TALAASH - Reliving the Past

7. A Family

On swiftly turning back, she finds the subject of her 6-hour study calmly standing right behind her chair with a pleasant smile on her face. On the other hand, Karishma was in a dilemma if she should clarify her inner turmoil with the person responsible for the very thing but wouldn't it be so immature to expect personal attention from a colleague? Were they just colleagues after all? Shooing away her thousand thoughts, she proceeds to ask,
KS: Kyu Maddam Sir? Don't we deserve to be in your memories? (trying hard to keep her tone normal)

HM: (Chuckling) Those are my professional diaries Karishma Singh.. Not my personal one.. And you know what MPT means to me!

KS: A family!?

HM: from the very first day! So do you think it would be ideal to write about you guys in this diary? (taking the diary from Karishma's hands and keeping it back on the stack)

A tiny smile appeared on Karishma's face hearing the importance they hold in Haseena's life.
KS: So you have a personal dairy too!?

HM: How about a dinner date? I'm so hungry Karishma Singh (making an tired face and keeping a hand on her stomach)

As soon as Karishma heard the word 'dinner', she checked her wristwatch and gasped looking at the time.
KS: 8 baj gaye? Bhakk! I didn't even prepare our dinner yet. (with a tensed face)

HM: koi baat nahi Karishma Singh.. Hum dono keliye hum online me order karlenge.. don't worry.. (in a calm tone)

KS: nahi nahi maddam sir.. baahar ka khana bilkul bhi nahi.. kaa.. ammi ko kaatil banaane ka iraada hai kya..

HM: Arey Karishma Singh.. Aap ghabraiye mat.. ammi aapko kuch nahi karegi.. beti maanti hai woh aapko..

KS: Hum aapke baare me keh rahe hai maddam sir.. ammi humko kyu maaregi.. unko toh acche se pataa hai ki hum online me kuch bhi order nahi karte..

HM: Theek hai.. (raising her both hands) aap hi aaraamse dinner cook keejiye.. hum bhi help karenge aapko.. chaliye..

KS: Hmm.. That's like my good senior..

HM: Good friend Karishma Singh.. off-duty hai hum..

KS: Ji..
And Karishma moved towards the kitchen followed by her friend.
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After an hour,
Karishma was feeding Haseena while Haseena was browsing through her smartphone checking some official emails on her departmental email ID.
HM: Karishma Singh.. Department se email aaya hai.. agle hafte duty join karne ke liye keh rahe hai..

KS: Accha huva Maddam Sir.. Tab tak aapke Ghav bhi bhar jaayenge..

HM: Vaise Karishma Singh.. Billu aur Cheeta kaise hai..

KS: Billu kuch chooron ki conference ke liye Goa gaya hai.. aur cheete apne ghar me rest kar raha hai.. Santu has moved in with him..

HM: Ohhh.. Accha hua.. They can come together for their duty now..

KS: (Confusingly) Lekin Maddam Sir.. Santu toh cyber cell me kaam kar rahi hai na..

HM: Haa Karishma Singh.. lekin agle hafte woh bhi hum sab ke saath MPT join kar rahi hai as an ASI.. Hame kal unke transfer letter aur promotion letter ki carbon copy mili thi... Hum aapko bataana bhool gaye..

KS: Wah.. Bahut badiyaa Maddam Sir.. hum bahut miss kar rahe the Santu ko.. Aakirkaar itne dinon ke baad team MPT phir se ek horahi hai.. (with an ear to ear smile)