Part 19

Salil looked at his frail wife.  He held her hand.  “Nilima.. she is over dependent on Rini.  She should take her own decisions...!” he said, hopelessness creeping in.

“She will... Don’t worry! Rini is overprotective towards her...!” Nilima said looking at tensed up face of her husband.  

“I am worried about her.  Has she lost her thinking capacity?” he asked her.

“No.. Abhi choti hain woh.  She is young... She will be alright...And you know what she has gone through...!” Nilima closed her eyes going back ten years.  Salil looked at his wife intently and knew where she was lost.  He dreaded to go down the memory lane. 

Dhatri had almost lost her battle.  She was on ventilator and Rini had given him the solution.  In the hospital, in that ICU ward Dhatri had sensed illness everywhere.  Looking at the twitching hands and fingers Rini had screamed... “Look Dad, she is sensing illness and ... she wants to cure them...!” Dr. Salil had clutched his hand on Dharini’s mouth.  “Chup... Don’t talk about it...!” he looked around to find no one listening to them.  Then he had requested the Dean to shift Dhatri to a private room to keep her away from the malady around.  From then on, Dhatri recovered.  

But almost a year and seven eight months away from home into the jungles took more than a year to bring her back to civilisation.   She had almost forgotten everything.  She was drugged heavily and had lost her mental balance.  That was what people thought.  

She had picked up all the habits of Tribal people living in deep valleys and jungles.  She even tried to steal Dayal Chacha’s bidis and when caught smoking, went hysteric.  Salil had to take medical help to bring her out.  A smiled appeared on Salil’s face.  

“Mogali...!” Dharini used to call her fondly.  She had assumed all her Dhaa’s responsibility keeping even her parents away from Dhatri.  Dharini was caught once giving ‘chutta’ (Bidi, a form of puffing raw tobacco; cigarette!)  to Dhaa, when she was crying.    Dharini had stolen money to buy cigarette for Dhatri.  

Salil stirred a bit while remembering how he had to arrange for audio visuals for the schools and conduct programs highlighting hazards of Smoking.  He had to work had to bring down the effects of nicotine in Dhatri’s body.  Dharini had never allowed Dhatri to be alone with anyone.  Not even with mother and father..!  She used to take her to school and have a constant vigil on her visiting her class frequently.  Dharini was a terror for Dhaa’s classmates.  She used to beat up whoever picked up fight with Dhaa or tease her...!

Teachers tolerated Dharini’s interference as they all knew Dhatri’s kidnapping and her condition after recovery.  Whenever she used to get upset they used to find her hiding on some tree top, at home or at school.  Teachers and parents had learned to be patient with Dhatri.  In fact teachers pampered her more than needed.  Dhatri shrewdly took advantage of that to get the things done her way.

But at home Nilima and Salil soon realized what was Dhaa upto and became very strict towards her.  But Dharini had her own method of protecting her Dhaa.  She felt that she is the only one to protect her and her parents were of no use in this.  She had joined Karate classes.  Dharini was growing up like a tomboy; like an elder brother to Dhatri protecting and giving in to her tantrums  all the time.  

Disha had grown into a very mature girl overnight.  She almost had forgotten to smile, buried herself in her studies and helping in the kitchen all the time.  She had become another mother to Dhatri.  Dharini was never bothered.  She only assumed that she should take care of Dhaa.  And she did. Dhaa was always under her control and influence.  She wouldn’t allow anyone to come near dhaa.  

Salil had persuaded Disha to appear of competitive exams and she had cleared JEE with 128^th in the list.  She could easily get to Delhi.  Dr. Salil and Nilima had to persuade her to go to Delhi IIT.  Disha was not ready to leave her family.   But Dr. Salil had to think about her future.  Of course, Bhanu was there for her support.  Disha excelled and soon after her graduation landed in Alabama University for her higher studies.  She acquired place as Research Assistant in Alabama Space and Rocket Center...!  

Dharini did policing over Dhatri.  Now Dhatri was on the threshold of her college entry with Dharini still behind her as her protector Police...!

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“Rini Didi... I want to go...” Dhaa was pestering her.  Rini was in deep thoughts.  “Didi...!” Dhaa started crying holding Rini’s hand.  

“Dhaa... stop crying...! I will do something...! If need be, I will fight for you!” Dhatri smiled happily.  She knew how to get her things done, either from her parents or from her Rini Didi, making them both fight for her...! She hugged her Rini didi and pulled her notebook pretending to study, but dreaming about the opportunity...!

Rini lost herself in thoughts and to find out how to make her parents agree on this...!

“Dhaa...Promise me, you will study hard, after this...!” she held out her hand.

“Yes, Didi.. I will study had and see, I will also get rank to the collage like my Rini didi!” She hugged Rini again.

“Humm... Done! Dhaa, I will do something...Don’t worry!” Rini was determined to talk to her parents...