Inside Thaana 2, there was pin-drop silence. Karishma Singh, Santosh Sharma, Cheetah Chaturvedi and Billu Champat were all standing in a line and guiltily watching their Madam Sir, who had gone from glaring at her prodigal team to staring broodingly at the FIR Register.

Haseena Mallik was yet to utter a single word since revealing her disguise. The Thaana 2 game was well and truly up, now that their SHO had caught the MPT red-handed; but they were still awaiting their sentencing. The outburst of anger that they had expected from Haseena had not occurred. She didn't shout at them, didn't beat them up or punish them in any way. Instead Haseena had gone eerily quiet.

Minutes ticked by. As the silence stretched uncomfortably, the two constables and Billu looked helplessly at their SI. But for once Karishma Singh had no words. She looked white as a sheet, unsure and worried.

Haseena's silence was not a power play. She wasn't purposely making her team wait in discomfort. She was simply afraid that if she opened her mouth, she would break down and embarrass herself in front of them. So she needed some time to swallow all her feelings down. Her mind was a mess, torn between a girl who felt thoroughly betrayed and wanted to hide away somewhere — and a leader who needed to stand strong and address her team's deception.

Undoubtedly the leader would win over the girl. The leader had always won over the girl. So when she finally looked up, her face was devoid of any expression.
'FIR likhiye,' she told Santu.

This soft command nearly disbalanced Santu and she looked in anxious puzzlement at her SHO, unsure if she had heard correctly.

Apparently Haseena understood her confusion and repeated herself, a little more firmly. 'FIR likhiye Constable Santosh Sharma.'

If anything, Santu looked even more terrified and looked to her Karishma Madam for help. Haseena's voice seemed to have brought Karishma out of her frozen state and now she was frowning at the SHO, trying to understand where this was going.

'Kaisa FIR Madam Sir?' Karishma asked tentatively.

'Jo FIR hum yanha likhwane aaye they – Cheating ka. Humari team ne humein dhokha diya hain, aur jab hum Mahila Police Thaana gaye toh humein bataya gaya ki woh thaana ab bekar ho chuki hain, faltu hain. Khud wanha ki Head Constable ne humse kaha ki aaj kal wanha complaint nahi lii jaati hain. Instead, yanha iss... "naye" thaane mein complaint lii jaati hain. Toh here I am. Likhiye complaint.'

The officers exchanged curious but concerned glances. What was their Madam Sir talking about?

'Kahin Madam Sir humari kartoot se sadme mein toh nahi aa gayi?' Billu whispered to Cheetah.

Cheetah opened his mouth but couldn't find the correct words, so closed it back again and shrugged helplessly.

'Madam Sir woh hum—' Karishma tried.

'—aap Inspector Karishma Singh,' interrupted Haseena, 'Aap aur aapki team ne yeh davaa kiya hain ki aap Mahila Police Thaana aur uski 2G bail gaadi SHO se behtar hain aur humein yanha par 4G ghoda gaadi ke speed se insaaf milegi. Toh dilaiye insaaf. Humne toh suna tha Karishma Singh apne vaade ki bohot pucci hain... jhooth hain kya yeh baat?'

Karishma was unnerved by Haseena's words. But what truly scared her and the rest of the team was the calm, coldly formal way in which Haseena was speaking to them. She hadn't ever spoken to them in this tone; not since their first ever introduction. At her wit's end, Karishma just dumbly shook her head when asked if her claim to always keep her promises were empty.

'Good, toh phir complaint register kijiye,' said Haseena with a short nod. 'Santosh Sharma, please sit down and do your duty.'

Well that was easier said than done. Santu nearly stumbled into the chair, her hands shaking a little as she started filing a complaint against her own self and her own team; the complainant being her own boss.

'Dhaarayen aap khud laga lengi ya hum bataye?' Haseena asked casually. 'Nahi? No problem, pehla case hoga IPC Section 415 ke tahad......' Haseena rattled off the details of the clause of cheating and misappropriation.

By the end of her statement, Santu's hands were shaking so much that she could barely read her own handwriting.

'Aapki tabiyat kharab lag rahi hain Santosh Sharma, koi baat nahi, Constable Cheetah Chaturvedi, aap aaiye, agla case aap register kijiye,' ordered Haseena calmly.

'Ag—ag— agla case?' stammered Cheetah.

'Hmm... aaiye baithiye...... haan toh humara agla complaint hain under IPC Section 166A – Public Servants disobeying direction of Law... intentionally....' Haseena proceeded to list seven sub-sections under which the team had committed offence by misusing and misrepresenting the power of their uniform.

By the end of it, all of them could feel their knees shivering.

Haseena meanwhile calmly got up and gathered the pieces of her earlier disguise. 'Thank you humara complaint lene ke liye. I hope daave ke maafik, humein yanha se instant justice milegi. Good day aap sabko.' Saying so she walked out of Thaana 2 as if nothing unusual had happened.

For the first few seconds nobody moved. Then all four moved together. Billu was beating his fist against his forehead and wailing that Madam Sir would now surely throw him out of his Billu Niwas. Cheetah and Santu were lamenting the loss of their career, and potential jail time, speaking over each other and desperately asking for help from Karishma and... God, alternately.

'Ama chup karo sab ke sab!' screamed Karishma. 'Suno idhar sab kuch turant pack karo aur jao Mahila thaana. Wanha Pushpa Ji ko bhi batao sab aur dekho yeh Madam Sir ne unko ullu kaise banaya.' She put on her sunglasses and pulled out her bike keys.

'Madam aap kidhar jaa rahi ho?'

'Hum... Madam Sir ko manaane ja rahe hain,' muttered Karishma worriedly.

...

Haseena Mallik, still with black make-up paint all over her body, her normal wavy hair sleeked back with gel and still in Frida's gaudy clothes but minus the wig and the sunglasses, was attracting some funny looks from passersby as she marched down the road. The looks might also have something to do with the fact that for the past three minutes, a motorbike... a police motorbike, was trundling along beside her, with a police officer astride it.

Karishma Singh did not stop Haseena or try to block her way. She simply dragged the bike along, keeping pace with the walking woman. Another hundred yards of this behaviour and Haseena finally stopped and turned around to face the officer who looked guilty and innocent at the same time.

'Kya chahiye?' Haseena asked plainly.

'Aap ghar jaa rahi hain na change karne? Hum le chalte hain aapko,' replied Karishma.

'Thank you Karishma Singh lekin humein zarurat nahi hain. Hum manage kar lenge.'

'Aap yanha gaadi lekar toh nahin aayi thi. Aur aise get-up mein koi rickshaw aapko nahi lega,' Karishma reasoned.

Haseena did not answer and resumed her walking. So Karishma too resumed hopping the bike along with the support of her feet.

'Fresh hokar aapko thaana bhi toh jaana hain. Toh humare saath chaliye na.'

'No thank you.'

Therefore the walking-dragging-hopping-motorbike parade continued for a further couple of hundred meters.

'Sab dekh rahe hain,' whined Karishma.

'Toh aap aisi harqat mat kijiye na. Aap police nahi hoti toh log samajhte akeli ladki ko chhed rahi hain,' snapped Haseena.

This drama proceeded as they reached the main road, where there were a lot more people and a lot more stares. Haseena tried to get a rickshaw. Karishma waited beside her on her bike. No rickshaws stopped for Haseena aka Frida. Some drivers slowed and took a look at the weird looking woman, until their eyes fell on the police officer beside her who would give them a death-glare. The drivers wisely sped away.

After ten minutes of this recurrence, Haseena furiously climbed behind Karishma and the SI zoomed her bike away towards Haseena's apartment.

Once they reached the house, Haseena got off and walked inside; without looking back; without inviting Karishma to come in.

...

The shower water beating down on Haseena's back was way too hot, but she let it be. She felt like she wanted to wash away more than just make-up paint. She let her hot tears mix with the water. Why was it hurting so much? In her mind she kept trying to reason with herself.

'Yeh toh expected tha na? Pichhle kuch dino se isi ki toh intezaar thi. Yehi toh prove karne nikle they. Toh rona kyun aa raha hain? Jis din Billu, Badnaam aur Iqbal ne humein pehli baar roka, usi din shaq ho gaya tha ki yeh involved hain. Pushpa ji ki over-acting, Cheetah-Santu ka ghanto thaana se gayab rehna... phir unn teeno ki voice recording janha unhone practically confess kiya tha ki woh humse jhooth bol rahe hain... inn sab ka toh humko pehle se hi idea tha na? Aur Karishma Singh?? Unn par toh humko sab se pehle shaq hua... kyunki jis Karishma ko hum jaante hain woh nazre mila kar baat karti hain; aur inn dino woh humse nazre chura rahi thi... unka body language... cases ka achaanak nipat jaana, FIRs wapis ho jana... humko sab kuch toh dikh raha tha. Aaj toh bas jigsaw ka pura picture complete hua hain... toh itna kyun dukh raha hain? Itna zyada kyun dukh raha hain??'

Deep down, Haseena knew exactly why it was hurting. It wasn't the incident itself. It was something else. A feeling that Haseena had experienced many times throughout her life – Abandoned. Akhir mein sab humko chhor dete hain...

But the leader had to win over the girl. So the girl might want to curl up in bed and not face the world; but the leader did not have that luxury. SHO Haseena Mallik would have to go back to the police station – her apparently bekar, faltu, no-good police station and do her job, no matter how useless, slow 2G bullock cart some people might think of her performance.

Haseena got dressed in her police uniform for the second time that day. As she was setting her hair in front of the mirror, a technicolour film roll was playing inside her head, showing scenes from different times in her life..................................

'Ammi kal Ruksana ka birthday hain. Class mein sabko usne party mein bulaya lekin humein nahi bulaya. Humein kyun nahi bulaya Ammi?'

'Jaane de na beta. Chal shaam ko Dilkusha chalte hain, kachori-chaat khayenge dono maa-beti?'

'Thik hain....'

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'Noor behen... woh humne Haseena beti ko ghar par invite nahi kiya toh aap bura mat maaniyega. Woh kuchhi din pehle usne apne Abbu ko khoya hain na, toh humein laga ki shayad usey yeh sab shor-sharaba, gaana-bajana achha nahi lagega...'

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'... woh hum finals ke liye group study kar rahe they. Haseena tujhe toh shayad yeh sab nahi pasand isi liye tujhse nahi kaha... tujhe aana tha kya?'

'Ab toh finals aa gaye hain. Humne syllabus puri kar li hain, toh rehne do.'

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'Arrey aap sab picnic pe jaa rahe ho?'

'Ha—an... woh achaanak se plan bani thi society meeting ke baad, is liye tumko aur tumhari Ammi ko puchhne ka mauka hi nahin mila... Tumhari Ammi ko waise bhi tumhari Khaala ke ghar jaana tha na?'

'J-ji ji hum log waise bhi nahi jaa pate. Humare NCC ka camp bhi hain... toh... thik hain koi baat nahi...'

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'Ammi humein functions mein iss liye nahi bulate hain na, kyunki hum gareeb hain? Aur keemti gift nahi de payenge ya zyada fund afford nahi kar payenge?'

'Aisa kuch nahi hain Haseena. Jaane de na. Jo log humein nahi chahte hain unke baarein mein soch kar waqt kyun barbaad karna? Apne dimag ke vault mein sirf keemti logo ko rakkha kar. Chillar party ko toh jeb mein hi bhool ja!!'

Haseena smiled. Her Ammi, despite all her life's struggles, was a pillar of positivity. And that's whom Haseena got it from. But she was also practical.

'Ammi, aapse vaada karte hain ek din hum khud ko itna keemti bana lenge ki log humein khone se pehle sau baar sochenge!'

'Meri bacchi tu keemti hi hain. Bohot keemti hain.'

'Aap humari Ammi ho, aapko toh aisa hi lagega.'

'Zindagi ke kisi mod par sahi log milenge tujhe aur tab tujhe ehsaas hoga ki tu sach mein kitni keemti hain!'

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'Nain... yeh sab kanha ke photos hain?'

'Kaun se— ohh... woh... umm woh actually Manali ke photos hain. Yeh Preety bhi na... manaa kiya tha tag karne ko.'

'Tum Manali gayi thi? Kab? Aur woh bhi Manav ke group ke saath??'

'Haan woh... Preety ke ghar party kar rahe they sab. Achaanak se plan bani aur bas agle hi din hum log bag uthaakar, bus lekar nikal gaye.'

'Ohh... humko bataya nahi ki tu trip pe gayi thi...'

'Kyun tu chalti kya saath mein? Tujhe achha nahi lagta. Tu toh liquid-dry kuch bhi nahi peeti hain. Tu unn logo ke saath bore ho jaati. Aur sabse badhi baat Ammi tujhe kabhi ladkon ke saath trip par jaane ke liye haan nahi karti.'

'Hum jaane ki baat nahi kar rahe hain, lekin tune chhupaya kyun humse?'

'Kyunki tu tokti humko Haseen! Tujhe Manav ka group pasand nahi hain. Unse teri nahi banti, lekin meri banti hain, thik hain? Faltu ka drama ho jata iss liye nahi bataya! Ab tu khamokha overreact mat kar....'

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'Haseena ji yeh pyar rishta sirf ek naatak tha Mission ke liye... Aap ek matr seedhi hain jisse hum Mahipal Singh tak pohoch sakte they...'

'Woh humari jo senior hain na Madam Sir, unse chhupane ke liye humne yanha thaana khola hua hain....'

Haseena forced her mind to shut down the film roll. She did not have the luxury of time. There was lots to be done. Lots....... And for the moment, she decided that she would be doing everything... Alone.

...

When she stepped out of the house, the first thing Haseena saw was Karishma Singh, seated on her parked bike and gazing up longingly at Haseena's window. She cleared her throat, drawing the SI's attention.

'Aap abhi tak yanha kya kar rahi hain?'

'Aapko lekar thaana chalenge. Aapki gaadi toh thaana mein hi hain,' said Karishma, quickly standing up.

Haseena wanted to be harsh and snap at Karishma, but for the fact that the woman had been faithfully waiting on the road for her. A part of Haseena, that big part which was deeply in love with Karishma Singh, regretted not inviting her inside the house.

'Hum filhaal thaana nahi jaa rahe hain. Kuch kaam hain, wanha se kuch der baad thaana ayenge.'

'Hum jaante hain aap kanha jayengi. Chaliye hum le kar chalte hain,' said Karishma morosely.

Haseena's eyebrows flew up in disdain. 'Achha? Kanha jaa rahe hain hum?'

'Abbu se milne.'

Haseena's disdain disappeared and got replaced with awe. And inspite of everything, her heartbeats quickened.

She stood there deliberating for several moments, before sighing resignedly and walked towards Karishma. She was careful not to touch Karishma as she climbed on the bike behind her. Even during the quiet ride, Haseena held on to the seat handle in the back, rather than to the woman in front.

Until an idiotic driver suddenly changed lanes without putting the indicator on; which caused Karishma to apply her brakes abruptly; which caused Haseena to fall forwards and get glued to Karishma's back. Haseena had to grip Karishma's shoulders as the bike jolted precariously for a hot minute before Karishma could get it back under control.

'Sorry,' mumbled Karishma.

'Aapki galti nahi hain,' said Haseena evenly, and kept one hand lightly resting on Karishma's shoulder for the rest of the ride.

They stopped in front of the cemetery and Haseena got off. She eyed Karishma quizzically.

'Aap nahi aa rahi hain?'

'Ah— aaj nahi.'

Haseena looked straight at Karishma for a long moment. Then said quietly, 'Aisa kaam hi kyun karna ki Abbu se nazre na mila paaye...'
She turned and walked away, not waiting to see Karishma's reaction to her words.

The guard gave her an odd look. Police uniforms generally always attracted odd looks but this guard knew Haseena very well. She visited every week. So she couldn't figure out the reason for his look.

Reaching Abbu's grave, per usual Haseena first cleared away the fallen leaves and dirt, then placed the flowers she had bought at the gate. Unlike other days, today Haseena sat down at the foot of the grave, unmindful of getting her uniform dirty. She gazed at the headstone, looking just like a little girl who had come to inform her father that she got this biiig boo-boo and he needed to do something about it.

But Haseena was long past that innocent age where she still expected him to answer back. For years now, Haseena had learnt to answer her own questions. That's the one realisation you have when you lose your father – your guiding lamp is gone. Your compass is gone. Now you're on your own.

But Haseena still thought better in her Abbu's presence. Answers came to her more easily. After gazing at her father's engraved name for a long time, Haseena slowly repeated to herself, his words from once upon a time...

'... Naseeb jinke unche aur mast hote hain, imtehaan bhi unke hi zabardast hote hain;
Waakif nahin ay zamana tu meri udaan se, woh aur they, jo darr gaye they aasmaan se!'

She took a deep breath and squared her shoulders, then gave the headstone a sad smile. 'Hum kar lenge Abbu. Hamesha ki tarah akele hi kar lenge.'

She sat there quietly for a bit, then prepared to read her dua. And that was the exact moment she understood the reason for the guard's odd look. She had forgotten her dupatta. The usual one was lying in her car and messed up as her head was, Haseena had forgotten to carry a spare one when she left the house. Frustrated and suddenly feeling emotional, she covered her face with her hands.

A moment later she felt something being placed on her head. She raised her eyes and saw a light blue dupatta now covering her head and Karishma Singh was gently settling the cloth around her shoulders.

Their eyes remained locked on each other for some time. Then without a word, Haseena adjusted the cloth behind her ears and got into a kneeling position to read her prayers. While she was at it, Karishma sat down on the ground beside her and looked unblinkingly at the headstone.

When Haseena had finished, she sat back down. 'Yeh kanha se mili?' she asked looking ahead rather than at Karishma.

'Paaswale bazaar se khareed kar laaye... aapko bina dupatte ka andar jaate dekha toh...'

And again Haseena's heartbeat quickened. How was she supposed to remain angry with this impossible creature?!

Haseena hardened her heart with some effort. 'Ab hum aapse kya hi kahe Karishma Singh jo humne aapse pehle nahi kaha hain. Ajeeb baat hain na ek taraf aap humari izzat bacha rahi hain, dusri taraf aap hi humari izzat ko sare aam uchhaal bhi rahi hain.'

'Madam Sir, aap samajhne ki koshish kijiye ki humne jo kuch kiya woh kaahe kiya,' said Karishma, trying to control the desperation in her voice. 'Bulbul Pandey ko challenge aapne kiya tha. Purey duniya ke taano ko najarandaaj karke Mahila Thaana ka naam competition mein darj kiya. Bulbul sabke saamne aapka insult kar raha tha. Toh hum ka baith kar dekhte rehte? Hargis nahi...'

'Karishma Singh aap kab samjhengi ki aap jaldbaazi mein kya kar deti hain,'