Snippets of Madam Sirr (S1)

Chapter 28

She laughed, a dry chuckle void of humor and expression. Her eyes rested on the bag, the memories dominantly battling to the surface. Their first meeting. Their impromptu date. How she had fallen for him, despite everything being a lie. Anubhav hooked to a lie detector test. The bulbs glowing in green.

She closed her eyes and stood up, unconsciously smashing through the glass table. The gift bag fell to the floor, the contents vibrating in the silence. Blood dripped from her hand yet Haseena didn't care. She leaned against the wall, the tears dropping fast.

How could she have been so stupid? She cursed and blamed herself. She was an SHO, the jaazbaat queen, yet she herself had been naïve and fallen into a trap. How could you do this Anubhav? To you, it was a game but my love was pure.

She gritted her teeth, unleashing her frustration on the wall, the pieces of plastic flying at her face. Her hand throbbed, the pain gnawed at her yet she continued, her fist raining on the pillar.

She stopped, her ears catching a vibration, a familiar ringtone. She scanned the room searching for her personal phone. She knew it was KS. She stared at the screen, contemplating whether to decline or not when a memory popped up. Haseena and KS had one rule in their friendship, that whenever they called their personal number, they would pick up, no matter what. Haseena had already lost one relationship in her life.

She barely composed herself and answered the call. She didn't speak.

"Madam Sir, can you open the door?" she asked.

Haseena didn't answer. She stood up, her eyes bathed in a daze as she walked towards the washroom and splashed cold water on her face. She gulped large breaths composing herself, putting on her best smile as she opened the door.

KS desperately controlled herself as she saw Haseena, her condition worsening with each day. KS stepped in, placing the bags upon the bed settling next to Haseena. An uncomfortable and awkward silence spread around them, with the pair avoiding eye contact.

"Madam Sir, did you have dinner?" KS asked suddenly breaking the silence.

Haseena nodded in no.

"Great" KS yelled as she tore open her packages, handing a plastic bowl to Haseena. She peered in, an unbidden smile crawling on her face.

"KS, did you make this?" she asked, the aroma of noodles filling the room.

"Aarey madam sir do you even have to ask that. Besides I know that you loved my handmade noodles" she commented casually, digging into her cup.

Haseena stared, the breath knocked out of her. She looked down, a rosy hue of embarrassment spreading through her.

"How did you...?" Haseena asked, dumbfounded.

"Nobody can hide from KS. Not even you, madam sir..."

Haseena smiled, the tensions easing off her shoulder, chewing on the stringy noodles, the delightful taste melting inside her mouth as the memory of the day she secretly had a mouthful of noodles from KS's tiffin picked into her mind. They finished the meal in silence, casting occasional glances at another.

As they finished the meal, KS's eyes landed on the gift bag lying sideways on the floor.

"Madam Sir...this bag..." she asked, her voice shaking.

"Haan, Anubhav sir returned all my gifts" Haseena replied, a dangerously sarcastic tone biting off her tongue.

KS balled her fists, clenching her jaw in anger desperately controlling her emotions. She lifted her hands when Haseena's eyes widened in panic. She raised her own hands and gently pulled KS's hand towards her.

"KS, how did you get hurt?" she asked, her concern for KS overriding everything.

KS bowed her head unable to reply. Haseena stood up, fetching the medical kit and bandaged KS's hand, hissing in silent pain as her own hand throbbed. KS arched her eyebrows, clearly noticing Haseena's pain. She caught Haseena's hand, turning it around, panic settling in seeing the swollen hand.

KS bandaged Haseena's hand as another wave of silence fell through the room. Neither had any explanations nor were they ready for casual exchanges. Their bandaged hands throbbed, the unanswered questions lingering in the dark.

"Madam Sir.....you can't go on like this. You have to move on" KS said, controlling her voice with great difficulty.

Haseena smirked. "KS do you think I want to be like this?"

She nodded. "That's not what I meant madam sir. I know you are punishing yourself for what Anu Bhaiya did but that's not your fault."

"How can it not be KS? I was gullible, I was naïve. I fell into his trap."

Haseena broke down, tears escaping silently through her harsh exterior.

"Madam Sir, Anubhav is a skilled negotiator. He had pre-planned everything. It was all a plan. There is nothing wrong of you madam sir."

Time stilled to a halt as KS's words drew a string in Haseena's heart.

It had all been a plan, a carefully orchestrated plan so that Haseena would fall in love. None of it was real.

KS edged closer, keeping her palm on Haseena's. "Madam Sir, what Anu Bhaiya did is unforgiveable. He messed with your emotions and that can never be justified but that doesn't make you wrong to trust him. Don't question yourself for his actions. You did nothing wrong." She paused, staring deep into Haseena's eyes. "I know you still love him madam sir, I can see it in your eyes. That's why you keep punishing yourself but madam sir, it's not right. The best way to get revenge on him is to move on, by showing him that you are strong. That you aren't the person he thought you were. That you, madam sir, are in fact much better than him."

Haseena smiled faintly, KS's words warming over her.

"Madam Sir, I know that you can overcome this. I believe in you. You have all of us, the whole of MPT madam sir. Please come back to us."

Haseena's tears began to flow again, but this time, they weren't tears of pain. She nodded, her voice barely audible.

"Thank you, KS... for not giving up on me... even when I gave up on myself."

Haseena nodded, opening her arms as a brief gesture. KS wasted no time, enveloping Haseena in a tight hug as Haseena broke down, and her emotions overwhelming her. KS held her tightly, caressing her hair, allowing Haseena space to let go.

Haseena broke the hug, her heart aching in gratitude to KS. She smiled, her dimples returning, her body basking in the warmth and love of her family. The uncomfortable silence melted into the night as Haseena eased into KS, her heart and mind syncing, determined and resolute to overcome her obstacles.

KS walked over to the window and pushed it open, letting the cool night breeze sweep into the room. The soft rustle of the curtains mirrored the stirrings of hope in Haseena's heart. She exhaled deeply, the air feeling lighter, as if the weight she carried had finally begun to lift

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