Part 6

6

“I am going! Are you interested?” he asked his cousin Ravindra Pratap.  “No!” came an answer from behind the book.

“Oh! Come on!” BPS pulled him.  Ravindra Pratap got up reluctantly.  “Not now! Look at the time!” he said.  “It was late in the evening...!” Bhanu Pratap sat down.  “Ok. Tomorrow!” he gave up.

“We will be on trek!” Ravindra Pratap pointed out.  “Humm..! I will call her!” he said.  Picking up the phone.

“Hello Aunty... Disha...!” he started off.  Ravindra Pratap watched.  “Yeah... wanted to talk to her!” Bhanu Pratap winked at him waiting for Disha to come o the phone!

“Hey.. Disha! Congratulations!.... yeah! Wanted to come home.. but its late now!  Oh! Ok... Yeah... Ok.  Yeah... Sunday evening, Sure! Yeah, Ravi is here... Ok!” he disconnected grinning.

“Sunday party!” he said thumping on Ravindra’s back sending him forward with a jerk.

“Bhai...!” Ravindra moved out of his reach.  

*********    **********    ********

Disha had a great time with all her friends, teachers and acquaintances that Sunday!  BSP and Ravindra Pratap too attended the party.

“You are the inspiration..!” Disha said and Bhanu looked down embarrassed.  He too had secured his place in the national level merit list a couple of years back.  Dr. Salil smiled broadly.  

“But you stood first!” Dharini said proudly throwing her nose up.  Bhanu smiled.  “Yeah, stood first!” Dhatri imitated and Bhanu lifted her smiling broadly.  

“She will be going to Delhi for her 11^th and 12^th!” Papa said and Bhanu looked up surprised.

“Yeah!” she said looking down with her ears growing red.  He chuckled.  He had plans for IIT and had appeared for IIT JEE! She stole glance at him looking away.  Mamma was little nervous to send her daughter away but looking at the results she had agreed.

“Yeah.. I am also going with her.  I am also first!” Dhatri said trying not to lag behind.

“Yeah... she is also... first standard!” Dharini said giggling.  “But I am not going anywhere!” she declared and Dhatri was in dilemma.  “Umm.... I am also not going...!” she wouldn’t leave her Rini didi.  Disha giggled.  “Yes.  I will go first and then may be you two will follow!” she said getting little serious.  

“Ravindra Beta... Do you want ice cream?” asked Mamma and he shook his head.  “No!” he said with an accent.  “No!” Dhatri mimicked sending laughter everywhere.  “I think we should leave now!” he said and was immediately mimicked by Dhartri.  “Shut up!” he yelled and Dharini came forward shielding her sister.  “You shut up! This is our house!” she yelled back.  Dhatri looked frightened.  Mamma came forward.

“Dharini, they are Didi’s friends!” she said pushing behind Dharini who was all set to pick up the fight.

“Dharini, they are Didi’s friends!” Dhatri mimicked in exact tone and Dharini burst out in laughter.  Ravindra didn’t react.   He had already reached the door and Bhanu Pratap Singh BPS followed.  

“By the way, we are planning a trek ... Bandhavgarh..! Will you be interested?” BPS asked Disha and she looked up at her father.

“When?” he asked.  “Next weekend!” BPS declared.  “Ravindra will be going back by june first week and my JEE results will be out! So before that, we are planning one more trek!” he said looking at grumpy face of Ravindra Pratap.  

“Going? Where? Why is everyone going?” Dhatri asked loudly and a line of smile appeared on Ravindra’s face.

“He is going back to USA!” Bhanu said pulling Dhatri’s plait fondly.  “He was on assignment for fifteen days on Buddhist caves...!” informed Bhanu.  

“Caves... where ghosts stay...! Laxumbai told me!” Dhatri broke apart from Bhanu.  Dharini giggled.  “Buddhu, there are no Ghosts... !” Dharini pulled Dhatri closer giggling.  Dhatri pursed her lips.  “I know, there are ghosts in caves!” she said with conviction.  “Forget it!” Dharini gave up as she had more pressing matter in hand.  “Even I want to go for the trek!” she said looking at Bhanu hopefully.  He shook his head.  “You are too young for this trek! May be some other simple trek, I will take you along!” he said consoling Dharini and Disha nodded. Dharini went away with Dhatri sulkily.

*********   *********   *********

“What?” Bhanu got up with a jerk looking shocked.  “When?” he asked over the phone.  Ravindra looked up.  

“Oh God!” Bhanu kept the phone and sat with a thud.  “What?” Ravindra raised his eyebrows looking at Bhanu’s Aghast face.  

“Amma...!” Bhanu called out loudly and his mother came out.  “Amma did you hear that? There was a naxal attack.  

“What? When?” she asked shocked.  “Last night! Amma, they took Disha’s sister!” he said looking ghostly and Ravindra got up with a jerk.

“What? Which one? When? We were there last evening..!” he too was shocked.  The two younger girls, one very aggressive, quarrelsome and the other mimicry artist..!” he didn’t know who, but both were lively and playful.  

“Naxalites?” He clenched his fists.  Bhanu stood up.  “I am going!” he said moving out.  Ravindra followed.  “Wait!” he called out.  But Bhanu had already started his bike leaving Ravindra behind.