Snippets of Madam Sirr (S1)

Chapter 15

The rest of the team had no idea what just happened. They stared blankly at the scene before them.

Haseena knew that she had no means of escape with her training instructor. The fear in her burrowed deep into her skin. Haseena also felt a deep pang of nostalgia despite the circumstances. It was good to see her madam back after so long. It awoke in her memories of her days at the training academy.

KS tensed beside Haseena, her eyes bawling at the figure in front of her. She couldn't believe her eyes. Her training instructor back at the academy was here in charge of their discipline. KS shivered recalling the sting of punishments she received from Babita Ji back at the academy.

"Haseena madam and Karishma madam, I need to talk to you both. Shall we go to your cabin?" she asked and led the way as Haseena nodded.

Haseena and KS relaxed both looking at each other, their expressions familiar and readable. They knew that they'd have tough but pleasant days ahead with their mentor.

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Neither of them moved inside the cabin, the air thick with tension. KS and HM felt as if they were cadets, bowing their heads low in front of their madam.

"Madam please sit down" BJ said. "You two are my seniors" the sarcasm in her voice palpable.

Neither moved still, their shoulders tensed, their hands fidgeting behind their backs, the silence attacking them in vicious holds.

"So" she began. "The DSP sir gave me a full briefing. KS would you care to explain what happened this morning?"

KS looked up and immediately lowered her eyes feeling the burn of Babita Ji.

"Madam....." she stammered as she recalled her fight with Pushpa Ji. The beating in her heart grew to a fatalistic ritual. She gulped, a lump formed in her throat. "I'm sorry madam" she said at last, her voice nothing but a faint whisper.

"And Madam Sir, what would you say about your teams' discipline?"

Haseena closed her eyes as she felt her throat burned as she searched for words. "I'm sorry madam" she whispered.

"There's no use of saying sorry after doing something" she spoke her words running out.

"Hold your ears, now" a hardened shout came.

HM and KS looked up, confusion hardening their eyes.

"Didn't you hear me?" she shouted.

The order left no room for argument. Reluctantly, Haseena and Karishma complied, their faces burning with embarrassment as they bent forward, holding their ears.

"Stay like this until I return," Babita Ji said, her voice firm as she left the room.

"Ji madam" they both chorused.

HM looked at KS, the anger in her eyes subsided as they were both thrown back to their days at the academy.

"Madam Sir, what just happened"? KS asked, still uncertain as to how they ended up holding their ears.

"Babita Ji happened, KS" haseena said, a little chuckle in her words.

"Madam Sir, what will happen next?"

"I think we both already know the answer to that KS" she said as she resigned herself to her fate knowing with certainty that today will not be the last day that they would receive this punishment.

As they stood there, holding their ears like cadets once more, they couldn't help but feel a strange sense of comfort in the familiar discipline of their old mentor.