KAREENA: A Love Story

10. Hashtag KarEena

A/N: YuKi Birthday(s) Isspecial 🙏🏽🎉
____________________________

Since the tiger incident, MPT members were riding high on praises being heaped on them from everywhere. The department arranged for a felicitation ceremony in the presence of the MLA, and World Wildlife Organisation announced a reward for them.

Meanwhile people on the internet had found two new Sheroes — Haseena Mallik and Karishma Singh.

...

'Madam Sir, hashtag KarEena is trending,' Santosh informed them happily.

'Kareena Kapoor ji ki nayi film aa rahi hain?' asked Cheetah.

Santu scrunched her face. 'Uff yeh masoomiyat Cheeteh! Kareena Kapoor nahi, main Madam Sir aur Karishma Madam ki baat kar rahi hu.'

'Proud of you Santu lekin tumhari baat hum bhi nahi samjhe,' said Karishma.

'Arrey Madam, fans ne aap dono ka ship name rakha hain — KarEena. Karishma aur Haseena together — hashtag KarEena!'

Haseena and Karishma looked at each other. Their eyes shined, their hearts raced. The idea of belonging together, even if it was just their names, gave them a sense of such unbridled happiness like they had never felt before.

Meanwhile, Pushpa Ji had still not understood the idea of ship names. 'Ship... matlab jahaaz — mein toh humara lalla kaam karta hain. Madam Sir aur Karishma ji jahaaz ka naam kyun rakhengi bhala?'

'Oho Pushpee yeh woh ship nahi hain! Yeh relationship wala ship hain. Internet pe aise do logo ke relationship ko eksath jodkar ek naam banaya jaata hain. Karishma ka "Kar" aur Haseena ka "Eena" is equals to KarEena. Samjhi??'

'Exactly Santu Ji, jaise aapka aur humara — Cheetosh,' said Cheetah shyly.

Santu ignored him. 'Jaise ki agar mera relationship ho jaye Ranveer Singh ke saath' — (Cheetah stopped smiling) — 'toh humara ship name banega Sanveer ya Rantosh.'

'No Santu ji no, sunne mein hi khansi ka dawai lag raha hain. Hum bata rahe aapko "Cheetosh" se jyada perfect naam nahi milega aapko, aap ek mauka dekar toh dekhiye.'

'ACHHA!' Suddenly Pushpa Ji got excited and shivered all over. 'Lalla ke pappa!!!!'

'Lo aa gaye bina ticket ke,' muttered Karishma.

'Humara matlab hain Lalla ke pappa aur humare jahaaz ka naam kya hoga?' asked Pushpa Ji excitedly.

'Pushpa ka push aur Lalla ke pappa ka pa — pushpa. Aap har haal mein Pushpa hi rahengi.' Karishma commented dryly.

Haseena pursed her lips to control her smile.

Pushpa Ji made a face. 'Aapse kisne puchha? Santu tum yeh batao Karishma ji aur humare Lalla ka jahaaz naam kya hoga?'

Haseena stopped smiling.

Santosh thought hard. 'Hmm Karishma aur Lalla................ Karela!'

Haseena and Karishma both burst out laughing. Even Pushpa Ji's offended look couldn't get them to stop.

...

Karishma Singh was looking for a sign... that could prove that Madam Sir reciprocated Karishma's decidedly more-than-friends wale feelings. One sign that Haseena too wanted to explore their unique bonding beyond what they already had.

Haseena Mallik instead... confused Karishma Singh with her unconscious mixed signals. One moment she looked at Karishma like she wanted to kiss her. Next moment she reeled back and became as professional and restrained as ever.