Part 8

Part 8

Their trek group was around Disha.  Nihira with her parents went to the hospital.  Disha was sitting numb.  One police person was trying to talk to her.  She was in shock.  Nihira’s father came forward and talked to the police person and took him away.  

“Where is Dharini?” Asked Nihira’s mother.  “Dharini?” Disha didn’t know.  “Where  is she?” she got up with a shock looking around.  “Beti, she is at home..!” Dayal chacha held her hand.  Bhanu sat down by her side again.  

“I will take her home!” Nihira’s mother said in a consoling tone.  “Disha, come!” Nihira’s father took her away.  “Beti, I have talked to the inspector.  He won’t harass you.  But you will have to answer their questions.  They are trying their best.  Dhatri...!” he couldn’t complete, as Disha broke down under mental pressure.

“Dhatri... she cried silently missing her badly.  She wanted her back at any cost...!  “Yes uncle.  I will do as you say.  I will do anything to get her back...! I want my Dhatri back!” she said looking up after some time.  All her group nodded with determination.  “Yes we will do anything to get Dhatri back.  To find her out!” they all said.  Nihira’s father looked at the group’s unity proudly.  “That’s good.  Be with her!” he said placing his hand on Nihira’s shoulder.  The group had already started planning for Disha’s stay in the hospital.  Nihira’s mother volunteered to take Dharini to their home but Disha was not sure.  She knew how close the younger sisters were to each other.  Dharini was devastated.  Laxmi bai was taking care of her.  Disha had contacted her Maasi Maa to give her the news.  Anytime she would arrive from Raipur. 

*********   *********   *********

Dhatri was turning in her sleep and the person pinned her to the seat.  They were moving in a SUV comfortably.  Everything had gone according to the plan.  The updates were sent and everything was set for their arrival.  It was in the evening that they reached their first destination.  Dhatri was still under the heavy dose of tranquilizer.  She had not had food in the day.  They had packed some sandwiches and chocolates for her.  But she had not got up.

“I think she is not breathing.  We gave her a heavy dose.” A person sitting by her side said worriedly.  Other person from the front seat bent and signalled the other person.  They SUV stopped.  The person from the front seat got down and opened the hatch.  He looked at Dhatri and kept his hand on her neck feeling for the pulse.

“She will wake up soon.  She is alright...!” he declared getting back to his seat.  The car moved.  They were not talking to each other in their journey.  Everyone seemed to be preoccupied.  Many of them had their headphones on  and listening to something.  A person named Bijoy assumed the responsibility of the kid and was with Dhatri at the back seat.  She was deep in sleep. It was almost 18 hours she was sleeping. 

They had reached their destination in Chandrapur.   She was brought in and was examined by a lady doctor volunteer.  They had a quick meeting to decide further and to give updates to headquarters.  The news was all over the print and media.  Her photo was published.... the Naxals again were succeeded in creating a sensation.  The leader had sent his written statement claiming the responsibility and the demand list against the capitalist Government of India.  Though the hidden agenda was different, the group People War Group had maintained the same facade of maoist communism and justice for common man, professing communism and socialism.   

It was clear who had kidnapped Dhatri.   But why they targeted Dr. Salil Dixit? No one knew.  There were rounds of interrogations and questions to Dr. Salil when he gained his consciousness but he had no clue why they kidnapped Dhatri.  He had no connection what so every with any of the Naxal groups.  The intelligence agencies were puzzled.  Orders were issued to find out everything about Dixit family.  They could find no record except that Dr. Dixit had suddenly decided to quit IIT Delhi and come back to his native.  When asked about this, he said he wanted to come back to his native and got a good offer in the local engineering college.  The statement seemed to be acceptable, apparently.  No one knew the reason behind quitting IIT except Dr. Salil and Nilima.   She was in coma and he was badly injured taking a bullet in the arm.  Police had hit the dead end.  Further digging of buried skeletons was on demand.

Inspector Ramchandra Jhiraa’s eyes fixed on the small box news item published by a local daily news paper where people talked about the incidence giving their own interpretation. 

A friend on Dr. Salil Dixit who worked with him in the college had said that the youngest daughter had some abnormal power to heal people.  “she was wonderful.  She could heal the wound in a jiffy...!” he had said.  Inspector Joshi picked up his cap and headed towards the hospital to meet Dr. Salil Dixit, Dhatri’s father.

********   ******

Ravindra Pratap Sayajirao was pacing the room restlessly.  His cousin had left him behind and gone to meet Disha in the hospital.  He was restless and was agitated to the core.  He wanted to accompany.  He wanted to be with the family.  He felt connected.  He too had endured the grief and bereavement.  His eyes filled with anguish he ran towards the terrace.  His maasi, aunt followed. 

“Ravi, have some breakfast.  Then we will go to the hospital.  We will take some food for them..!” she said holding her nephew’s hand.  He looked up at her with tearful eyes.  “Maasi...!” she pulled him and he hugged her tightly.  She kept stroking his head till he came back to his senses.  He broke apart and wiped his eyes.  She smiled.  “Good boy! Now go get ready.  Have breakfast and we will go!” she said turning and calling the servant to keep the car ready.  Ravindra Pratap ran down to get ready.

**********   ***********

“Awaaaaa....!” she woke up with swollen eyes and opened her mouth loudly looking around at the strange place.  Someone came running with lot of chocolates...

“Shuu... don’t cry! Have this!” he stretched out the bowl and her crying stopped abruptly.  “All?” she asked looking up at the kind face of a uncle like person.  “Humm!” he nodded thrusting the bowl on her lap.  “Have them all!” he said taking a step back sighing.

“You have one!” She was generous enough.  They were not in a jungle what she had thought.  They were in a big room with a cot, a bed, and a TV. 

“TV.... !” she again opened her mouth crying... “Shuuu... Ok!” the man gave up and he switched on the TV.  There was some English lecture going on with a world map behind and she again stomped furiously.

“No... POGO....!” she demanded.  He didn’t know what to do.  He had never heard the TV Channel called Pogo!  She went berserk crying and stomping getting down from the bed.

“Papa... I want Papa...!” she changed her strategy.  “Mamma....!” she missed her mamma in the group of strangers.  A woman came hurriedly in and “You go! I will take care!”

“I want Mamma... Didi....!” she cried out loudly.  “Yeah.  We will send you back. Ok?” the woman was kind enough.  She had a pile of clothes with her.

“First we will get ready!” she said holding out new clothes.  Dhatri looked at them. 

“No..... I want pink frock....My pink frock....!” she again started throwing tantrums.  Another grumpy looking person came in and slapped her.

“Rooni... please... she is a kid...!” the woman tried to shield Dhatri.  Dhatri was scared to the core and fell silent.  She took one of the frock and looked at the man’s frightening face.

“Ok. Wear it!” the woman said and Dhatri pointed at the man.  “Go out!” she ordered and the man turned his back on her.  The woman had a smile on her face.  ‘”Rooni... go out!” she said smiling and he went out.