did what every child would do, I had told this to mom.

Contradictory to her usual self, she was very keen this time. She asked me numerous questions, got me examined with the best psychologist of the town. She gave me impression that she was trying her best to solve my problem but whenever I asked her what had happened to me or what that psychologist had told her, she never gave me the answer. Instead, she suddenly opened many new business ventures on my name and intentionally increased my workload to manifolds.

Karishma, i can’t even describe in words…..I was the only hier of Malik enterprises but I used to feel like her mercenary or some kind of slave…..dozens of files used to reside my desk, then five to six meetings every day for consultation of all those ventures, on top of that she wasn’t letting me hire managers for them. When I asked her the reason why she is doing all of this, she made excuse of finances. You know even this much workload wasn’t helping in fading that aura. It was beyond my tolerance capacity. I can’t bear her nonsense any more, I can’t let her use me like her puppet, so I decided to take my life in my hands.

I visited finance department and got to know that she was lying to me regarding finances. It took no time for me to understand that she did all this purposely. My anger rose to new heights.

That was the first time, employees of Malik enterprises had seen my wrath. I unleashed a havoc there, confronted mom and announced that i will no longer handle business.

Immediately, i booked an appointment with an unbiased psychiatrist and shared my problem with her as by then I was sure that only a psychologist can explain what's happening with me.

Then she told me that it was related to my forgotten life, that it was my strong love for someone special in my past whom my mind had forgotten but my soul had not. I had lost my soul mate and whatever I was feeling and visualizing was because of my yearning and restlessness for her. That day I got a direction for my lost life, a destination, a ray of hope in my dark and deserted life. I named it Crescent and pledged myself that I will find my crescent.”

Drowned in her own memories, a smile was lingering on Haseena’s lips and tears were continuously making their way down to her cheeks as she was telling about her soulmate. Her love filled voice and facial expressions were truly depicting her yearning soul for her crescent.
Karishma did not need any complicated algorithm to understand that her Haseena’s crescent was none other Karishma herself. At one moment, she was crying at her Haseena’s pain and the other moment she was smiling widely at the fact that they were connected through souls and her Haseeena had never forgotten her. Sitting behind her, hiding her face in her palms, Karishma was trying hard to hide her plethora of emotions from Haseena. Not only her jealousy had flown away but also she was feeling goosebumps all over her body. She was not understanding whether she should dance or mourn.

Something struck Haseena’s mind, “Wait….stay here….i’ll be right back!!” she blurted excitedly and ran inside. “M…my Haseena….she…she had not forgotten me….her…soul….our….soul…is connected…i….i am…I am her crescent…..My….my Haseena….she….she went against me for me…..she…was…she was ready to risk her life in my search…..i…My…Haseena…” sitting on her knees, folding her legs, she said this out loud to herself with tears streaming down endlessly from her eyes and a wide smile lingering on her lips, trying to make herself believe the truth. 
“Karishma…look…” her voice trailed off as she reached there holding her video camera in her hand.

“Karishma??” she asked unable to understand the reason behind her devastated state.

“Without seeing, without knowing, how can you love someone so unconditionally that you are ready to sacrifice everything you have, for her?”

All the worry lines wiped away from her face and with a peaceful smile on her face, she walked towards Karishma, sat infront of her, wiped her tears from her both eyes and added, “My mind doesn’t remember anything about crescent but my soul has never forgotten her. Perhaps, I don’t know anything about her but in all these years I have realized that crescent must be more important to me than my existence.”

Karishma was so overwhelmed by her words that she could not hold herself and started crying heavily. Haseena misunderstood her tears and immediately folded her hands in front of her. She added with bowed head, “Karishma, this is true that it was you who had revived Haseena Malik not crescent. It is true that you holds very special place in my heart. It is true that your pain is unbearable to me. It is true that I can do anything for you but above all the biggest truth is that Crescent has the first and foremost right on Haseena Malik…..Please forgive me….please…” Haseena was sure that Karishma will be very angry and hurt upon finding someone else’s importance in her life. However she doesn’t want to lose Karishma. Her heart was thudding in her chest out of fear as she was waiting for her to say something, with bowed head.

Otherside, Karishma was feeling herself very close to her old Haseena. She hadn’t felt anything like this for years so, she wanted to enjoy that moment to her heart’s fill. “You had an accident and you forgot your so called crescent that’s why you are unable to find her but she doesn’t forget you,  she doesn’t have any accident, then why she has never tried to approach you? You are dying for someone who never bothered to look back at you, such a traitor!! Crescent had betrayed your friendship!!” Karishma was intentionally provoking her to enjoy her importance and praise from her Haseena’s mouth however it backfired.

“Karishma!!!” Haseena at once shouted loudly glaring her with blazing red eyes shocking Karishma to her core. Next moment her anger turned into tears and she started sobbing out of sheer helplessness, “This question had sucked all my sanity….However, I am certain about one thing that my crescent had not betrayed me….there must be something….in fact, I think…. She must be angry on me….i….i must have done something….something that angered her so much that she not only broke all her ties with me but also hid herself from me…..Karishma, I…I wish….I wish….just for once….she came infront of me…..just once….i….i will beg her for forgiveness…..if she wanted, I would bow in her feet also….but…i…. i wanted her to be with me….  Karishma, please! I beg you….not to say anything about her….and…i…am sorry I had shouted on you….” She paused and then hit her fist hard on the marbeled floor in sheer frustration, “Truth is that I need both of you….neither I will be able to survive without you nor without Crescent….. but….now…now I am sure you will leave me….” She added and then started crying heavily.

Seeing her breaking apart so terribly, Karishma at once scooped her in her arms and started patting her back, “I am sorry, I shouldn’t have badmouthed your crescent. Infact you don’t have to worry anymore about Crescent because I….” suddenly something struck her mind and she stopped.

“No, I can’t blurt out the truth just like that. Her mental condition is not good and this will pressurize her,” thinking this she changed her statement, “you don’t worry, I am with you and together we will search for your crescent,” she said softly while kissing her forehead. “Promise?” Haseena asked forwarding her hand. “Promise.” Karishma responded giving her hand in hers and added, “Crescent is very lucky that someone loves her so much. In fact I am also very lucky that I have such a friend who is so dedicated and commited towards her friends.” Haseena finally smiled in its response and hugged her.

“Do you want to see my video diary?” she asked excitedly and got an equally enthusiastic reply, “Of course.” “Let’s go inside, I’ll show you everything in room.” haseena said while dragging her inside.

Haseena climbed upon her bed, “come on, Hurry up, though I had decided that I will show this video diary only to Crescent but you are an exemption.” Karishma chuckled at her statement and settled herself near her on the bed, her head on haseena’s shoulder and her eyes fixed on the camera which was about to unfold her Haseena’s yearnings for her.
“That day, after leaving pcychologist office, I shot very first video for Crescent,” Karishma nodded and Haseena played the video.

“A…Hello….I am…” she paused took a deep breath and added, “how silly I am, I was about to introduce myself to the one who knows me more than myself. I had been living a lost and dark life for last three years. But today I got my destination, my focal point. You are like a lighthouse for my life’s ship, my ray of hope……Crescent, yes my crescent…I will call you my crescent.”

A sweet smile appeared on Karishma’s lips hearing the reason behind the name crescent. At that moment Haseena looked at her and smiled.

I had never realized the importance of memories until I lost them. So many questions haunt me all the time but I can’t do anything. All these years, I had felt you as close as to be able to feel you and as far as not to be able to see you and touch you. I wonder what kind of relationship we must have shared that even after forgetting myself completely i am yearning for you? Do you also love me like I do to you?”

Karishma smiled and thought to herself, “Yes, Haseena, I love you as much as you love me and we both are yearning for each other because our bond is stronger than diamond and deeper than ocean trench.”

“Wait…but am I the only one who love you because if you love me then you would not have left me alone. Is it possible that the deepest emotion I am feeling for you is one-sided?”

“No….it’s not true…our bond was never one-sided,” Karishme thought to herself feeling agitated and at once looked at Haseena who was busy staring at the screen.

“But on the other hand, I don’t believe that an emotion like love can strengthen its roots this deep without being reciprocated. But then what could be any possible explaination…..” sudeenly something struck her mind and her eyes popped out and her face went pale, “Have I done anything wrong to you? Are you angry on me that’s why you are not coming to me…. If this is true then too how can you snatch my right to mollify you and to seek forgiveness from you?” a couple of tears rolled down her eyes.

Karishma’s heart broke seeing them and her own eyes get wet, “No….how can Karishma be angry on her Haseena?” she thought to herself.

Suddenly Haseena’s eyes turned red and she uttered while gritted teeth, “Mom….surely she knows everything…..i….i need to confront her. Today she had to answer me or I will ruin everything,” with that the first video ended.

“That’s it, it’s the end of my story. It’s late we must sleep as we have to go to Police Station tomorrow.” suddenly closing her camera, Haseena added while climbing down the bed and stealing glances from her.

“Please no more hiding. Let me in, you will feel light. Please!” Karishma stopped her by holding her wrist.
“there is nothing left except darkness….” Haseena responded in hoarse voice facing her back to her.

“I want to be with you always, be it light or dark,” Karishma’s determined voice compelled Haseena to complete the tale.

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