Snippets of Madam Sirr (S1)

Chapter 5

As the song winded down, SS called everyone to the front. She had a speech in her mind yet had no idea how to execute it. Her eyes gleamed and she saw KS shaking her head, subtly reminding SS of the order.

"I've never had difficulty speaking but today for the first time.....I...I don't have words to say....." she stopped, twining her fingers together. She was shaking, her eyes rotating everywhere. "I came here as a police officer but I leave as a sister, a friend and a lover. I've always felt the MPT as my own home and you all...." she said extending her hands "are my family...."

There was no need to say more. Everyone rushed forward and hugged her, each digging their hearts deep, connecting in silence with each other.

As the party continued, Haseena escaped outside. She wanted to let her tears out, to stop being strong and break down but she stopped herself seeing SS walk towards her. She quickly wiped her eyes and smiled at SS.

"Madam Sir.....I wanted to say thank you", she said, gulping, her eyes glistening with tears. "I've learnt a lot from you and....you madam sir are my inspiration."

Haseena's heart swelled. SS continued. "I'll never forget the way you made me feel madam sir, always as part of a team, a family. You were always with us, silent as a shadow, helping and guiding us....but madam sir, mostly, I look up to as a sister....a sister that I've always wanted but I never had....so thank you madam sir...for everything."

The gates opened and the demons rushed out swallowing both Haseena and SS. SS wiped her eyes and smiled despite her aching heart. She leaned forward, took Haseena's hands and placed something.

Haseena blinked through the tears to see what it was. Her heart gave out, each string snapping in half seeing the photo of them that SS had kept in her hand.

"So that I'll always be with you...." SS said, sniffling to keep her voice steady.

Haseena's gaze wandered from the photo to SS, each reminding her of the memories that she made with her in a short time. Haseena kept the frame to a side and fished a small envelope out of her pocket. She took SS's hands in hers and placed the envelope carefully, her moments slowed down to a halt.

SS immediately wrapped the envelope. It was a magnet ring for her mobile, engraved with the initials of HM and SS. She hugged it close to her heart, closing her mouth with her hand.

"So that you'll always have me..." Haseena said as they hugged. SS was crying, uncontrollable fits of tears.

"And everyone knows that I always have my phone in hand...." She said as they wrapped each other in a fitting hug, their words drowned out by their silence, each embracing in a bond of silent understanding.

Haseena laughed cradling her hair, her eyes damp and moistened. She knew that wherever SS went, she would still be herself and that the MPT would always remain with her.

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KS was pacing outside, stomping her feet on the gravel path. SS looked at her from a distance and almost laughed.

"Karishma Madam!" she called out. KS turned and saw SS rushing towards her, stopping right in front of her.

"Madam.....from the day I joined you helped me to learn and grow staying with me in each step as both a mentor and a sister....I..." she stopped, the tears choking her words.

"Santuuuu" KS growled. "If you make me cry, I'll hit you."

There was no anger in her voice, only sadness. SS laughed and continued. "You made me be a better officer madam and for that...thank you..."

KS stepped forward slapped her on the arm, a little too tight. SS pouted.

"What's this....why are you even thinking of saying thank you?" she asked, lifting her eyes in her usual tempered way. "Santu...you are my family and I'll always help you..."

SS caught KS hands midway and laced her fingers through them before giving her a key tag for her bike. KS looked at it, her eyes swirling with unspent tears. It was similar to the one she had now but it was engraved with both their names. KS knew not how to reply in words so she fished a photo from her pocket.

It was a photo of the MPT, the whole team in uniform. SS needed not to hear any more. She rushed forward and leapt into her arms, KS swooping her off her feet momentarily, crushing her fiercely in a deep bear hug, her love and protective hold seeping through the folds.

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SS crept silently towards Puspha Ji who was sitting silently in a chair. Pushpa Ji almost screamed when she touched her.

"Pushpeeee...." She yelled.

SS knelt near her chair, resting her head on Puspha Ji's knees, looking directly up at her.

'Puspha Ji....you've always been my mother...always been my comfort...always been my strength...." She paused to breathe. "I....I don't know how I'll stay without you."

Puspha Ji was cradling her head. "Aarey Santuuuu....you foolish girl" she said half cross with her. "What do you mean without me...I'll always be there with you." She lifted SS's head, cupping her face. "I'm your mother, Santu."

Puspha Ji handed her a bracelet, a beautiful golden bracelet engraved with her name. She herself wrapped it around SS's hand, raised and kissed her hand. SS gave Puspha Ji a frame, a photo taken during the very first days when SS joined the MPT.

Pushpa Ji stood, lifting SS with her. She cupped her face again. "I'm proud of you Santu."

Santu called out "Pushpeeee..." as they both collided in a massive hug.

Puspha Ji's arms cradled around her back easing the tension off her shoulders as SS relaxed into her touch, releasing her racing worries.

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SS had left the hardest goodbye for the last. Cheetah. The pair walked outside, casually strolling under the moonlight, their hands entangled with each other.

They stopped a little further, standing next to each other, so close that they could feel their breath.

None had words to speak. They remained silent, embracing the increasing warmth between them. SS had taken a decision. She stepped back, fished a box out of her pocket and knelled down.

She took the ring out, holding it with two fingers. Her eyes were teary. She looked at Cheetah.

"Cheetah, will you marry me?" she asked.

Cheetah was dumbfounded, staring at SS in surprise. His body felt numb and paralyzed. He felt as if all words had left his body.

"Say yes will you Cheete..." he heard a voice behind him. It was KS. The entire team followed her and stopped behind them.

Cheetah spun into action, lifting SS up. He pulled her into a deep hug, his tears rocketing outwards. Emotions swirled in his mind. He had been waiting for this moment, yearning to get married to his one and only love.

SS melted in his embrace, resting her head against his chest feeling the vibrations of his heart. She floated away to the warmth of his love, the cherishing nest that she never wanted to leave.

He pulled her back and SS donned his finger with the ring. They hugged again amidst the cheering of their team.

"Eh Cheete....but you didn't say yes..." SS asked.

Cheetah pulled her back, wiping his eyes, running a hand through his hair, stifling his laughter.

"Uff ye masumiyat" he yelled. SS pouted happily. "Yes, Santuuuu...yes" he yelled at the top of his lungs.

As the team embraced another, cherishing the bond of memories with a grim finality, SS understood the meaning of family. They stood there, locked in a long, lingering hug, neither willing to let go.

SS knew that she would always carry the MPT and her family with her. She would never be alone, she knew that. She had found a family and a love that would protect her no matter where she went. SS's heart flapped in joy feeling proud to be a part of the MPT family and proud to carry the legacy of MPT with her.

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