Snippets of Madam Sirr (S1)

Chapter 5

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On her way to the MPT, SS stopped at a tea stall. She wanted to gather her thoughts, steady herself before meeting the team. She knew that everyone acted happy for her but that they were all suffering deep down. She herself was still feeling the bitter sting through and through.

As she sipped the tea, she floated down the memory lane. Her eyes rested on her first day of duty when she joined as a constable. Back then it was only KS and Pushpa Ji. She almost laughed as she remembered their "saas-bahu" fights that always took the tension off the MPT. She went down a little further and saw how KS taught her everything she knew. Bravery, courage and determination to be a police officer. Her eyes caught on a little moment when the tough KS broke down and consoled SS after an extremely difficult case. She sighed, her breath forming a halo around her. She wiped the lone teardrop that dropped down. She shifted again. Puspha Ji, she was a mother to her. She had on all occasions made her feel loved and welcomed. SS recalled the grave moment when a bomb had been tied on Puspha Ji's body. SS had never feared anything like that.

It was getting difficult to keep her memories in check, her mind floating towards the past, stopping at specific checkpoints. She reminiscence about her past with Cheetah, how she would get annoyed at his dialogue "Uff ye masumiyat" and how that turned into her favorite line. She recalled how she had proposed to Cheetah in front of their MPT after Cheetah had saved her life. The tea was now getting cold. SS had no intention to finish it. She continued to walk down the memory lane. What could she even say about Madam Sir, she thought. She had become SS's inspiration in a brief time. She laughed as she thought back to how she saved her Madam Sir's life.

She scrolled her mind to be fixed on the present. She kept the tea cup aside as she stood up to leave, her footsteps, hollow and empty. She had an idea. She knew how to bid goodbye. She knew what she had to do.

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Everything was made ready for the party, the decorations, the food and the venue all in perfect sync with each other. Everyone at the MPT worked hard, breaking off in hives of sweat. They all wanted to make this day special for SS.

Haseena noted that the air around was bitter-sweet. Everyone was working but it lacked something. Their cheerfulness and playful banter. Haseena couldn't think back to a time when the MPT ever looked like this. Everyone pondering and wondering, hiding out their thoughts.

As SS arrived, everyone took their places, hiding in odd spaces to surprise her. They all jumped out at once, freaky Halloween decorations yelling "SURPRISE!" SS couldn't believe it. All the members stood to one side pointing their hands to the center of the room where a lovely stand was made with a big banner and balloons. She also saw a cake and other snack lying around on the table. She stared at what stood in front of her, her heart deflating as a balloon, tears vowing to spill out.

KS stepped forward and tapped her on the arm. "Santuu...there's only one order for today", she said. SS looked at her, arching her eyebrows. "No crying."

KS hugged her with one arm as she led her to the center. Together they cut the cake, sharing not only a slice of cake but also a slice of memories, everyone fighting to remain composed, struggling not to dislodge the bullets of tears.

A song started on a speaker hidden in one of the corners. SS recognized it immediately, her strength waning as her ears fell on the track of "Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna." She breathed, forcing herself to remain calm as the whole team swooped her up and danced all around. It wasn't long before they fell into their old routine.

Haseena watched from the sidelines, the floodgates of her heart brewing to spill. She smiled looking at her team and how happy they were. These were the times that she wished for as both their senior and a member of their family. Haseena knew that the team had known SS long before her and she could clearly see it today. The love. The friendship. The unity.