Snippets of Madam Sirr (S1)

Chapter 23

The memories flashed across her frozen eyes as Haseena watched, her body soaked with water, limp and cold to the touch. She lifted her hands, wiping the makeup off her face as she stood up and turned off the shower. She wrapped herself in a towel, the heavy drapes of her lehenga weighing down on her.

Her room, once tidy and serene, now mirrored the storm within her—shards of glass, broken vases, and scattered memories littered the floor. She changed, stripping off the lehenga in slow, deliberate arcs as if her entire life had been just stripped. She walked towards the bed, her movements dead and limp as she plopped down, her head sagging against the sheets.

She covered herself with the duvet, her hands wrapped around a photo of Anubhav, her deep black eyes piercing into him. The tears had stopped yet Haseena remained broken, leaving behind a hollow ache as her heartstrings flared in pain. She curled the photo in her hand, snatching a box of matches as she lit the match, the sizzling sound echoing around the room.

She stared at the flame, the bright orange dancing in her eyes before she held one end of the photo to the flame. She watched as the photo burned, the edges curling into blackened wisps, Anubhav's flirtatious smile disappearing into ashes. Haseena closed her eyes, lone teardrops falling down, flicking the discarded pile of ash onto the floor, her heart giving away a little.

Anubhav, I'll never let your betrayal pull me down. I loved you, more than my own life. That is why it hurts so much. But, you made your decision and it is time that I make my own too. Haan, it is true that I'll never forget this. I'll wear these scars till the day I die. I'll never believe in the promise of love ever again. As you left, you took my heart with me and now I'' but remain dead, heartless but I will live. Anubhav, mark my words, I'll will. If not for myself, for my ammi and for my uniform.

Haseena clutched a pillow tightly to her chest, closing her eyes as she dozed off into an uncomfortable slumber, the remains of her broken heart scattered around her.

***

Haseena awoke, her head throbbing in pain. She looked around startled, her eyes swollen and puffed, a sting of hurt echoing every time she opened her eyes.

Her phone vibrated with an incoming call from KS. Haseena looked at the screen and ignored the call, her heart screaming with guilt. She groaned as another vibration whipped a text from KS.

"Madam Sir I'm near the door. Open the door."

Haseena chuckled, her heart warming at KS's message. She got down, tied her hair into a messy bun and splashed water on her face. She stared at her reflection, the red welts zooming across her face, her eyes swollen and sunken down. She sighed and opened the door.

KS stared at her, her eyes mellowing as she caught sight of her swollen face. Haseena stood aside, allowing KS to enter the room, closing the door silently behind her.

KS dumped the bags she bought on the table, her mind swirling as her eyes rested on the chaos of the room. Haseena stood behind her, smiling sheepishly.

"Madam Sir did a storm break in last night?" she asked, her eyebrows arched forward.

Haseena lightly smiled yet didn't answer her back, settling herself cross-legged on the bed. KS too followed dumping the bags in between them. An uncomfortable silence stretched between them with neither of them knowing what to say.

Haseena hugged her pillow, her fingers rapidly pulling out its loose ends whilst she was avoiding meeting KS's eyes.

Haseena knew that Anubhav was KS's brother and she had no intention of creating rifts between them. Haseena had accepted her fate and she no longer needed to be comforted. She stole glances at KS, her heart yearning for KS's touch and her warm embrace yet she pulled herself back. Haseena continued to fidget with the pillow, the hollow ache in her heart growing with each beat.