By Your Side

Bandages don't fill bullet holes.

  After 30 seconds, the results were known. Karishma didn't want to see it because she had lost something more valuable than just station control. She lost faith. She experienced betrayal. The woman finally came to the bitter realisation that no matter what she did, her labour, tears, and sweat would be in vain against her anger, which she had drastically reduced but which still served as a display for her desire to do justice. It was insufficient. Never was. Her own voice kept repeating in her head.

Finally, Santosh gives Karishma a tight hug, which Karishma interprets as an act of sympathy and pity. She nods her head and smiles at Santu. Santu's eyes, however, were unique. They were wet and glistening in joy, as if tears would soon start to fall.
Karishma examines the screen.

"SI Karishma Singh yeh voting jeet chuki hai, janta ne yeh bta Diya ki unhe Karishma Singh ke tarike se chalna hai naa ki Haseena Mallik ke tarike se, sirf ek vote ne aisa kamal kar dikhaya, jahan tak hum sab ko laga tha yeh voting draw hogi, aakhri 10 seconds mai Karishma Singh ke khaate mai ek vote aaya aur woh Jeet gayi."

The reporter reads out the result.

In the meantime, a woman who was standing at the entrance with a bag on her shoulder and the other hand in her pocket, locks her phone and keeps it there, looks pleased as she peers at the display, sits in the chair, and silently observes every response. It appears as though she is delighted by everything that is occurring.

Hello Ladies... How are you all doing?

Everyone's attention turns to her. While others grinned, others were shocked.

Kya hua? Shock laga kya?
Haan ofc yeh toh hona hi tha. Ab itni jaldi expect nai Kiya hoga mujhe.

The woman stands up.

Jai Hind Maddam, A.S.I Samairaa Vashisht reporting!

Samairaa then looks at the TV.

SV- Ohoo Karishma Maddam. Congratulations! Toh finally yeh sar dard khatam hua. Aur ab shayad kuch logon ko samajh mai aa gaya hoga yahan sabse jayda kya jaruri hai, Kyu Phupa Ji? Sahi kaha naa?

PhuspaJi looks at her  downheartedly.

SV- Aur ab jab sab clear hai.

Samairaa comes and stands between Haseena and Karishma.

SV- Yeh bhi I guess clear ho gaya hoga ki, bhale hi iss thane ko mukke aur laat se  problem ho, Lucknow ko koi takleef nai hai.
Toh ab yeh thana S.I Karishma Singh ke marji se chalega aur hum sabko inke order follow karne honge. Hainaa, Maddam Haseena?

Haseena looks at Samairaa while the latter smirks. Then she turns to face Karishma and extends her hand. Haseena speaks as Karishma holds Haseena's hand.

HM- Congratulations Karishma Singh. Ab hum aapko yaa aapke kisi bhi faise mai dakhal andaji nai karenge.

KS- Shukriya Maddam Sir. Par kya aapko bhi yahi lagta hai hum yeh sab chahte hai?

HM- hum kuch Samajhe nai.

KS- woi toh takleef hai Maddamsir aap kabhi samajh hi nai paayi hume.

Hum yeh vakai mai yeh election jeetna chahte the, isliye nai taaki hum apni ego satisfy kar sake, balki iss liye taaki hum aap sabko ek baar bta sake, ki hum bhi utne saksham hai jitne aap. Hum bhi shaanti se, soch samajh kar case solve kar sakte hai, jaise aap. Aur karte toh the Maddam Sir.
Par yeh kisi ne notice nai Kiya.
Aapke transfer mai, aapke Urmilla banne tak banne ke baad, sab waqt hum aapke jaise bankar chale.
Hum aap sab ko dikhana chahate the ki hum bhi thana sambhal sakte hai. Hume bas ek baar ek mauka chahiye tha, apne aap ko prove karne ka, apne leadership skills dikhane ka.

HM- Karishma Singh, ab aapko yeh mauka mill Raha hai naa.

KS- Mil toh raha hai, par ab humare man mai ek baat aati hai. Jab hum itne saalon se, itne cases se khud ko prove karte aaye hai, tab kisi ke dimaag mai humare liye koi change nai aaya toh ab kya aayega. Ab bhi sab majburi Mai humara saath denge. Toh fir kya fayda aisi jeet ka? Jab aapke apne aapke saath naa ho.

HM- Kaisi baat kar rahi hai aap Karishma Singh. Hum hai aapke saath. Infact hum sab hai.

KS- Hun sab?

Karishma chuckles.

KS- Hum sab mai kon?
Aap.
Haseena Mallik jinhone abhi kuch hafte pehle kaha tha

"hume Karishma Singh ki koi jarurat nai hai"

PhuspaJi, jinhone hamesha humari nakami ka mazaak udaya hai. Aur agar hum kuch acha kar liye, usme bhi credit hume nai Diya kabhi.

Cheetah aur Santosh jo kabhi idhar kabhi udhar karte reh Gaye.

Ama kabhi toh khul ke hume support Kiya hota. Ek baar toh hum par bharosa kiya hota.
Ek baar yeh socha hota ki Karishma Singh koi bewakoof nai hai jo baat baat par gussa kare.

Uss din bhi, jab humne uss aadmi par haath uthaya tha, isliye uthaya tha, kyuki woh humare aur humare wardi ka maazak uda tha, usne apne haathon se humara cap neeche pheka. Kya aap jhel leti woh Maddam Sir?  PhuspaJi wahan khadi thi, par unhone aapse nai kaha jo wahan hua tha. Bas aapki baat man kar, hume samjhane aa gayi.

Arrey kyu samjhe hum? Aur kitna samjhe? Har waqt sab aapko aur humko milane ki koshish karta hai, par kya fayda, jab aap khud hume accept nai karengi. Humne Kiya naa, aapko, aur aapke jazbaaton ko. Toh fir humare saath aise kyu?

Hum bhi woh izzat aur bharosa chahiye tha Maddam Sir. Par hume kya mila? Taane?

Hum sabko ek saath leke chalna chahte the, par kabhi majburi Mai nai. Hum sabka saath cahthe hai, par jabardasti nai, unke khud ke man se.

Hum aapke saath kaam karna chahte the, aise jisme aap aur hum dono khush hai, par maaf karna Maddam Sir, ab hum aapko aur khush nai kar paayenge. Hum ab aur khud ko, nai daba paayenge. Hum thak chuke hai.

Isliye, ab humare liye yeh election koi mayne nai rakhta. Yeh thane ki Senior aap hai, aur aapko Jo karna hai kariye. Jaise Karna hai Kariye. Bas hume chodh dijiye. Jai Hind.

After saying this, Karishma dons her sunglasses and leaves the Station. Everyone watched her get on her bike and ride off as she did so.

After letting out a long sigh, Haseena enters the cabin and locks the door without saying anything. Samairaa sits down at her desk. Running up to Badnam's tea stall outside the Station, Santosh sits. PhuspaJi enters the gym room with devastation, followed by Cheetah.

Kyu humare beech mai sab bigadta jaa raha hai Karishma Singh?Haseena questions.
Kyuki Maddam Sir, shayad humne kabhi koshish hi nai ki, kuch sudharne ki.Somewhere, Haseena knew Karishma would have said this.