Snippets of Madam Sirr (S1)

Chapter 6

SS and Cheetah were huddled together, grabbing each other for comfort, their hearts swaying in synchronized agony. Madam Sir was not their senior but a member of their own family. A piece of their heart. How could they live without her?

Cheetah ran a hand through his head, touching his hair to fall back into place. He stared at the ceiling, his blurred eyes making messy images on the slanted roof. He could hear SS's labored breathing next to him. He didn't give in to the tears. He balled his fists, piercing his nails deep into his skin. He would honor madam sir's legacy, the only way he knew how.

SS had a whirlwind of emotions rushing past her. She wanted to drop down, hug herself and cry down to each bitter note that now sang in her heart. Instead, she composed herself filling the chasm with her madam sir, with the memories she adorned. She could feel madam sir with her, in her very being. She knew that wherever she was, Haseena madam would always be rooted deep in her heart.

The entire MPT tuned into the blackness, the darkness that now enveloped each and every member as their hearts closed at the fatal touch, reimagining their lives, recalling every second they spent with Haseena. Everyone felt the sting, raw and bitter deep in their hearts. They knew that their lives had been changed forever and would never again be the same.

The cabin door opened and KS walked out, her boots making no noise, hollow and limp. Her heart fractured with each step she took, the edges of it falling away into an abyss. She had forcefully closed the floodgates, forcing herself to be strong. Her heart bit at her like a ticking time bomb, each echo reverberating of the last moments she spent with Haseena. In front of her, the scene unfolded like a waking dream, each sound, each image amplified by her haunting memory. She saw the chasm where Haseena fell. The orange cloud that enveloped her. The boom that closed her chapter.

This is not the time to be emotional, she warned at herself. She failed madam sir. She failed in saving her. She swore to herself that no matter what happens she would avenge her death, even if it was the last thing that she would do. She knew that despite the pain, despite the suffering, she had to stand up, for her team, for her family. That is what Haseena madam would want. Her legs buckled under her weight but she stood firm and walked. KS wouldn't let her die in vain. She would bring her justice, to madam sir, to the MPT and the legacy of family and love that Haseena had installed amongst themselves. As KS walked, she heard a voice, faint and distant. KS, the voice called. I'm proud of you, Haseena's voice whispered in her ear. KS had to stop to steady herself, the strings of heart violently thrust down. Yes, madam sir, I'll make you proud, she whispered to herself as she set her foot down, walking with renewed purpose.

KS almost succumbed twice seeing the team scattered, each spread motionless. She could only hear the groaning of the fan and the ticking of the old clock. No one was speaking. Their eyes etched in horror, coated with a film of pain that KS knew all too well.

She cleared her throat not trusting herself to speak. Her voice had no effect. Everyone stayed the same. She called out to everyone. They slowly stood up and walked towards her.

"We have no time to mourn. Madam Sir's murderers are still out there. We need to find them and deliver justice" she said, looking at the dead eyes of her team. "There's no way I'm sitting here crying while those criminals are outside. Are you with me?" she yelled, the ferocity of her alive again.

Pushpa Ji stepped forward, her motherly love overshadowing her grief. She knew she had to step up. She knew that they needed her, a mother right now.

She looked at everyone, her gaze mellowing into their depths, melting their core. She went near SS and held her hand, a little firm, a silent reminder that she was there. She did the same with Cheetah, placing a hand on his shoulder. She nodded at them both, their gazes returning to the intense fire that she had seen.

Pushpa Ji went near KS who purposefully avoided her gaze. She knew that KS was hurting well inside, maybe more than each of them. She extended her hand and lightly cupped KS's cheek, feeling KS arch into her touch.

"I'm proud of you", she said choking back tears.

She walked past them and spoke keeping her back to them so that they wouldn't see her breaking down.

"The MPT was brought alive by our madam sir and now it is our duty to fulfill her legacy. It is time to step up and make our madam sir proud."

SS's eyes gleamed, set in firmness and resolution. Despite the pain, she knew that she would walk forward, brushing off the ashes. She felt a strange sense of calmness falling over her. She knew that she would do anything for her madam sir.

CC straightened himself, letting out a deep breath. Madam Sir was his elder sister and he knew that he had to perform his duty, just like she'd want him to. He would walk, his head held high, his heart humming the lessons taught by her. He'd make her proud.

Puspha Ji walked back to the line and the 3 of them exhaled simultaneously, their breaths a reminder of the vow, of their duty, of their uniforms and of their madam sir.

"Ji madam" they chorused in unity.

KS looked at her team, assembled in front of her, her heart swelling with pride. She was proud of them for how they stood up brushing off their pain, rallying for madam sir. KS's eyes flicked towards Haseena's cabin. She exhaled a breath and let go of everything, steadying herself. As she looked back at the team, she felt the strength and love of MPT as they strode towards a common goal, rising from the ashes as would a phoenix. KS swore she felt Madam Sir's blessing deep in her heart on the new journey that they would soon embark on.

They looked at one another, their eyes offering silent waves of companionship and endurance. As they stood, shoulder to shoulder, their hearts grieving deep, they knew what they had to do. The silence only broken by the clock echoed of their promises, the promise that each one of them made.

They would honor madam sir to their last breath. They would protect the legacy of their MPT.

That was what they reveled in, cherishing the promise under the furnace of anger. They found solace and comfort in the lingering silence echoing of notes of love and warmth. They were together and would remain so, for their Madam Sir.

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