Madam Sirr 2

Chapter 27

27. Naina's Betrayal

The hum of machinery buzzed in the distance, the dim moonlight peeking through. The gravel coughed up pecks of dusts with two trucks parking in the darkness, their lights pressed ahead in a gleam. A silhouette of a man pressed on the wall, towering over, his ragged cadence barking orders at the men. The shrill silence of the night was broken as boots thumped on the ground moving crates of machinery between them, the gravel picking up sound.

"Is everything ready?" a voice asked breaking the hush.

The man turned, his black eyes glowing in the dark. He nodded, his movements still yet subtle. He pressed a button on a hand-held remote, flaring the truck doors to life.

A head peered in a satisfied smirk on her face, her eyes gleaming within the contents inside the truck. She smiled, humming a low tune, checking the surfaces to her heart's content. She got down, her heels clacking on the gravel turning to the man.

"Everything looks good. Wait for my signal" she said.

He simply nodded. "What about your friend Haseena?" he asked, his rough syllables pricking her senses.

She closed her eyes, a wave of melancholy rising over her, a lone teardrop struggling to drip. She sighed composing herself. She knew she was not the Naina that Haseena knew, she had died 5 years ago. She smiled, lifting her head, her menace returning.

"She won't be a problem." The confidence in her voice echoed through the night.

"She's a police officer...." The man started.

Naina whipped her gun taking two steps towards the man, holding the gun under his throat. He winced in pain, struggling to be released yet Naina held him in a strong vice.

"So am I" she roared. "I'll handle her."

Naina released her grip throwing the man to the ground. He knelt on his knees choking on his own breath.

Naina holstered her gun, her eyebrows arched in deep contemplation. She stared at the shadows, the lump in her hear weighing her down.

"I'm sorry Hasi" she whispered to herself gritting her teeth to block the memories. I changed Hasi and I hope you did too" she murmured leaving the darkened alley, her heels thumping on the floor, hammering blows on her chest.

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Haseena arrived home late, her mind perturbed with the toll of Naina's sudden change and the case that she'd been assigned to. She opened the door, her ears ringing with the sound of laughter. She walked in and saw her mother feeding Naina with her own hands, the pair oblivious to the world outside of them.

Haseena stopped staring at them, the weight in her heart healing itself. She smiled. For a moment it seemed as if nothing had changed. It was as if she and Naina had picked up exactly where they'd left off. The happiness faltered, the darkness in her eyes returning. Haseena knew that Naina had changed.

"Ammi..." Haseena called stepping into the dining area. Ammi turned around, her eyes shooting daggers at haseena.

"Is this the time you come home?" she asked, her voice unsettling Haseena.

"Sorry ammi, I had some urgent work...."

"Haan you always have urgent work" she said turning her attention back to Naina. "Be like your friend for once."

Naina looked at Haseena, a smirk rising in her lips, her eyes twitching in the golden light. Haseena looked back and smiled, her heart faltering in its wake. Naina's smile wasn't the usual, she thought as she headed towards her room.