Madam Sirr 2

Madam Sir- The Legacy Continues

Epilogue

Haseena stared out the window, her eyes catching the early morning sun, its rays dipping beneath the greenery. Her coffee mug stood on the slab, its contents long since turned to cold as she stared. Haseena heard the gentle laugh of Avinash, his teddy like face poking at her through the duvets. She inhaled Anubhav's scent, the feeling of being wrapped in his giant hands.

She sighed as she tore her eyes, her heart feeling heavier than usual. It had been months since Avinash and Anubhav had left for a mission. Each day felt as a struggle as Haseena's breath dwindled without her precious souls. She felt as if she had been left out to dry, her heart bleeding profusely from open wounds. Wordlessly, she sipped her coffee almost sipping it out. It had lost its taste, the coffee turning bitter. She threw the contents in to the sink as she plopped down on the sofa, her hands nestled around a picture frame held close to her heart.

Outside the door, Anubhav and Avinash stood, their uniforms gleaming brightly. Anubhav glanced at his son, tears pricking his eyebrows as he saw him after a prolonged gap.

His grip tightened around his army bag as he chuckled inwardly at his son's growth. He was no longer the plump faced kid that Anubhav had chased around the house. He had grown, matured into an adult. Anubhav's heart sang with a pang of guilt as he realized that he hadn't been there to see his son grow up. He had missed the most crucial parts of his son's life yet as he glanced at him, he felt a chord strike in his heart. Haseena had done a wonderful job. Avinash had stepped into an adult that had made his parents proud.

Avinash left his bag down on the floor as he rushed to his father, kneeling before him to take his blessings and wordlessly wrapped him in a hug. He burrowed his face deep into Anubhav's chest, forcefully seeping into his father's warmth. Avinash couldn't express in words how much he had missed his father and their usual banter.

As Avinash hugged Anubhav, he felt lighter, his body relaxing. He was no longer the matured ASI but the little kid who yearned to see his father. Tears escaped his eyes, clinging to Anubhav's shirt as Avinash refused to let go. He inhaled, Anubhav's musky cologne filling his nostrils. Avinash recalled his days when he used to argue back and forth with his father until they'd both be scolded by Haseena. He laughed silently, trailing down the memory lane. As Anubhav stepped out of the house, he had changed. Avinash knew that Haseena had filled Anubhav's absence as best she could but he felt an inexpressible void filling in him. Today, as he wrapped his hands around his father, Avinash felt rejuvenated; the old Avinash had been reborn.

Anubhav pulled him apart as he wiped his tears from his eyes. He held his shoulders tightly, glancing at Avinash directly, pride and affection glistening in his eyes.

"How are you Avi?"

"I'm more than fine dada. I missed you so much."

"Me too beta..."he caressed his face slowly, tracing his outline with his fingers. "I almost didn't recognize you- when did you grow so big?" he asked.

Avinash chuckled pulling in a toothy smile. "Haan, I've grown into a handsome man haven't I?"

"Handsome?" Anubhav asked, arching his eyebrows. "You are still the little troublemaker who'd used to run all around the house trying to climb every single piece of furniture..."

"And I did didn't I?" he asked, a proud smile on his face. "I think I completed my personal best and you dada..." he said looking directly at his eyes. "You could never catch me."

"That's because your mother used to scold us both before I could get my hands on you."

"That's true. Dada do you remember the day when she made us both stand in the corner holding our ears after we broke her favorite vase?"