Madam Sirr 2

Chapter 29

29. The Final Showdown

Puspha Ji and Aliya stood seated in Rohan's living room, the evidence lying in front of them. Puspha Ji stared at the objects, a random and mismatched collection. The burnt out letter with the faded background caught her eye as she held it with her gloved hands. The handwriting seemed odd as if it were technologically altered. She held it closer and saw that the letters were blurred, making it almost impossible to read.

"Aliya, seal all the items and send them to the lab. We need to dust them for prints."

Aliya nodded and began collecting the items when she noted Puspha Ji eyeing the scrap of paper peculiarly.

"What is Puspha Ji?" she asked, towering over her.

She handed Aliya the letter saying "This doesn't look genuine Aliya. It's been altered, don't you think?"

Aliya squinted her eyes checking the letter carefully, her eyes scanning each and every line.

"Haan Puspha Ji, it has been altered by an app. Also, there's a strong chemical smell that reduces our chances of finding fingerprints."

"Hmm..." Puspha Ji said, knitting her brows together. "Send it to the lab as soon as you can Aliya."

Puspha Ji rose up to leave when Rohan called out. "Madam, my family will be safe right?"

Puspha Ji lightly tapped his arm and smiled at him. "Don't worry, one of our best officers, Mrs. KS is handling this case. Let us do our duty."

"KS?" he asked, his voice fumbling.

"Haan why do you know her?"

He smiled wiping the sweat off his brows, balancing from one leg to the other. He rubbed his temples, desperately blocking the memories of how he betrayed KS and ended their friendship. He gulped, his guilt racked in his heart, piercing deep into him. He smiled, a smile that didn't touch his eyes.

"Who in Lucknow doesn't know of Karishma madam, the bhaukhal cop" he said, his voice catching slightly.

Puspha Ji looked at him and smiled ignoring his erratic behavior as she left the house, buried in deep thoughts.

Inside the jeep, Puspha Ji remained silent, her thoughts hovering over the responsibility she had been handed.

She stared out the window, her eyes catching on the sunlight that bounced across the street. She travelled back to the past, to the day she joined the police force. She balled her fists, the memory in her awakening as she recalled how her entire family had opposed her decision. Puspha Ji took a deep breath, grounding herself in the past, her hands trailing over her uniform; a testament of her perseverance and dedication. Almost 30 years later, Puspha Ji had received the chance that she'd been waiting for; the chance to lead a case. She stared, a resolute determination thickening in her eyes, vowing to herself, that she would not let the MPT down.

The palpable tension throughout the drive irked Aliya as she glanced at Puspha Ji. She suddenly pumped the brakes parking the vehicle near a Chat stall.

Puspha Ji looked at her, momentarily confounded. "Aliya why did you stop here? We have to go to the station."

Aliya unlocked her seatbelt smiling at Puspha Ji. "Haan Puspha Ji but let's have a chaat date first" she said, getting down from the jeep.

Puspha Ji stared at her opening her mouth in protest before yielding to her. She got down, the aroma of chaat filling her nostrils.

They sat down near a wooden bench, the humidity of the air sticking in their faces. They ordered two plates and Puspha Ji devoured it in one gulp, the familiar taste kicking an overdrive of memories in her. She silently wiped her eyes, enjoying the taste and ordering another plate.