Tera guroor laazmi hain...
Tu pasand uski hain jise koi pasand nahi aati

SHO Haseena Mallik entered the Mahila Police Thana and found the whole team standing together, the air was tensed. But today she was in no mood to participate in their daily chatter. Instead she gravely addressed her SI.

'Karishma Singh woh sharaabi wale case ka kuch solution hua?'

'Nahi Madam Sir.'

Haseena nodded gravely. 'Humein pata tha zor zabardasti karke kuch nahi hoga. Humein kuch aur sochna hoga. 5 minute baad humare cabin mein aiye aap sab. Discuss karke dekhte hain kya idea nikalta hain.'

As she moved towards her cabin, Pushpa ji couldn't help but ask eagerly. 'Bag mein kya hain Madam Sir?'

Haseena did not even crack a smile. 'Humara neeji samaan hain Pushpa Ji.'

And that's when they knew that their usually mild mannered SHO was not to be messed with today.

...

Karishma Singh came to her desk and slumped down on her chair. Madam Sir had, for the past half an hour, explained her very elaborate plan to teach the drunkard a lesson. As usual Karishma didn't quite agree that it would work. Also as usual, Karishma was still going to participate in the plan because Madam Sir had asked her to.

She put her head in her hands hoping to sort out the ongoing battle inside her head. She didn't know why she was feeling irritated and hurt.

Well, she could take a guess.

It was no secret that she was extremely protective of Madam Sir. So she was most probably worried that Haseena was still being soft towards Anu Bhaiya and setting herself up for even more heartbreak.
And Karishma didn't quite know how to stop her without overstepping boundaries.

That would explain the irritation.

It didn't explain the hurting.

— 'Do minute hum bahar ka gaye Madam chal di... haan thik hain senior ne bulaya tha, jaana hi tha. Humein bata sakti thi. Cheetah ya Santu ko saath le ja sakti thi. Akele gupshup kya karna tha. Aur woh gift... jaahir baat hain Anu Bhaiya ne hi diya... kyun diya? "Sorry gift"? Aur unhone le liya? Itni asaani se?

Ka ho sakta hain gift bag mein? Hum galti se dhakka marke gira de toh? Tut jayega?

Toh phir ab? Ab kya? Dono sach mein saath hona chahte hain kya? ... huye toh tum kya karogi Karishma Singh?

Hum... hum ka kar sakte hain? Hum kuch nahi kar sakte...
Achha woh itne sade huye mood mein kyun hain? Anu Bhaiya ne phirse koi garbad toh nahi ki? Sach mein mood kharab hain ya sawal avoid karne ke liye naatak kar rahi hain'—

Karishma was engaged in a furious debate with herself, staring unseeingly into the space, when suddenly the hair on the back of her neck prickled and she had a feeling that she was being watched. Instinctively she turned towards Madam Sir's cabin. And found Haseena staring straight back at her. When their eyes met, Haseena held her gaze.
Somehow she wasn't looking as moody as earlier.

— Ka? Ka dekh rahi hain?
Karishma asked in her mind.

—Aapko dekh rahe hain.
Haseena answered back in her thoughts.

Neither of them were actually speaking the words aloud. They didn't have to. The other could understand perfectly.

—Haan haan kyun nahi. Jab chahe taad lijiye; jab chahe andekha kar dijiye. Hum toh yehi padhe rahte hain aapke khunte se bandhe huye.

— Karishma Singh... humne kya kaha tha aapse?

— Aap toh bohot kuch kehti rehti hain.

— Yeh aapki bina puri baat jaane matlab nikaal lene ki bimari ka ilaaj karenge hum... kaha tha na?

— Humne aapse kuch puchha toh nahi. Kahe safai de rahi hain?

— Toh puchh lijiye.

— Puchhna kya hain. Dikh toh raha hain sab kuch.

— Jo dikhta hain woh hamesha hota nahi hain Karishma Singh. Aur jo hota hain, usko hum nazarandaz kar dete hain.

— Achha? Aap humare dil ki baat itne achhe se samajhti hain toh khud hi bata dijiye. Invitation ka wait kahe kar rahi hain.

— uhu pehle puchhiye humse aakar.

— hum nahi kuch puchhne wale.

— puchhna toh aapko padhega.

— humko jaanna hi nahi hain. Aap headquarter mein ishq ladaiye ya satsang kijiye. Humko koi fark nahi padhta.

— thik hain... dekhte hain.

Haseena kept looking with a tiny smile curving the corner of her mouth. Karishma looked right back, with an angry pout.

Neither of them noticed that the three constables had returned from their tea break, and were now watching this intense staring session with varying degrees of confusion on their faces.

'Madam Sir aur Karishma Madam zarur competition kar rahi hain,' Santu said in a dramatic whisper. 'Jisne pehle palak jhapki woh haar jayegi.'

'Kabhi aap bhi humare saath yeh game kheliye na Santu ji,' whispered Cheetah shyly. 'Waise ka lagta hain haarnewali jeetnewali ko kaa dengi?'

'Tum dono bilkul bachhe ho,' whispered Pushpa Ji. 'Humein lagta dono aankhon aankhon mein kuch baat kar rahi hain.'

'POOSHPA JI MUH KHOLE BINA BADNAAM ISPECIAL CHAI BHI NAHI PEE JAATI, BAAT KAISE HOGI?'

Shatrughan-Badnaam's haunting appearance caused the three to scream in shock, which in turn made their two Madams jump in fright and break their eye-lock.

Life returned to normal at MPT. Badnaam received a stinging slap on his face from You-Know-Who, before leaving with the empty tea glasses.

...

In the evening, Haseena Mallik was wrapping up for the day, a little lost in thoughts. Pushpa ji was on night duty today so it would be her and Karishma Singh alone in the house tonight.

Three days ago, this wouldn't have been a big deal. Now however.....

Her thoughts were interrupted by some disturbances audible from outside. Haseena stepped out and bumped straight into Karishma Singh who was also about to go in search of the source. They grasped onto each other's arms to prevent the collision.

It wasn't the first time Haseena Mallik was gripping Karishma Singh's strong muscular arms. She had done it many times before; mostly to hold her back from charging like a bull in a china shop; but sometimes also to get her attention; and once or twice for no reason at all.

But never before did she get this sudden scary urge to glide her hand up the arm and inside her sleeves to check if Karishma's skin was just as warm and satin-like all the way.

The moment Haseena realised where her thoughts had travelled, she removed her hand from Karishma's as if scalded.

Karishma let Haseena move away without any question or reaction. Because she was feeling guilty and confused. It wasn't the first time she had felt Haseena Mallik's skin. It was however the first time when her fingers had dug into Haseena's skin, wanting to prolong the contact.

Karishma had always liked how despite her broader and taller frame, Haseena Mallik was so curvy and soft. But never before did her disobedient brain wonder if Haseena was just as soft and fleshy in other places too.

Karishma fisted her hands, clenched her jaw and rolled her shoulders to bring herself back to a non-dangerous place. Busy with herself, she completely missed Haseena's deep blush and stiffening body language as the SHO battled her own unruly thoughts.

The awkwardness of the moment would probably have stretched if not for the growing sounds of a fight dragging their attention back to where they had meant to go in the first place.

The scuffle was located to be happening in front of the jail, between Billu and Cheetah. Both the men were having a tug of war with a bag. Cheetah was trying to pull the bag away from Billu while the latter clung onto it for dear life.

'Nar-pisaach main kehta hu chhor. Mujhe dekhna hain andar ka chhupa raha hain tu.'

'Nahi yeh meri Maa ki aakhri nishani hain ise main nahi dikha sakta,' grunted Billu while still trying to hold on.

'Aye Billa bakwas mat kar,' warned Pushpa Ji.

'Arrey Maah aap ki baat nahi kar raha hu, bachpan mein jo Maa thi unki baat kar raha hu.'

'Achha phir thik hain.'

'Arrey ka thik hain Pushpa Ji, Maa ki nishani hain bhi toh narbhakshi humse kahe chhupana chahta hain?'

'Chhupa kanha raha tha, main toh bas chup chap apne Billu Niwas mein ja raha tha... like an obedient citizen.'

'Na na Billote tu pucca kuch chhupa raha hain. Hum na tere rag rag se wakif hain.'

'Ama ka bakeiti challa yanha par? Thana nahi hua Khao Gali ka market ho gaya hain. Jab dekho jhik-jhik chalu.'

Karishma Singh's voice brought an abrupt stop to the tussle. Billu's face paled seeing both Karishma Singh and Haseena Mallik standing there.

'Dekhiye na Madam, yeh Billu ji kuch chhupa kar le jaa rahe the jail ke andar. Abhi Cheetah ne dikhane bola toh aise ladd rahe hain,' said Santosh Sharma.

'Maine kaha na main chhupa nahi raha tha, yeh mere bachpan ki maa ki aakhri nishani hain... bas isliye'

'BILLE!'
Karishma's one word warning stopped Billu's lame excuses.

'Billu, bag mein kya hain? Humein bhi dikhao tumhari bachpan ki maa tumhe kya de kar gayi hain,' said Madam Sir calmly.

'Woh woh Madam Sir... humein sharm aa rahi hain.'

'Achha,' said Karishma, 'koi baat nahi hum khaandaani besharam hain. Idhar do hum khud hi dekh lenge.'

Billu hugged the bag like they were asking him to hand over his firstborn.

Tired of waiting, Karishma snatched the bag from Billu's trembling hands. What they found inside was so anticlimactic that they all looked at Billu with furious suspicion. The bag was filled with oranges.

'Santre??? Tumhari Maa tumre liye Santre chhor gayi hain?'

'Santre nahi... main toh bag ki baat kar raha tha. Maa khali bag chhor kar gayi thi. Santre usme maine apni mehnat se daale hain.'

Karishma made Cheetah count the number of oranges, which were found to be one dozen. Karishma quickly looked around at the team and said — 'Bohot badhiya. Sab log do do santre le lo. Bekar main humara time waste karne ka sajaa hain yeh.'

Billu burst into (fake) tears. 'Karishma Madam please humare saath itna bada zulm mat kijiye. Mujh ghareeb par rahem khaiye.
Madam Sir... Madam Sir, aapke hote huye aisi nainsaafi kaise hone de sakti hain? Main aapka apna, pyara sa, bhola sa, naata sa, Spy hu.'

Haseena smiled widely. 'Kaisi nainsaafi Billu? Pichhle teen din mein tumne Iqbal aur Badnaam se Pushpa Ji, Cheetah aur Santosh ke naam se udhari khayi hain. Aaj santre khilakar chukta kar do. Waise bhi hum sab toh ek family  jaise hain na.... Apno ke saath khana baantne mein khushi milti hain.'

Billu watched with feeble protests as all the MPT members took two oranges each and left just two for him in the bag.

'Khair hum aur Karishma Singh abhi nikalte hain. Aur Santu tumko bhi tumhare quarter tak drop kar denge.'

'Nahi Madam Sir, mujhe meri ek friend se milna hain toh main rickshaw le lungi.'

'Achha thik hain. Pushpa Ji aap aur Cheetah night duty par hain na? Dhyaan se rahiyega. Hum dono ka phone chalu rahega toh koi bhi zarurat ho, turant phone kar lijiye ga humein ya inhe.'

They all saluted her and left for their respective destinations. The moment Haseena Mallik and Karishma Singh were alone inside the car, the tension between them returned.

Karishma realised that this time Madam Sir was not going to break her silence easily. But Karishma was also in no mood to show just how impatient she was to know what had happened at the headquarters.

Since neither of them wanted to be the first to talk, after a few minutes, Haseena turned on the radio to fill the thick silence in the car. The prelude of a song was just beginning and Haseena increased the volume curiously.

Jise zindagi dhoondh rahi hai
Kya yeh woh makaam mera hai
Yahan chain se bas ruk jaaoon
Kyun dil yeh mujhe kehta hai
Jazbaat naye se mile hain

Karishma glanced worriedly at Haseena, wondering if the words would trigger unpleasant memories... OR...

She saw a soft smile grace Haseena's face, lighting up her features.

Haan kisi shayar ki ghazal
Jo de rooh ko sukoon ke pal
Koi mujhko yun mila hai
Jaise banjaare ko ghar

OR maybe the romantic lyrics would remind her of a possible reconciliation, a flame that still burnt somewhere secretly.
Karishma yet again felt that odd pain in her chest.

Gripping the steering wheel tightly, she swallowed and kept her eyes on the road and tried not to think about how Madam Sir must be thinking about Anu Bhaiya.
Next moment, she silently scolded herself for feeling things that she had no right to feel.

Naye mausam ki sehar
Ya sard mein do-pahar
Koi mujhko yun mila hai
Jaise banjaare ko ghar

Haseena sat back with a sigh and rested her head against the seat, letting the music wash over her as memories played in her mind like a movie...
.

Jaise koi kinaara, deta ho sahara
Mujhe woh mila kisi mod par...

... that first time She had marched in... rotating her keys in a completely filmy style... that first stone thrown from the crowd, that could never touch her because She had become Haseena Mallik's shield from that very first day...

Koi raat ka tara, karta ho ujala..
Vaise hi roshan kare wo shehar

... sach bataye na toh abhi hume Karishma Singh ki bohot yaad aa rahi hain, agar woh hoti na toh...
"Karishma Singh reporting Madam Sir"...

Dard mere woh bhula hi gaya
Kuchh aisa asar hua
Jeena mujhe phir se woh sikha rahaa...

... Madam Sir aapko hosh mein rehna hain ... aapko aankhein bandh nahi karna hain...

Hmm.. jaise barish kar de tar
Ya marham dard par
Koi mujhko yun mila hai
Jaise banjaare ko ghar

... Hum na Madam Sir aapko kuch hone hi denge. Hum hain aapke saath... aapko kuch nahi hoga...

Naye mausam ki sehar
Ya sard mein do-pahar
Koi mujhko yun mila hai
Jaise banjaare ko ghar...

... Madam Sir humare liye... fighting for you aur fighting to breathe... dono ek hi baat hain...

Haseena's eyes were shut and a broad smile played on her face as the memories made her feel warm and tingly.

Karishma chanced a sideways glance and saw Haseena smiling broadly, her dimple on full display. That damn dimple! Karishma could not recall when that dimple had become her motivation. She wanted to be the reason behind that smile.

.
.
.

Muskaata yeh chehra, deta hai jo pehra
Jaane chhupaata kya dil ka samandar

... Karishma Singh yeh dargah ka dhaaga hain.. hum chahte hain ki kushti ke maidaan mein aap ise pehnkar utre.. yeh aapki hifaazat karega...

Auron ko to hardam saaya deta hai
Woh dhoop mein hai khada khud magar

... Madam Sir ne hum sabko iss drugs case se door rakha taki hum sab safe rahe... apni team ki jaan khatre mein nahi daalna chahti thi woh......

... Haseena ji aapko iss mission par iss liye nahi leke jana chahti hain Karishma Singh kyunki iss mission se jeevit wapas lautna asambhav hain... yeh aapko surakshit rakhna chahti hain aur aap inhe swarthi keh rahi hain........

Chot lagi hai use phir kyun
Mehsoos mujhe ho raha
Dil tu bata de kya hai irada tera..

... Haseena shrieking in pain as the virus spread through her blood... Haseena bleeding through the nose as the poison took over... Haseena losing consciousness... Haseena collapsing into her arms...

Hmm.. Main parinda besabar
Thha udaa jo dar-badar
Koi mujhko yun mila hai
Jaise banjaare ko ghar

... Hum apni zindagi ke liye nahi ladd rahe the Karishma Singh. Hum fanaa hone ke liye taiyyar the... bas aapko ek aur minute ke liye dekhna tha...

Naye mausam ki sehar
Ya sard mein do-pahar
Koi mujhko yun mila hai
Jaise banjaare ko ghar

... Mashallah Karishma Singh aap bohot khubsoorat lag rahi hain...

Jaise banjaare ko ghar... jaise banjaare ko ghar... jaise banjaare ko ghar...

'Ghar aa gaya Madam Sir.'

...

Karishma's self-control lasted a full thirteen minutes after entering the house.

She saw Haseena still had that irritating gift bag in her hand. They entered Karishma's room together. Haseena placed the gift bag on a chair and asked if she could use the washroom first, then took some clothes and left to get changed. Karishma sat on the bed pulling pins out of her bun, and glared at the gift bag. It was tempting her. And of course she knew that's exactly why Haseena had left it there. It was a trap.

She furiously chewed her bottom lip, fingers itching, while her brain sent out warning signals.

Haseena came out of the washroom, looking soft and adorable in her home clothes. Karishma got distracted looking at her. She had never seen a woman look so strong and so soft at the same time.

— 'Aapke husband ke saath aapki koi tasveer kyun nahi hain?'

— 'Anu Bhaiya ne aapko kya gift diya hain?'

They had both spoken at the same time. Now they both froze and looked awkwardly at each other.

But Karishma decided to power through- a) because she was dying to know and b) because she did not want to answer Haseena's question.

'Haan toh kya gift diya?' she asked determinedly.

'Gift nahi diya, gift wapis kiya hain,' said Haseena softly. 'Humne jo gifts unhe diye the... ek jhuthe naatak ko saccha rishta samajh kar jo gifts humne diye the, woh sab wapis kar diya hain. Isi liye Headquarters bulaya tha unhone.'

Karishma didn't know how to react. She felt really bad for Haseena. But she also couldn't help the overwhelming feeling of relief flowing through her body at the moment.

'Bas itna hi? Kuch aur nahi kaha unhone?'
She had to be sure.

'Ji bilkul kaha. Unhone kaha ki hum chahe toh yeh gifts dukaan walo ko wapis kar sakte hain. Phir maafi mangi, aur phirse safaai di ki unhone jo bhi kiya apne karm aur dharm ke liye kiya...'

Haseena paused and looked straight at Karishma before saying, 'Aur kaha ki woh agent hain; agent ko pyar karne ki ijaazat nahi hoti.'

She then quietly waited for Karishma to ask what she already knew Karishma was going to ask next.

'Aur ijaazat hoti toh? Woh aapke paas wapis aye kabhi toh?' Karishma's voice trembled a little.

'Nahi jante Karishma Singh,' answered Haseena. 'Aaj hume realise hua ki hum toh Anubhav ko jaante hi nahi hain. Hum jinse mile the woh toh Agent Anubhav Singh the. Aur Agent Anubhav Singh ne pehle din se hume sirf wohi dikhaya, jitna humare dil ko jeetne ke liye zaruri tha. Bas utna hi haq diya, jitna ki humko kamzor