By Your Side

Clingy and Chaotic

KS- Acha Santu kya case chal raha hai Station mai?

SS- Maddam, kal ek bhut bada scandal hua hai. Ek aadmi hai jisne crores ka ghotala Kiya hai aur bhag Gaya. DSP Sir ne iss case ko humare thane mai handover Kiya hai.

KS- Kaisa gothala Santu?

SS- Madam nakli estate ka buisness tha uska, sabse paise lekar zameen ki nakli registery Kara kar paise lekar gayab ho jaata tha. Saath hi saath Illegal alcohol supply karta tha, aur bhi Naa jaane kitne illegal kaam the.

KS- Toh yeh sab samne kaise aaya?

SS- Ek unknown source se video viral hua hai, news channel ne play Kiya aur fir jitni information mili sab telecast kardiya. Maddam isne inn 5-6 saalon mai unginat logon ke saath fraud Kiya hai. Acha hua finally iska chehra samne aaya.
Ohh Maine toh iska naam hi nai bataya, Rakesh Tiwari.
Hume isse dhundhna hai.

A glass spills water all over the table as it hits it. Santosh and Karishma glance at the Samaira. It seems that Samairaa slipped the glass due to the sabji gravy.

SV- Hehe Sorry woh kaafi pyaas lag rahi thi.
Waise Leader jab yeh case hume mila hai toh thaane jakar dekh Lena naa, abhi itni kharab tabiyat mai case mat dekho please. Hainaa Santosh Sharma?

SS- Yes Maddam, please iske baare Mai filhaal mat sochiye. Parso se toh joining hai naa tab dekh Lena.

KS- Ama hum theek hai.

SS- Nai, aap meri baat nai maanegi, apni Santu ki baat nai manegi?

Karishma sighs as Santosh gives her the most innocent look in his eyes. She couldn't help but be drawn to those awe-in beautiful, and demanding eyes.

KS- Thik hai, bas Santu hume yeh case ke saari details chahiye kal Tak. Yeh Rakesh hume kuch sahi nai lag raha.

SS- Very good.

Santosh gives a cheerful smile to Karishma.

SS- Maddam ek request hai.

KS- Tum kabse request karne lagi Santu, bolo kya chahiye.

SS- Kuch logon ki vajah se aur Kai vajah se aap aaj kal mere saath Kam time spend kar rahe ho, toh Mai aapke saath aaj ruk jaun?

Samairaa chokes on her paneer bite as Santosh speaks the first line a little too loudly without pointing but pointing at her. Samairaa smiles at the person who is older than her in age but less mature while nodding incredulously.

SV(whispers)- Yun hi nai har koi inhe sighade khaane ko kehta hai.

KS- Thik hai waise bhi hum tumhe kitna miss kar rahe the Santu hum bhi..........

Nai jaante.

Karishma chuckles as Santosh scowls. Samairaa laughs out loud and turns to face the two persons who were sternly glaring at her. She then coughs and turns her back to them once more to resume eating. Karishma bows her head as she considers how two children had taken up her space.

KS- Chalo Santu khana Khao.

Santosh nods like a child, and when she reaches over the plate to tear a piece of naan, she unintentionally presses the plate from one side, causing the entire thing to tumble from the bed to the floor while the paneer sauce spilled all over Santosh's clothes and Karishma's blanket.

Santosh was looking down defeatedly when Samaira and Karishma turned to sympathise with her. Santosh is looking at her Senior with watery eyes and a disappointed expression.

SV- Hehe luckily maine quantity jayda mangai thi, aap dusre plate mai kha lo, mai tab tak isse saaf karaun.

Samairaa runs away from the room.

SS- Maddam!

KS- Kuch nai hota Santu ek kaam Karo, jao udhar se khana Lao aur humari plate mai daalo.

SS- Aap ko  teesra naan khana hai?

KS- Ama jhadhbuddhi jo bola hai woh Karo Naa. Pyaar ki baat samajh hi nai aati tumhe.

SS- Sorry Sorry.

Santosh serves the dish to Karishma.

KS- Ab baitho aur khao humare haath se. Chalo muh kholo.

Santosh opens her mouth, Karishma keeps a hand below her chin and then feeds to Santosh.
As Santosh savored the first bite of the flavorful Shahi Paneer, she was transported back to her mother's kitchen and the comforting flavors of home. It wasn't just the taste but the genuine care that Karishma had put into the first bite that touched her heart.

KS- Chalo firse muh kholo.

SS- Maddam mai ab nai giraungi.

KS- Ama muh kholo, hum nai chahte tum firse humara bistar kharab Karo, samjhi?
Chalo muh kholo aaaaa

Santosh's eyes misted with tears, not of sadness but of gratitude and a deep sense of belonging. The weight of homesickness that had burdened her heart was momentarily lifted. In that shared meal, the barriers of rank and hierarchy disappeared, leaving only a genuine connection between two officers who had each other's backs.
Karishma continued to feed her partner, one bite at a time, and in that simple act, a powerful connection was forged. It was a bond of sisterhood that went beyond their roles as police officers. Karishma became not just a superior but a confidante, an elder sister in a city far from Santosh's hometown.

KS- Chalo yeh toh ho gaya, tumhara pet bhara?

SS- Pet aur dil dono bhar aaya Maddam, kaafi dino baad Aisa laga mai ghar Mai hun. Bhale hi yeh hospital ka room hai, par aapke paas reh kar mujhe mere Ghar jaisa ahsaas ho gaya.

Karishma cups her face, a knock is heard at the door. A house staff enters the room with a mop and his partner enters with a new set of bedsheet and covers. Karishma and Santosh moves aside from the bed and let the workers clean the mess.

KS- Samairaa kahan reh gayi?

SS- Bahar hongi, mai call karun?

KS- Nai, aa jayegi thodi der mai. Woh jayda der Tak bahar reh nai sakti.

SS- Kyu?

KS- Ussey Bijli karcha karne ka bhut shauk hai, jab dekho tab AC ke samne baithi rehti hai. Kitne baar mana Kiya hai, tab bhi nai maanti. Kya kare hum uska.

SS- Simple hai, AC ka power cut kardo.

KS- Waah Santu kya idea Diya hai, par tumhe nai lagta power cut se wapas on karna aaj kal sabke liye aasan hai.

SS- Ohh Haan.

KS(aside)- Kaa hoga tumhara Santu.