A/N: It gets rough before it can get smooth. Apologies in advance.
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Haseena Mallik took one sweeping glance at her team, and braced herself. They were probably not going to like what she was about to tell them.

'Jaise ki aap log jaante hain, Best Thaana Competition jeetne ke liye lagbhag sabhi thaanewale koi na koi immoral tareeqa azmaa rahe hain. Lekin SHO Bulbul Pandey ki tarah itne corrupt practices aur koi nahin kar raha hain.
'Humne iss barein mein DSP Sir aur SP Sir se baat kii. Unko bataya ki kaise Bulbul Pandey apne thaane ke cases humare paas bhej rahe hain. Nayi FIR register bhi dikhayi. 'Department ne Bulbul Pandey ko ek official warning bheja hain. Hopefully ab woh sambhal jayenge... Lekin... lekin current FIRs jo bhi humare thaane mein register huye hain, usey humein hi solve karna hoga. Janakipuram Thaana kshetra ke cases bhi.'

The shocked silence that followed was finally broken by Santu. 'Madam Sir yeh unfair decision hain. Aur anyway Janakipuram area mein humara investigation karna bhi rules ke against hain na?'

Haseena sighed. 'Hum jaante hain Santosh Sharma. Lekin department ko darr hain ki agar Bulbul Pandey ko force kiya gaya yeh cases apne under wapis lene ke liye, shayad woh jaan bujhkar unko delay karenge or worse, jaise taise lipta denge. Iss chakkar mein agar kisi begunah ke saath nainsaafi huyi, ya phir koi civilian media ke paas gaya toh badnaami puri department ki hogi.'
Haseena shrugged helplessly.

'Matlab Bulbul Pandey ke failaye huye raite ko sametne ki jimmedari humare sar par hain? Kaahe?' demanded Karishma.

'Aur Bulbul Pandey ki iss harqat ke liye unn par koi action nahi liya jayega?' asked Pushpa Ji.

'Humare seniors ne decision liya hain ki abhi unhe sirf official warning dii jayegi. Agar iske baad bhi Bulbul Pandey ne phirse rules tode, tab action liya jayega,' said Haseena.

'Madam Sir,' said Cheetah indignantly, 'Uss Bulbulwa ke niyat mein nahi hain niyam follow karna. Woh koi aur paintra soch kar nikalega humare Mahila Police Thaana par musibat laane ka. Baad mein jo hoga so hoga, lekin abhi toh hum competition haar jayenge na!'

Before Haseena could reply, Karishma spoke up. 'Bulbul Pandey jaise logo ke khilaaf action nahi liya jaata hain Cheeteh. Kaaheki uski dosti hain na upar level ke logon se. Woh akela chori nahi karta hain, mil baant kar karta hain. Aise log kuch bhi karke chhoot hi jaate hain. Action toh hum jaise chhote mote imaandar officers ke khilaaf liya jaata hain. Ek galti, ek chook aur SHO se sidha SI ke position par demotion.'

Haseena carefully observed Karishma as the latter tried to suppress her anger. And her pain, at the memory of the humiliation. Haseena wanted to hug her in front of the entire team. But she had another bad news to share.

'Ahem, ek aur baat hain. Ek nayi IG Madam charge lene wali hain aur unka plan hain deparment ko streamline karne ka. DSP Sir ke through humko yeh secret baat pata chali hain ki department soch rahi hain unn saare thaano ko bandh kar dene ki, jinki position ratings chart par niche ki taraf rehgi.'

Everyone immediately bristled. Even Billu, who had been listening from inside his jail, rushed out and joined the collective voices of dissent.

'Phir toh hum gaye Madam Sir. Humara thaana ekdum bottom position pe hain. Maine aaj subah hi check kiya,' said Santu tensely.

'Kya!!' exclaimed Cheetah; quickly turned towards Haseena and pleaded, 'Madam Sir, ek na humara aisa personal level pe request hain, agar ee thaana bandh ho jata hain na toh pleej humara aur Santu Ji ka transfer ek hi thaana mein karwa dijiyega!'

Haseena didn't know whether she wanted to shout at Cheetah or applaud him for his single-minded priority.

But Santu had her own set of worries which did not feature Cheetah Chaturvedi at all.
'M—mm— Madam Sir... thaana bandh ho gaya toh matlab humara transfer dusre thaane mein... shayad dusre sheher mein. Dusra thaana matlab dusra mess. Aur dusra mess matlab dusra quarter. Naya quarter matlab naye problems... main kaise adjust karungi Madam Sir?'

On the other side, Pushpa Ji vehemently shook her head. 'Nahi nahi nahi, Madam Sir hum toh kahin aur transfer nahi lenge. Hum toh sidha retirement le lenge.'

Haseena put up her hands to calm her team down. 'Ek minute ek minute... shaant!! Humara thaana bandh nahi hua hain, hum yeh competition abhi tak haare nahi hain! Abhi time hain humare paas, hum log ratings chart par position recover kar lenge!' said Haseena.

'Madam Sir, abhi aapne kaha ki FIRs chalu rahenge toh hum recover kaise karenge?' said Cheetah. 'Pratiyogita ka nateeja toh FIR register mein sabse kam complaints ke upar hi nirbhar karta hain na?'

'Hum apni rating cases solve karke improve karenge Cheetah Chaturvedi!' Haseena stated. 'Aur aap log aise baat kar rahe hain ki jaise iss situation mein hum pehli baar phanse hain! Arrey iske pehle bhi toh kitni baar humara thaana almost bandh hone wala tha. Tab kya humne haar maan li?'

They all shook their heads.

'Exactly! Toh iss bar bhi hum bilkul haar nahi manenge. Saath milkar iss mushkil ka saamna karenge aur isse harayenge bhi.' Haseena paused before adding, 'Lekin aisa karne mein hum apne siddhanto par compromise nahi karenge. Sab kuch kanoon ki zadd mein rehkar hogi.'

The team felt frustrated. Their SHO was staunch in upholding the values and morals. But everyone agreed that in this case, being straightforward and fair was not really worth it.

Billu punched his fist into his other palm. 'Ganja-muchchhar, mota-patla, lambu-chhotu.... Yeh saare ke saare seniors mere Billu Niwas ke pichhe hi kyun padhe rehte hain... erm.. matlab humare Mahila Police Thaane ke pichhe hi kyun padhe rehte hain?'

Haseena sighed again. 'Dekhiye hum aap logo ki feelings samajhte hain. And honestly hum khud bhi iss situation se khush nahi hain. Lekin hum kya karein?'

Karishma finally spoke up. And firmly. 'Madam Sir, yeh sacche aur acche ka chaddar odh kar ab koi fayda nahi hain. Jisko jo bhasha samajh aati hain usko usi bhasha mein samjhana chahiye.'

It was only for a moment, but a sudden spark passed through Haseena's eyes. She almost smiled. But Karishma blinked and Haseena looked sombre once again.

'Achha? Koi tarkeeb hain aapke paas iss situation ko handle karne ke liye?'

'Isme takreeb ka kaa jarurat hain Madam Sir, wohi karna hain jo baaki sab kar rahe hain.'

Before Haseena could respond, Santu butt in. 'Karishma Madam, woh tarkeeb hota hain.'

'Haan Santu hum takreeb hi bole,' said Karishma seriously.

'Tarkeeeeeb,' said Pushpa Ji.

'Pushpa Ji dhang se suniye, hum bhi takreeeeb hi bol rahe hain,' said Karishma irked.

'Rehne dijiye!' said Haseena loudly. 'Toh Karishma Singh, aapka matlab hain ki hum bhi cases lena chhor de? Humne pehle bhi kaha hain aapse ki aisa hargis nahi hoga.'

'Aur humne bhi aapse kaha hain Madam Sir ki hum cases lena nahin chhorenge. Unka FIR nahin likhenge. Kaaheki baat aa gayi hain humare thaane ke swabhimaan par, humare astitva par. Aur Madam Sir, humein yeh competition kisi nagad puraskar ya inaam ke liye nahi jeetna hain. Humein yeh competition iss liye jeetna hain taaki hum saabit kar sake ki samaaj ko Mahila Police Thaane ka bhi utna hi jarurat hain jitna Purush thaana ka. Iske liye humein jo bhi karna padhe hum kar denge Madam Sir,' stated Karishma.

'Main bhi!' said Santu.

'Hum bhi Santu ji,' added Cheetah.

'Madam Sir... aaj hum bhi Karishma Ji ke saath hain,' said Pusha Ji apologetically.

'Aur main Billu the Spy, main bhi aaj Karishma Madam ke saath hu.'

Haseena watched in partial shock and partial awe as her team lined up and stood facing her... no, confronting her. The hands she held behind her back tightened, hidden from everyone's gaze.

'Humein yakeen nahi ho raha hain ki aap sab aisa keh rahe hain. Lekin aapki team unity ki daat dete hain hum. Unfortunately, yeh koi society ki meeting nahi chal rahi hain janha majority votes ke hisaab se faisle liye jayenge. Yeh ek police thaana hain. Yanha jo kuch bhi kiya jayega, kanoon ke daire mein reh kar kiya jayega. Yanha aane wale har ek insaan ki complaint lii jayegi, uski proper official FIR ki jayegi aur usike bina par saare action liye jayenge.

Haseena could see the indignation in her team. They were annoyed with her and they were not hiding it. The rosy hue of the Rose Day morning had taken a sombre turn. But Haseena was not a personality who changed decisions for fear of unpopularity.

Since she had done night shift the day before, Haseena was due to leave for the day. But before that — 'Karishma Singh, zarra cabin mein ayiye.'

Karishma Singh nodded but did not look at her.

Haseena went back to her cabin and stood looking at the framed photograph of their team. She let out a deep breath and thought – 'Humein maaf kar dijiye. Hum aap sabko iss waqt sach nahi bata sakte. Orders hain. Lekin jis din aap sabko pura sach pata chalega uss din aap sab samajh jayenge ki hum kya kar rahe hain aur kis liye kar rahe hain. Khaas kar aap Karishma Singh... lekin please tab tak humara saath mat chhoriyega. Humein aapke saath ki zarurat hain.'
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'Andar aa sakte hain Madam Sir?'

Haseena turned around. 'Ayiye Karishma Singh... hum jaante hain aap humse naraaz hain. Pareshaan bhi hain. Lekin please trust me sab thik ho jayega. Jab tak aap humare saath hain, kiski majaal hain humko, humare thaane ko haraaye?'

'Humare prati aapka vishwas dekh kar bohot achha laga Madam Sir,' said Karishma slowly. 'Lekin dialogue baaji apni jagah par hain aur practical jindagi apni jagah par hain. Yeh hum aur aap dono jaante hain ki aapke bataye raaste par chale toh humara haarna nishchit hain. Hum Janakipuram ke cases bhi solve kare, naye FIR lena bhi chalu rakhe, toh kabhi bhi graph nahin sudhregi.'

'Karishma Singh...' began Haseena.

'— Madam Sir, aap jaanti hain humein kaunsi baat sabse jyada pareshan kar rahi hain?' interrupted Karishma. 'Yehi ki thaana bandh hone ki baat aa gayi aur aap abhi bhi itni shaant, itni nishchint kaise hain? Thaana bandh hone ka matlab aap samajhti hain na? Hum sab alag ho jayenge..... hum aur aap alag ho jayenge. Aapko phir bhi koi fark nahi padhta? Ya phir... kuch chhupa rahi hain humse?'

If Haseena Mallik hadn't been prepared, she would have flinched visibly. Karishma was beginning to read her like an open book.

'Karishma Singh, jitna humse ban sakta hain, hum hamesha yehi koshish karenge ki aapse... aap sabse kabhi door na jaayein. Lekin hum apne usoolon ke saath compromise nahi kar sakte hain. Aur janha tak hum aapko jaante hain aap bhi apni usoolo ki bohot pucci hain. Hum par thoda sa bharosa rakhiye. Hum saath milkar iss challenge ko jeetenge. Okay?

'Behraal, humne aapko kuch aur baat karne ke liye bulaya hain... umm... humne bahaar notice kiya jab aapne apne demotion ki baat kii. Aapko abhi bhi uss baat ka bohot bura lagta hain na?'

Karishma shrugged sadly. 'Hum bohut kharaab bad luck leke paida huye hain Madam Sir. Humne kabhi post - position ko apne karm par, apni jimmedariyo par haavi nahi hone diya hain. Lekin humare Babuji ka sapna raha hain hamesha se, humein SHO bante dekhne ka. Har baar yeh log humko temporary SHO banate hain, jab mann karta hain chhoti chhoti baaton par hataa bhi dete hain post se. Thoda imagine kijiye kaisa lagaa hoga humko... ek bar phone utha kar kaho ki "Babuji, Amma, aapki beti SHO ban gayi hain!"... phir ek mahine baad call karke kaho ki wapis SI banaa di gayi hain? Kabhi socha hain hum par kaa gujri hogi yeh baat kehte huye?

'Hmmphh.. aur udhar woh Bulbul Pandey, Mishri Pandey jaise log bhaichara giri dikhakar SHO bankar baithe huye hain....... Khair chhoriye. Ab toh humne apne dil ko manaa liya hain ki humare Babuji ka sapna shayad kabhi pura nahi hoga.'

'Zaroor hoga,' said Haseena confidently. 'Aapka aur aapke Babuji ka sapna pura hoga Karishma Singh. Aap mein woh kabiliyat hain. Abhi dekhiye kaise bahaar puri team aapke pichhe khari ho gayi. Kisi bhi leader ke liye apni team ka loyalty jeetna sabse mushkil aur sabse ahem task hota hain. Aur woh aapko bakhubi aati hain!'

'Aapko bura lagaa? Bahaar unn logo ne humara saath diya?' asked Karishma.

Haseena smiled. 'Haan bhi, aur nahin bhi.... ek SHO ko thoda sa bura lagaa ki uski team uske khilaaf khadi ho gayi. Lekin... aapki Madam Sir ko bilkul bura nahi laga.'

'Kaahe?'

'Abhi nahin samjhengi... Anyway chaliye hum ab nikalte hain. Ammi ko promise kiya tha ki lunch time tak ghar aa jayenge. Kal bhi night shift kii—'

'Isi baat ki meeting huyi thi aaj subah headquarter mein?' asked Karishma before she could stop herself.

'Nahi meeting actually kal raat ko huyi.'

'Anu Bhaiya kal raat yanha meeting ke liye aapse milne aaye they?'

Haseena shot her shocked look. 'Aapko kaise—'

'Pushpa Ji ne bataya. Kaahe? Nahi batana chahiye tha?' Karishma arched her eyebrow.

Haseena looked extremely worried. 'Pushpa ji ko kaise... oh ho... phone...' She mumbled and chewed her lip, looking tensed. 'Karishma Singh,' she said urgently. 'Yeh senior level ki secret meeting thi, isiliye iss baarein mein abhi hum kuch nahi bata sakte hain. Sorry....

'Aap woh sab chhoriye... ek bohot hi important kaam ki baat karni thi aapse... Kal aap humare saath dinner par chalengi?'

Karishma's eyes widened. 'Ahem... kal humara night shift hain,' she stammered.

'Good. Pushpa Ji se jhooth nahi kahena padhega. Ammi bhi nahi hongi ghar par. Kal Khaala ke paas ja rahi hain kuch dino ke liye. Toh aapke liye khaana lekar hum thaane aa jayenge. Aap bas kisi tarah se Billu ko thaane se bahaar bhej dijiyega... nahi matlab phir humko thodi privacy mil jayegi... matlab baatein karne ke liye...'

Karishma still had a lot of questions but Haseena was biting her lip and looking at her with so much hope that she couldn't help but melt away. She nodded softly and smiled. 'Thik hain, kal dinner karte hain saath mein.'

Haseena's smile could've lit up the sun.

But watching Haseena's jeep drive away, Karishma shook her head sadly and thought – 'Sorry Madam Sir, aapke dimag mein jo bhi chal raha ho lekin hum aapki jidd ke aage apne thaana ko bali nahi chadhne denge. Iske liye shayad humein aapke khilaaf jaana padhe... Asha karte hain ki aap samjhengi hum kya kar rahe hain aur kis liye kar rahe hain.'

...

Daily reports had to be submitted at the headquarters by the end of each day. Today, Karishma Singh decided to take this responsibility upon herself so enroute, she could also pick her motorbike from the garage. Billu had gotten her X-ray reports and her bones were all intact as she smugly texted Madam Sir.
When Haseena messaged back requesting she leave that infernal bike alone for a couple of more days until her wounds were properly healed, Karishma flatly refused.

KS — bike saath hogi tabhi hum jaldi thik ho payenge. Pls humein apne bike se aise juda mat kijiye🥺

HM – bike nahi humari sautan hain woh 😒

Karishma giggled when she read the text.

KS – satya vachan! mera pehla pyaar hain woh. uski jagah koi nahi le sakti hain

HM – humare toh bhaag hi phoot gaye

KS – 😳😳😂😂😂

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Towards evening, MPT got a call to break up a fight that had broken out in the Hazratganj area between two chaat sellers. Apparently Tarachand and Sitarachand ran chaat shops adjacent to each other and were bitter business rivals. Often they got into name-calling and tried to steal each other's customers away. This time some of the customers had also gotten involved and the fight had taken a nasty turn. But Karishma Singh decided it was too stupid a case to file a complaint. So she broke up the scuffle and sent everyone away with a warning.

As duty hours came to a close, Pushpa Ji insisted on accompanying Karishma to the Headquarters so they could go home together. Karishma hesitated but then she remembered how she had ignored her mother entirely the night before. So she allowed the woman to come along as a peace offering. This was a big mistake.

When they reported to DSP Anubhav Singh's cabin to submit their report, Bulbul Pandey was already present there, also submitting his thaana report, and getting scolded for his antics at troubling the Mahila Police Thaana.

But Bulbul's grumpy face suddenly lit up with a cruel smile. 'Arrey aho bhaag humare, Karishma ji ke darshan mil gaye. Kaa Karishma ji aap log bhi! Hum toh bas thoda sa majaak kar rahe they aapka thaanewalon ke saath. Aapki Madam toh ekdum se serious ho gayi, aur complain bhi kar diya humre khilaaf,' he whined.

Pushpa Ji gently pressed Karishma's tightening fist in warning; Bulbul was purposely goading them to make Karishma lose her temper in front of their senior officer.

But this time Anubhav himself stepped in to defend them. 'Bulbul Pandey naa toh yeh ek circus hain, aur nahi hum policewale joker. Toh bhavishya mein apne hasyaras par thoda ankush lagaa kar rakhiyega.'

After they had presented their respective reports, Anubhav addressed Karishma. 'Karishma Singh, hum kuch dino ke liye Delhi jaa rahe hain. Aapse vistar mein vartalaap karne ka mauka nahi mila kayi dino se. Chacha ji aur chachiji ko humara pranaam kahiyega...

'Aur hum asha karenge ki humare anupasthiti mein koi aisa karya nahi ghatega jisse police adhikaariyon ki maryada par prashn uthe.' He looked pointedly at Bulbul Pandey.

Bulbul Pandey bristled as Karishma made no attempt to hide her snigger.

'Aapne Madam Sir ko bataya aap Delhi jaa rahe hain?' Pushpa Ji piped up. 'Nahi matlab aap dono kal raat ko mile they na?'

Anubhav frowned and his eyes suddenly flashed in anger. 'Aapko Haseena ji ne bataya hum kal mile they?'

'Haan— nahi— Nahi matlab kal jab aap thaane mein aye, uss waqt Madam Sir humare saath hi thi phone par. Isiliye humein pata chali... hehehe...'

Anubhav's brows cleared but he threw a nervous glance at Bulbul listening to them curiously.

'Ahh nahi. Humne Haseena ji ko abhi tak nahin bataya hain kyunki Delhi jaane ki yojna aaj hi huyi hain. Reports ke liye dhanyavaad. Aap sab ab prasthaan kar sakte hain.'

It was clear that Anubhav did not wish to speak on this topic any more and were almost kicking them all out of his office. But Bulbul Pandey was not done yet. This was a golden opportunity that he was not going to let go of.

'Thank you Sar,' said Bulbul Pandey with a fake grin. 'Waise ek sach baat batana Sar, aap dil se yehi chahte hain na ki humara thaana hi jeete ee competition?'

Both Anubhav and Karishma frowned simultaneously.

'Hum nishpaksh hain Bulbul Pandey. Hum chahte hain jo yogya ho wohi vijayi ho,' said Anubhav.

'Ka baat kar rahe hain Sar. Mahila Thaana haar gaya toh aapka fayda hi hain na!'

'Bulbul Pandey Sir,' snapped Karishma, no longer being able to maintain decorum and stay out of the two seniors' conversation. 'Ek hi official warning se aapka dimag ka wiring idhar udhar ho gaya hain ka? Anu Bhai— erm, matlab DSP Sir kahe chahenge ki mahila thaana haar jaye?'

'Aur nahi toh kya!' taunted Pushpa Ji. 'Sab purush aapki tarah thodi na hota hain Sir! Humare haar se aapke siwa kisi aur ko kya fayda hogi?'

'Arrey bhadak kahe rahe hain aap dono? Ooh ka hain na ki... udhta udhta sunne mein aya hain jo thaana last ayega usko bandh kar diya jayega? Aur ee Mahila police thaana toh last aa rahi hain. Ab thaana bandh ho jayega toh DSP Sar jarur Haseena Madam ka transfer yanha headquarter mein