Snippets of Madam Sirr (S1)

Chapter 17

"Everything will be alright Karishma. Don't worry" she said, her voice laced with concern as KS closed her eyes melting into the familiarity of her mother's love.

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As Haseena and Babita Ji entered the station, the members sprang upon them, knocking them off their feet. Haseena joined the team as they welcomed Babita Ji, a warming invitation on their faces as Babita Ji looked around. The team watched with bated breath as the stern expressions pf Babita Ji faded and awoke to a shade of mellowness and warmth.

"What's this?" she asked in surprise.

CC stepped forward brushing his hair to a side. "Madam, this is a thank you" he said pointing to the team. "From all of us."

SS joined him. "Haan madam, since your hospitality spoke in punishments, we organized a MPT special hospitality for you."

A silence drooped over SS as she blurted the words oblivious to their aftermath. The team stared at SS, their mouths mumbling silent curses as they saw the glare in Babita Ji's eyes return.

"Sorry..." SS yelled as she held her ears and stepped back.

"Babita Ji..." Puspha Ji stepped forward. "Let's start the party" she said as she lightly dragged her towards the stool where a small cake was kept.

Babita Ji picked the knife cutting the cake into pieces as her mind traveled back to the past when her students' would organize small passing out parties in commemoration of her. Babita Ji had no idea that the MPT team would do this for her. Her heart was swelling with unspoken emotions as a newfound respect washed over her, her admiration and respect unfolding for each member of the MPT.

As they finished the cake, Haseena and KS stepped forward bearing gifts handing them to Babita Ji. One contained a frame with all the members of the MPT with Babita Ji and the other was a custom engraved pen. She cradled both gifts close to her heart overwhelmed with emotions. Haseena and KS rushed forward to embrace their mentor, their hearts cracking with the melancholy and suppressed emotions.

"Madam...." CC started. "I'm seeing a new side of Babita Ji..."

Babita Ji wiped her eyes standing shoulder to shoulder with Haseena and KS. She smiled, the usual fire in her lost underneath the kindling of love.

"CC...this is not a new side. It's a side that emerges when these two get together" she said pointing to Haseena and KS. They all laughed.

"Thank you for this...." Babita Ji started, her words muffled with her trembling emotions. "I came here for an inspection and I know that I punished you all" she said especially looking towards Haseena and KS who lowered their eyes. "But what I witnessed from you was the meaning of friendship and trust. Thank you" she said the words echoing in her heart.

They stepped into the fold of the dining area, their bellies grumbling in hunger as their nostrils watered the aromas of Puspha Ji's delicacies. As they stood around the table, eating, laughing and joking Babita Ji's heart stepped into a melancholic wave, the lamentation of leaving such a team washing over her.

"Madam..." CC began his mouth full of food. "Please share some stories of Karishma and Haseena madam" he asked, his voice pleading.

Both Haseena and KS stiffened knowing very well where this would lead. KS glared at Cheetah as she fumed "Cheetah, do you have a death wish?"

"N...no madam" he stumbled.

"Why Karishma madam?" Babita Ji asked turning towards her. KS immediately simmered her anger fearing the repercussions. "Afraid of what I'll tell?" she said, a dangerous smirk in her face.

The melancholy in the air waned as Babita Ji traded anecdotes and stories from their past while Haseena and KS could do nothing but fumble with their food, their faces glowing with embarrassment. As Haseena looked around the station, each member of her family relaxed over sharing a meal, Haseena felt a relief climbing over her despite the circumstances. She understood the meaning of family, friendship and trust as she built a family for herself within the MPT team.

As the moments of joy flickered, Babita Ji stepped into Haseena's cabin with Haseena and KS to finalize her paperwork. She stepped in, the air of finality gripping her harder than a vice. Haseena handed her the paperwork noticing Babita Ji's hand tremble as she signed. Haseena edged closer holding her hand and offering her a subtle nod. Babita Ji resigned and signed the papers feeling as if the ink released the soul within her.

Suddenly KS produced a stick holding it in both hands offering it to Babita Ji. She lifted her eyes filled with apprehension as her voice faltered "Madam one last time?"

Babita Ji took the stick weighing it in her hands while KS braced herself for the impact. She didn't feel the burn of the stick yet felt a rising sensation as she saw Babita Ji twisting her ear. KS struggled to wriggle free which only resulted in her hold tightening.

"Madam I'm sorry. I was joking" KS yelled as she struggled to get free.

Haseena smirked finding the situation amusing only to find Babita Ji's hand wrangling her ear. Haseena bent forward caught in the same net as KS, struggling to release their ears.

"Aarey madam" Haseena yelled, the pain increasing as she tightened her hold. "I didn't do anything."

Babita Ji stood silent letting her cadets suffer for a while before finally releasing her hold. Haseena and KS sprang as a coil that was suddenly released nursing their reddened ears.

"Haan madam sir, I know you didn't do anything" she said. "It was just to warn you about the future."

"Sometimes, I think you enjoy making us suffer" KS blurted suddenly. Her eyes widened in fear as recognition dawned over her. Babita Ji picked up the stick while KS's eyes darted around the room seeking to escape. Babita Ji kept her grim firm on the stick, still ensuring that her warning remained as she straightened not before her two students but her seniors.

"Thank you madam...for everything" Haseena and KS chorused together, their voices drooping in emotion.

Babita Ji held their gaze for a second before saluting them and leaving the room, her legs buckling under the weight.

KS and Haseena saluted her in return holding their salute as Babita Ji's figure receded into the distance.

Haseena soothed the gnawing pain in her heart, instilling in her the words and the discipline enforced by Babita Ji. Haseena stared ahead into the horizon, her gaze glinting with the lessons she had learned and the endurance she had professed as a new confidence unlocked in the depths within her. She would strive forward upholding the lessons of her madam continuing to be the officer that both Haseena and Babita Ji dreamt of.

KS's heart recoiled in a melancholic pang as she saw her mentor leaving. She felt as if her world shattered breaking into million pieces. She knew that the void of her madam could never be filled yet she held her head high, the lessons of the past two weeks imprinted within her. She knew that Babita Ji had fulfilled her promise and now it was time for KS to step into the shoes that her madam had envisioned for her.

As they both relaxed, their eyes touched for the briefest of seconds, echoing a torrent of unspoken emotions and words. Babita Ji's presence had given rise to a new dedication in both KS and Haseena who were both silently vowing to uphold the legacy of the police force. In that single gaze, they echoed an eternal trust of friendship, camaraderie and loyalty for themselves, the police force and their MPT family. They stared ahead breaking their connection, a deep resolution settling amidst their strength in unity that they knew would provide them the strength to tackle any challenge and adversary. United they stand, they both echoed the words as their beats synchronically rhythmed.

Though Babita Ji left the station, her presence lingered, not in the form of a haunting absence but as an enduring inspiration—a constant reminder that they were more than a team. They were a family, united by trust, respect, and the will to serve with honor.

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