Snippets of Madam Sirr (S1)

Chapter 10

A whirlwind of emotions caught Haseena as the screen flickered to life with SS.

"Madam Sir.....happy birthday to you. Working on this team with you...as a family....it was really precious madam sir. Thank you for believing in me madam sir. This is for you...." she said as SS sent a sprawling flying kiss. Haseena laughed wiping her eyes.

CC came next, his voice thick with emotion. "Madam Sir...as a part of your family...I wish you nothing but the best for your future."

Haseena heart clutched in anticipation. She was waiting for KS to appear.

"Madam Sir..." her voice began. "Madam Sir... I don't think I ever realized just how much you mean to me. You're the glue that holds us all together." She paused, her words stammering. "Madam Sir...I never thought I'd say this but this MPT and especially me....would be lost without you. Thank you madam sir....for everything. Happy birthday and love you madam sir..."

Tears welled up in her eyes as the screen flickered into darkness just as the members rushed out of their hiding spots yelling "SURPRISE!"

They ran forward, their hands extended, enveloping Haseena in a deep embrace, each of them lost in their own sea of emotions. After digging into the delicious cake, Haseena looked at her team, her eyes clutching drops of tears.

"Thank you everyone" she said sniffling. "I knew you were planning something but this....." she turned around. "I didn't expect this...thank you." She entwined her fingers placing them near her heart. "This place and you all...my family...mean a lot to me....." she broke down as the team once again rushed forward to hug her almost crushing her in their welcoming embrace.

As the team gathered around to cut the cake, Haseena looked at her team. She saw SS and CC flirting in a corner, Cheetah attempting to feed her a piece of cake. Pushpa Ji and KS were relaxed, their usual saas-bahu melodrama put on hold. She heard SS constantly reminding everyone that she made the decorations as KS glared at her to stop. Haseena laughed, a skip in her heart clearly visible through her face.

Her heart awoke to the tumultuous past where every day felt as a challenge, a battle that she needed to win with her moves questioned and her authority challenged, especially by KS. There wasn't a day that passed by without Haseena and KS arguing and confronting one another about their ideologies on jazzbat and bhaukhal. But as Haseena looked around the team, her heart echoed in happiness. This was what she always wanted. A family that loved each other. A family that supported each other.

***

As the party winded down, Haseena lurked in a corner, her heart touched by the overwhelming love of her team. Her mind floated to the past awakening a tinge of nostalgia. She recalled how she had always yearned for the love of a family. Her mind rose to her start as an SI where the team she worked with was always at distraught, complaining against one another. Her mind flapped to her old days where with her old team, they were always competing against one another. That compelled Haseena to build a team that worked in synchronization, that supported one another as a family. Looking back at the MPT, her team and their overflowing love for one another, Haseena nudged the unshed tears as her mind set back at ease. She had achieved her goal. She had a family.

In the dark corners, she saw the silhouette of her father rising as always. He saluted her and his vision faded arising his voice in Haseena's memory.

"Hasi...." His voice breathed near her. "You don't choose a family. A family chooses you."

She closed her eyes, blinking back tears with the weight of the past suppressing her. She felt a hand on her shoulder and she immediately straightened, wiping her eyes. KS was standing next to her.