Snippets of Madam Sirr (S1)

Chapter 24

A Chaat Date

The night loomed over MPT, the darkness spreading around. Haseena rubbed her eyes, pushing aside her files to stretch her aching muscles. She peered out and saw SS and KS deeply engrossed in their work, exhaustion creeping in their tired faces. She stared at them, an idea forming in her mind.

She picked her baton, slowly walking towards KS's desk, her movements stealthy and precise. She stood towering over her desk, her arms crossed on her chest, a look of faux annoyance on her face. KS buried deep in her files didn't notice Haseena standing in front of her. Haseena cleared her throat catching KS's attention who at once stood and greeted her.

"J...Jai Hind madam sir...." she said, lowering her head.

"KS..." she called, her voice sharp, cutting through the silence. "Are you sleeping during duty hours?"

KS looked down, baling her fists behind her back. "I'm sorry madam sir...."

Haseena barely contained her laugher as her eyes settled on SS, scrolling on her phone, oblivious to the surrounding around her. Haseena walked towards her, her steps controlled and precise, the faux annoyance visible on her face. She tapped SS's desk with her baton as SS awoke to the reality, the phone slipping from her hand. She immediately stood and greeted her.

"How many times do I have to tell you SS to not use your phone at work?" she yelled.

SS lowered her head, her mouth forming a cute pout. Haseena walked ahead, leaning on Puspha Ji's desk, calling both SS and KS in front of her. They both walked slowly, their heads bowed, as obedient school kids. Haseena couldn't help but laugh but she composed herself, masking her true intentions.

"KS and SS, you both will be punished for your actions" Haseena said, her authoritarian voice cutting through them.

SS looked up, her eyes glassy as she slowly nodded and accepted her fate. KS stood, silent, her fists clenched behind her back.

"CC..." she called out before she left. "Handle the station."

She left followed by SS and KS as she got into the jeep. The drive was uncomfortably silent with neither of them daring to speak. Haseena silently chuckled, her eyes gazing at both KS and SS. She stopped the jeep suddenly as the two peered outside, surprise written over their faces.

"Madam Sir....why are we here?" KS asked.

"To have chaat KS. Why else?" she said while getting down.

"Madam Sir, are you going to have chaat alone?" SS asked, her face pouting.

Haseena laughed. "Why would I do that SS?"

"You said we'd be punished madam sir but...." KS asked, arching her eyebrows.

Haseena shrugged nonchalantly, smiling sheepishly. "That was a lie KS. I'm sorry. I wanted to surprise you both."

KS glared at Haseena, her eyes turning a deep shade of red. Haseena gulped, stepping back in fear.

"Let's go" she said turning towards the stall before KS could say anything.

SS danced around excitedly, her eyes blazing in happiness. She sat next to Haseena, her frenzy almost toppling the wooden bench. Haseena smiled, her eyes glistening watching SS's antics. Next to her, KS visibly relaxed, the aroma of chaat and the icy blast of the night wind easing her tension.

They ordered 3 plates of chaat, digging into the tangy and crispy outer layers as the fillings of chutney and tamarind melted in their mouths. KS dipped an entire piece of the crispy filling into her mouth, gulping it down in one bite. She exhaled a breath of contentment, the mixture of sweet and spice salivating her throat.

She ordered another as she looked at Haseena.

"Madam Sir, why suddenly?" she asked, biting down on the chaat.

Haseena swallowed, the taste of tamarind overwhelming her senses. "I owed a chaat date to SS."

SS looked up, clearly caught in surprise, her mouth coated in brown liquid. "Me?" she mumbled, her mouth filled to the brim.

"Haan SS, on the day of my birthday, you wanted to have chaat with me."

SS looked up, her eyes glistening in tears. "Madam Sir, you remembered?" her voice quivered.

"Of course SS, why wouldn't I?"

She kept her plate aside gently licking her fingers. "Madam Sir, that day I never thought I'd be able to have chaat with you again..." she said, her voice trembling as she recalled the fateful day of Haseena's death.

Haseena kept her plate aside rushing near SS, pulling her into an embrace.

"I'm sorry Santu..." she whispered, kissing the back of her head.

"You bought me chaat madam sir. You are forgiven" she said, smiling as she pulled back, her eyes settling again on her plate.

KS finished her plates, gazing at the night sky silently, her eyes moistened. She wrapped her hands around herself, biting off the coldness that breezed through the night. Haseena walked towards her, wrapping KS in her own jacket, looking deep into her eyes.

"Why have you gone silent KS?"

She nodded, wiping the tears from her eyes. "You know madam sir we used to have this tradition, me and Anu Bhaiya would go out for chaat every Friday. I would devour my plates quickly and then look at Anu Bhaiya to have his too. He always used to be irritated but he resisted and handed me his plates. I haven't gone out for chaat ever since he....." She swallowed, the words dying on her lips, but the pain in her expression said it all.

She stopped short, the realization hitting her suddenly. She glanced at Haseena apologetically wiping her own tears. Haseena nodded her head and sat down next to her, wrapping her arms around her. KS kept her head on Haseena's shoulders, the warmth fighting off her nostalgic emotions.

"Haan madam sir..." SS started, oblivious to the surroundings around her. "Chaat was a whole affair in my family. We used to go out every week. We'd even have competitions between me and my brother but we would always end up fighting. Then our father would get angry and yell at us, taking our chaat plates to stop our fights."

They both laughed, SS innocence washing over the dreadful memories.

"Me and abbu too had a special chaat tradition. We used to visit a small chaat stall near our house every Sunday, late in the evening. I would always insist on having an extra sweet helping but I would also pick at my abbu's savory chaat. We'd return home late in the night, too stuffed to have dinner. I still remember how ammi used to give us both an earful of lectures. I never had siblings but he never made me feel alone...." Her gaze grew distant, and her voice wavered slightly.

SS and KS glared at her, their eyes reddening, piercing deep into her.

"Madam Sir, aren't we your sisters?" SS asked, sitting next to her.

"Haan SS, you are my cute younger sister" she said, pulling her cheeks.

"What about me?" KS asked, folding her hands over her chest.

Haseena laughed slapping her forehead. "Aarey you are my elder sister..." she said, placing a kiss on either of her cheeks. KS pacified and settled down, her lips curling into a laugh when she realized what she said.

"Wait a minute, how can I be your elder sister?" she asked, fuming, her hands on her hips. "I'm also your younger sister" she said, moving her head around dramatically.

Haseena laughed dragging KS with her, poking her cheeks. "Haan, you are my younger sister...."

KS slowly turned her head, her eyes shining brightly.

"Karishma madam, stay away from Puspha Ji. Her overacting is getting to you" SS said, walking away from the wooden benches.

"Aarey ye masumiyat" Haseena whispered as KS ran after SS, embracing her tightly.

The three sisters walked down the wooden pathways, their laughter echoing through the deserted streets, the dark memories fading away into oblivion as they stood together, united and connected, not by blood, but by heart.

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