Madam Sirr 2

Chapter 18

Bonds Beyond Duty

Haseena arrived at the MPT at her usual timing only to find it brimming with a different and changed air. She got out of her jeep, exhaling the air around, the aroma of tea and biriyani almost invigorating her senses. It had remained the same, her fingers uncurling as the memories entwined her. But something had changed. She wondered whether it was her.

She went in and greeted the team, Aliya and Jhaanvi who rose and saluted her, almost as if cued on a mechanical process. She smiled, her head swinging to Puspha Ji's desk, her heart bawling at her absence. Haseena hurried to her cabin, her mind swaying to the past when the MPT roared alive with fun and laughter and her old team.

She sat down on her chair, the weight of responsibility pulling her down. She had to manage both of her posts as the SHO and DSP and though she felt certain that she could carry both her duties, the fingers of doubt and uncertainty creeped up on her, lingering around her as a pestering canker that she couldn't get rid of. She looked around the room, scanning the desk, the chairs and the items littered on the desk, each carrying a deep meaning within echoing of the life she had lost and the life she had gained.

She buried her head amongst the paperwork pushing the thoughts that creeped around her until she heard a commotion in the station. She got up and left, her feet hurrying in a familiar sense of motion. She saw Aliya and Jhaanvi seated discussing something with a man and a woman. Haseena felt her heart give way beneath her. She had half expected to see Puspha Ji and KS arguing as usual. She exhaled a deep breath massaging the knuckles of her fingers before inquiring what the matter was.

Aliya and Jhaanvi stood up and stepped aside allowing Haseena to be seated. Haseena looked at the couple motioning for them to continue, her eyes gazing at the two officers. She felt a certain indifferent hanging around the air tingled with a sense of hostility.

"Yes, tell me what the matter is?" Haseena asked, leaning forward.

The man looked at the woman, eyeing her with a reddened glare and the woman reacted the same.

"Madam, my necklace got stolen" the woman shouting almost in Haseena's ear.

"Haan" the man echoed, derisive snort in his voice. "She can never protect anything."

"Aarey no madam, it's not like that" she started when the man interrupted her again.

"Then how is it..."

Haseena looked at them frustration boiling her raw. "If you both keep fighting how are we going to find your necklace?" Haseena asked her voice, direct and loud deliberately silencing them.

The couple began their story and Haseena listened intently, harrowing in on the details.

"I've listened to your story. Don't worry, we'll find your necklace" Haseena said, her voice affirming with positivity as she stood up. "Aliya take their statements and record the FIR and Jhaanvi go with them to their house and see what you can find. Keep me updated."

They saluted as Haseena retired into her cabin, her heart swallowed by the air of difference hovering around.

Puspha Ji returned around midday rushing inside the cabin to see Haseena. She looked tired yet her face was by no means exhausted. She looked at Haseena, her face radiating with the motherly love and warmth that Haseena had missed in the past months.

Puspha Ji was waiting to have madam sir back at MPT. She yearned to have her family complete. Puspha Ji knew that the MPT was incomplete without her madam sir and now despite the circumstances she was glad to her back. Puspha Ji felt as if her dreams had come true.