Hi everyone, I hope you are doing good. Today, I am going to publish last three parts of this story back to back. So, enjoy.

Outside Pushpa ji was standing beside her senior who was watching a recording on her mobile.

“Sir it’s the recording of the camera at the gate of the building, luckily it had captured the compound. You can see that when Karishma reached the compound, a shoe had fallen from above which alerted the girl. In another camera of the college, a suspicious man can be seen who had hidden his face in hoodie and left the building at the same time.” Pushpa ji finished and glared at Mrs. Malik who was fuming in anger.

“Hmm… that means this girl is innocent. She was just trying to save her. Don’t worry, Mrs. Malik, I will catch this man. Let’s go.” Mrs. Malik nodded at him slightly.

He moved towards the exit of the hospital along with Pushpa ji and Babita ji.

Pushpa ji was glancing at the closed doors of the operation theater inside which Karishma was going through havoc of her loved one’s death. Her heart was pushing her to be with her; she stepped towards the operation theater.

“Pushpa Singh!! our job here has been finished. We are leaving right now.” The senior officer ordered sternly.

“But sir…” Pushpa ji tried to request him but was interrupted loudly and rudely.

“If you want to be her mother then I can free you from your duty by suspending you.”

“No Sir, I am sorry.” Compelled by him, Pushpa ji left the hospital too.

Just as they left, Mrs. Malik got the news of Haseena’s miraculous revival, “Congratulations, madam malik. your daughter has been saved… “

“Really? Are you telling the truth?” She asked surprised.

“Of course, her brain has started responding again.” The doctor was giving her the news joyously.

“Thank you.” Mrs. Malik thanked him.

“No, no… don’t thank me… it happened just because of this innocent girl… we had lost hope but she hadn’t… she had revived her.” Doctor added, looking at Karishma admiringly.

Karishma’s eyes were glued to Haseena through the glass mirror, oblivious of their discussion behind her.

…

Two hours later, Karishma was sitting on the stool beside Haseena’s bed holding her hand in her both hands. Her eyes were glued to Haseena’s face; pale, expressionless and devoid of life.

"Why is she not waking up?" Haseena's state was unbearable for Karishma. She asked the junior doctor, desperately with breaking voice.

"Very soon she will. However, I will advise you to be strong because there are high chances that she might lose her memories." He notified him and left the room to check other patients.

Karishma was left behind stunned, and once again fresh set of tears streamed out of her eyes.

"How can you forget me Haseena?" She whispered, even inaudible to herself as she was caressing Haseena's hairs lovingly.

"Am I separate from you?" She forced words out of her throat and choked.
Wiping her tears that were blurring the view of her Haseena, she bend on Haseena and said in her ears, " I am you and you are me... How can he say that you will not remember me? Wake up and tell him that he is wrong." Unable to stabilize her voice and emotions, She ended up choking on her tears, again.

Placing her head on Haseena's hands, she started sobbing silently while her mind went in the memory lane of the wonderful time they had spent together.

"Karishma you are crying baby and that too for their friendship. Why buddy? Is my friendship insufficient for you? Come on, stop crying, I promise I will love you so much that you will not feel the need of any one else's love."

…

"Haseena, Haseena look my hands are in pain and I am feeling a headache too. Can you please do my homework also please please.." 

"huh!! Drama queen. I have no problem doing your homework but then remember at the time of the test I will make sure that you practice this question twice."

"come on Haseena, you are sounding like teacher Nitya. Fine. I will do it myself."

…

"Sorry na baba, how many sit ups do I have to do? I am tired."

"that you have to think before eating whole ice cream by yourself. You didn't share with me now bear the consequences."

"but you have sore throat, ice cream can be harmful for you."

" I don't know. That was my favorite ice cream and I wanted to relish that."

...

"Ms. Singh, Mrs. Malik and the doctor are waiting for you outside." Nurse's voice startled her. She slowly nodded at her in response.

"Haseena, wake up soon. This pain is now unbearable. You have always been my pain reliever and problem solver. Do it this time too. Please wake up and tell them that you can never forget your Karishma." Karishma whispered in her ears, kissed her forehead and allowed the drop of tear to fall there. She kept her lips there for a little longer and then left the room. Just as she left, Haseena's fingers moved and her eyes flickered.

...

"Mrs. Singh. By Haseena's reports it is confirmed that she has lost her memory. And it will be better if we keep her away from all those persons and things that could trigger her memories. The part of the brain which controls memories has become very weak in Haseena's case. Even slightest of pressure can push her to the state of coma or can even claim her life." Doctor told her straight forward.

"Look Karishma, you have to go away from her life. In no way I can risk her health." Mrs. Malik added ruthlessly
"If I can trigger her memories then you can too. And if your presence is not harmful then how come mine is. " Karishma fought back at the very next moment as losing Haseena was unimaginable for her.

"I promise I won't try to tell her past but please let me be with my Haseena. I can not live without her. If not as her friend, keep me as her caretaker but please... Let me be...." Karishma pleaded by folding her hands; she was willing to go to any length to save her life.

"I think we can test whose presence is harmful for Haseena and whose not."  Despite receiving death galre from Mrs. Malik, doctor could not see Karishma's devastated state and gave a hope to her.

"Really, how? I am ready for this test. I know I can not be harmful to my Haseena. I can never think of harming her," Karishma's wet eyes instantly shone.

"first check my effect."  Mrs. Malik at once added. Doctor stared at her for a moment but nodded agreeing to her.

…

Mrs. Malik's presence was tested by the doctor and Haseena was calm all this while. Karishma who had witnessed all this by her eyes, knew she has to go next. She was sure that she can not be harmful for Haseena but still she was feeling extremely afraid and restless.

Karishma stepped at the doorstep of Haseena, who looked at her for a brief moment and closed her eyes.

Suddenly, her heart rate started getting abnormal; She started sliding backwards and shouting and throwing things towards the door.

"I am so sorry. Ms. Singh but you have seen just by getting a glimpse of you she became so violent. Your presence is risky for Haseena Malik." Doctor added plainly and the nurse dragged a very shocked Karishma away from Haseena’s room.

"Promise me Karishma. You will never come in front of my daughter." Mrs. Malik added by crossing her arms to her chest.

"I promise I will never come in front of her. I will never risk her life with my presence." Tears were streaming endlessly from her eyes as she forced the words out of her mouth.

With that blank-faced Karishma dragged herself out of the hospital, walking aimlessly on the road. For her life ended at that moment. All she could feel was hopelessness and darkness.

"Haseena you were my journey and you were my destination too. You were my passion and you were my aim. When you are not with me then what's the purpose of this life." Karishma whispered to herself, shouted loudly, "Haseenaaaaaaaa!!!!" and started wailings loudly.

Her eyes fell on the speedy truck, she stood up, stumbling on her feet and walked to the center of the road. Before the truck could hit her, two strong arms had pulled her to the side, "Are you out of your mind. What were you intending to do?" Pushpa ji who was walking by at once pulled her towards herself.

"Leave me, I want to die. I don't want to live any more. Leave me!! I said leave me!!" Karishma was shouting and pulling herself out of her hold.

"No, I won't let you." Pushpa ji added strictly and dragged her towards her home with great difficulty.

Flashback ends

Shorya was unable to see Haseena’s face as she was sitting giving her face in her palms.

He was unable to understand if he should stop narrating further or continue to do so. “Aa… Has… Haseena… y… you… are you alright?” He was afraid of her reaction.

“How did she spend the next ten years?” She raised her head; her eyes were as red as a monster; her face had the expressions of pain as if she was being dragged through the bed of thorns; her voice was scary enough to shake Shorya to his core.

He gulped and started, “When Amma took her home, That night I had seen her for the first time and I fell for her then and there despite of her distorted self.” He suddenly got lost in the beauty of his wife.

Haseena stared at his sly smiling face, and suddenly she scrunched her nose irritatedly. The next instant she picked up the water glass and emptied it on his face.

“Ahhh!!” He jumped up at the sudden on-slaught, not able to understand the reason behind such reaction.

“What the hell?” He shouted and looked at Haseena who opened her mouth and pointed her fingers to warn him. However, surprisingly, she did not say anything and calmed herself down as if realizing something, and added, “Aa… Next, what happened after that?”

“Her condition was not stable so I admitted her to the hospital. We had to keep her under heavy medication because the moment she woke up, she used to harm herself with whatever she could access. Me and my seniors tried everything we could but there was absolutely no progress and with our limited expenses we were unable to bear heavy fees of the hospital. You cannot even imagine her state. She was like maniac. Either she remains under heavy dose of sedatives or screeming and wailing." Tears started streaming down from shorya's eyes who was facing Haseena's back.

He paused, unable to tell more. Visuals from the past were giving him immense pain, "I don't know what kind of relation was that. I am not saying that her friend didn't loved her as much as Karishma did. However, that friendship had caused my Karishma pain that was unbearable, torturous and unending."

Haseena was listening him silently with closed eyes that were unable to stop the flow of her tears. She was bitting her lips as she did not want Shorya to listen her sobs. She had clasped her hands in front of her so tightly as if wanting to crush the bones of her hands.

"Anyways," Shorya sighed deeply, wiped his tears and started again, "Amma decided to take her home. Almost a year passed but, the only progress we  made was that she no longer tried to harm herself. May be she got tired of trying to end her life and failing. She used to be as silent as dead. Otherside, society had started questioning us about her. They used to badmouth her and our family. Amma decided to shut their mouths by making me marry her. All this while, my love for her had only grown but I don’t want to do anything without her knowledge. I decided to talk to her about the proposal. I told her that I want to marry her. That day, she spoke for the first time. Me and Amma were on cloud nine that day. However, she said that she doesn't want to ruin my life by marrying me. It was difficult to convince her but she finally agreed to marry me. I married her and gradually she started opening up with me. I started treating her traumas slowly. Amma pushed her to resume her studies but she refused. She has developed a phobia from educational institutions. So, she has given her exams privately. I wanted her to be self-sufficient. We made her join the Police force and that proved the best as it helped us a lot in bringing her back to life. Those ten years were not easy, there were horrific nights filled with nightmares, social alienation, silence, and many more. I was able to improve some things and failed to do others.” His voice was painful and tears were flowing from his eyes endlessly.

“I want to be alone for a while.” Haseena gulped as her throat dried, and added forcefully. She dragged herself towards the fence and hold it to avoid falling. Shorya nodded and left from there.

The moment she heard the closing of the glass door of the balcony her hands which were supporting her body by tightly grasping the railing lost their grip.

Haseena Malik fell down on the tiled floor with a thud and burst into tears, “Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh”

That heart piercing shriek must have reached to the heavens above as clouds thundered, lightning struck terrifically and heavy winds started blowing.

“Why have you done so bad with my Karishma? Why?” she looked up at the sky and shouted loudly. “Her only fault was that she had considered me her everything; My enemies targeted her only because she chose me as her best friend but why did you allow them to do that with her; You are the creator of the universe; you have all the power to stop them; you could erase my Karishma’s pain; when you have taken my memories then you should have taken Karishma’s too; at least she doesn't have to go through so much pain; all my life I have bowed in front of you; all I ever prayed for was my Karishma and her happiness but you have not protected her from pain.” Her eyes were red, face was drenched in tears, breathing was abnormal, and she was staring at the sky with pain, anger and disappointment.

“As you have not answered my whole life’s prayers so, now I will never ask you anything,” her anger and Karishma’s sufferings were making her lose her sanity. 

Each and every word of Shorya was moving in front of her eyes like a reel depicting Karishma's pain in all these years, “My Karishma!!” She was repeating the name, and her wailing was continuously increasing, heart beat was abnormally high and her breathing was heavy.

Haseena closed her eyes to stop the flashes, put her both hands on her ears to stop listening to Karishma’s cries and wailings, but nothing worked. The weight on her chest was continuously increasing. All her memories with Karishma from childhood till that unfateful day and Shorya's words about Karishma had lit each and every bit of her soul on fire.

The pain Karishma had felt in these ten years was being felt by Haseena at that moment with twice intensity. The next instant she started slapping herself, hard and fast, by her both hands. Her cheeks were stinging and red with pain and rashes but that felt nothing in front of the fire burning with in herself.

She stood up, stumbling through the furniture, doors, walls, tables and sofas, she reached to Karishma who was sleeping peacefully under the effect of medicines.

Haseena sat down beside her bed on the floor, held Karishma's hand in her both hands and kissed it multiple times. Fresh set of tears had already made their way to her cheeks stinging more because of the rashes there due to previous slapping.

Haseena stood up on her knees, cupped Karishma’s face and showered her with numerous kisses, wetting Karishma’s face with her tears.

"I want to give you twice the happiness than the pain you have been feeling for the last ten years. However, I don't know if I will ever be able to do that..." She bent forward and once again placed a soft kiss on Karishma's forehead.

"I... I am sorry. I loved you, pampered you, protected you, guided you but I made myself a center point of your life. I tried to become all those relations you ever missed in your life and when you got completely dependent on me, I left you alone in this cruel world. I never wanted this to happen. I am sorry Karishma for breaking all my promises." She placed her head on Karishma’s hand and sobbed.

"It is all my fault that you had to bear so much pain behind me. I never thought to teach you to make new relations, to snatch your rights, to fight for yourself and to survive on your own. Since my childhood I thought I was loving you. I never thought that my love is a curse for you in reality. I broke you so much that you wanted to die. What if Pushpa ji would not have been there. What if Pushpa ji and Shorya Bhai decided to give up on you? What if Mrs. Malik would have decided to take your life instead of just sending you away."  Haseena's condition was devastated at these thoughts; her whole body was shivering and she had tightly clenched Karishma in her hold.

Few minutes later, she remembered something and dragged herself out of the villa. There was a heavy storm, thundering clouds and lightning but nothing was able to stop Haseena. Karishma has overpowered her senses.

Her worsening health, dangerous night, rainy streets, ignoring everything she was running, falling, standing up and then running again. Her clothes were wet and muddy, her body was shivering but all she was feeling was Karishma’s pain and sufferings.

At last she reached the hill- the very site that was the witness of their precious bond; the hill on which they had celebrated fidteen anniversaries of their friendship together. Her eyes fell on a row of ten beautifully bloomed plants of pink flowers. She slowly walked closer to them.

Drops of rain were sliding down from their petals and falling on their roots; showing Haseena how much Karishma had longed for her.

Haseena fell down on the ground near the flowers and caressed them, “Pink Camellia” She whispered as a special memory related to these flowers hit her.

FLASHBACK STARTS

(Refer to Glimpses of the past -3 in which Karishma told Shorya about Haseena's three months visit to Delhi for business purposes. Following will be Haseena's side of the story. How she spent three months without Karishma)

Sitting in front of Karishma, Haseena started nervously, “Am… Karishma… I… I want to tell you something.”

“Then say it, since when you started hesitating in front of me.”

“Since Abu’s death, Mom has been handling everything single handedly. Yesterday she told me that many people are trying to ruin the business even our most trustworthy people have got caught in some discrepancies. That’s why she wanted a trustworthy supporting hand in business. So……” She paused.

“So… so what?” Karishma asked impatiently while her heart was thudding in her chest.

“So, she wants me to join her.” she added and paused again.

Karishma sighed relieved and added, “You scared me Haseena…..what’s the issue in it… you must help her save your father’s empire.”

“For that I have to go with her on a three month business tour to Delhi…….tonight!!!” Haseena added dropping bombshell on Karishma.

Not able to hold herself, Karishma put her head in Haseena’s lap and started sobbing. Both were sobbing silently when Karishma added, “If it wasn’t about your father, I would have never let you go……..”

Lifting her head from her lap she wiped Haseena’s tears and added, “I know you are worried about me…..but don’t be… I… I… I will… manage these three months…”

“Are you sure?” Haseena asked softly cupping her face in her palms to which Karishma nodded slightly trying to suppress her sob but failed miserably.

Engulfing each other in a tight hug they cried heavily and stayed in each other’s arms for a long time soaking warmth and peace for living without each other for the first time and that too for three months.

…

It's the fourth day of Haseena’s business trip, and she was feeling distraught and homesick. Sitting on the couch in her mother's office, a file in her hand, eyes glued to Karishma's photo frame, Haseena was immersed in deep thoughts.

"Haseena, It's been six hours and you haven't finished that file. Come on, there are still a dozen left for you to read before making the proposal. I am seeing from last two days you are too distracted. If this is going to continue you will never be able to do this," Mrs. Malik scoffed at her, and it brought Haseena to present.

She flipped through the pages of the file in her hand then glanced at the pile of files on the table. She closed the file with a deep sigh, "Mom, I can't do anything like this. I am missing Karishma alot. Whenever I open a file, the only thing that keeps coming to my mind is that how Karishma would have been doing there alone. Please mom, try and understand, we are not used to live without each other."

"Crap!!" Her mother rolled her eyes on her causing a drop of tear to roll down from the corner of Haseena's eyes helplessly.

"Please, mom, Karishma is my strength. All my successes till today are because of Karishma, her inspiring words, and her belief in me. Karishma's smile is the only thing which has motivated me to be better. How am I supposed to focus, when I know that my Karishma has to bear the pain of longing because of me. At least give me my phone, please mom, let me talk to her."  Haseena pleaded to her mother with tear stricken face.

Haseena's words had angered Mrs. Malik, she gets up from her chair, and walked to Haseena with angry intimidating steps. Upon reaching right at her head, she responded with gritted teeth, "It's not Karishma because of whom you succeed but because of the skills and abilities you got from me. Your inability to do anything is the evidence that Karishma is nothing but a blood sucking leech for you who has made you completly worthless. You will neither leave this room nor will get to talk to Karishma until you will give me a good proposal and that too in next 48 hours. If not then you will never be able to see Karishma again. Remember the deal! You will bring the business back in top 5 in next three months if not then I will make sure that Karishma's parents can not earn a single loaf of bread in Luckhnow; I will force them to leave Luckhnow with Karishma forever."  With that she stormed out of the cabin leaving a devastated Haseena behind.

Giving her head in her hands, Haseena was sobbing loudly. "Why mom is doing this with me? Abu, you left me alone, now look mom is free to separate me from my Karishma?" She was complaining to the large photo frame of her father while shedding heavy tears.

"I cannot live without Karishma. I won't let anyone snatch her from me. We have one soul, I know like me, she is also in pain. I have to talk to her." Taking deep breaths, she hurriedly wiped her tears and ran towards the landline of the office.

Whatever number she dialled all were connecting her to reception, "if I give you a number, can you connect me to it, please!!" She almost begged the receptionist.

"Sorry mam, I am only allowed to give your message to Mrs. Malik."

"Damn it!!" In anger, Haseena threw the phone to the wall.

"You can't rule me like this, mom." She shouted enraged and leapt towards the door only to find it locked.
It break her completely and she fell down dejectedly, there only, by the door of the cabin. Tears were falling in her lap endlessly and she was losing hope bit by bit, however she don't want to give up.

Giving up on Karishma was never an option in her book. She dragged herself to the couch, took a few deep breaths, once again wiped her tears, and opened the file in a desperate attempt to complete the proposal. However, the stress, depression, and exhaustion had blocked her mind. On top of that, tears were streaming from her eyes due to anger, pain and helplessness, hindering her view.
Just then sound of a click caught her attention. She looked at the door with hopeful eyes, only to find the peon. "Kaka?"

"Beta, someone had sent a bouquet for you." Haseena could see genuine concern in his eyes.

She called him in and took the beautiful pink blooms. An envelope  on it grabbed her attention, she detached it and started reading it's content,
"How are you Haseena? Did you like the blooms, Pink Camellia? I know both of us are going through tough times. Living without each other is difficult but we have to win over this difficulty. And the only way to do this is that you have to complete your project. I am sure you must be worried for my wellbeing and that's why I have send you Pink Camellia- flowers which represents love and longing. I am sending these flowers to you to assure you that though I am longing for you but I am taking care of myself and I love you. I know very soon Malik enterprise will be in top most businesses of the country. My Haseena can do anything. From now on, I will use these flowers to inform you that I am doing good and I want you to focus on your business and nothing else. I love you and I miss you- Your best friend Karishma"
A smile lingered on Haseena's lips as she finished reading the letter; she closed her eyes and wiped tears from her eyes, "I love you too Karishma. I promise I won't let you down. Very soon, I will come back to you after getting this business ranked in top companies."

"Beta, Please don't worry, as soon as I will get the opportunity I will make you talk to Karishma." Peon's words surprised Haseena.

He smiled at it and responded, "I was very close to your father so, I know your special bond with your friend."
"Thank you, Kaka. Can you do me a favor?" After days, Haseena smiled genuinely.

"Of course, beta."

Haseena nodded, at once opened her pad, wrote a letter for Karishma and hand it over to him, "Kaka, you have to send the exact same flowers to Karishma with this letter. This is her address." 

"Don't worry, madam Malik, your job will be done."

"Madam Malik?"

"Ofcourse, You are the future of Malik enterprise, Today, I am addressing you with this name, very soon whole world will not only call you by this name but also will bow in front of you." He patted her head, giving her blessings and went away.

FLASHBACK ENDS

"You grew and nurtured these plants with your love and longing for me, and sent it's blooms  to me every year on our friendship anniversary. But what I did? I couldn't even remember their meaning. How can I forgot my Karishma? How much our memories would have tortured her?" Haseena was crawling to each of the ten plants, caressing them and shedding tears on them. Her tears were falling on the roots of the plant, trying to pay homage to Karishma's tears which had watered these roots countless times.

"For last ten years, I am thinking that no one can live a life as painful as mine. The fact is that you have been living in hell of past, I wish I can undo it, I so wish to reverse the wheel of time... I never wanted this to happen." Once again her silent tears turned into loud wailings.

"Karishmaaaaaaaaaa!" She tightly fisted upon the grass beneath her hands and shouted loudly at the top of her voice.

Her loud voice was followed by loud thunder lightning and another burst of heavy rain.

"I failed to protect my Karishma. I failed... My Karishma had gone through all this because of me. I became a curse for her," Mumbling it to herself, with burning body, Haseena was stumbling on the roadside with absolutely no energy, while rain was unstoppable just like Haseena's pain and remorse.

At last, she lost all energy, her head spinned, her foot collided with a stone and she fell down. Just before her head could hit the footpath, two strong muscular arms held her securely.

Click the star button and stay tuned for the last two parts which are on the way...