Part 20

“What is going on?” Both Salil and Nilima were at the door of girls’ room hearing raised voices from the room.

“I said, No!” Dharini was yelling and Dhatri was on the floor literally begging...! Salil froze.  “Why is she so furious?” He had no answer.

“Rini, what’s going on?” Nilima asked bewildered.  She had never seen the girls like this.  Rini was very angry and Dhatri was crying.  

“Rini Didi, Please...!” Dhatri locked her fingers with tears streaming down and lips quivering.  Rini had turned her face.

“No.. you are not going.  I” Rini said in a stern voice.

“What? Where is she not going?” Asked Salil entering the girls’ room.  Rini turned.

“Papa...!” she took a step forward but Dhatri leapt up and hugged her father.

“Papa please... Please, Papa... I want to go!” she said between her sobs.  Salil pulled her apart.  She wiped her face and looked up at her father.

“No, Dhaa... you will not go...! your collage has started just now..!” Rini said looking furious at this drama.

Salil pulled Dhatri apart.  Nilima had entered and had picked up a form lying on the table.

“What is this?” she asked looking at the masthead on the form.

“Mamma... Please...!” Rini tried to snatch the form from Nilima.

“Let me see!” Salil took her form from Nilima’s had and scanned it through. 

“So?” he asked looking at Dhatri.

“Papa, I want to go... Please, Papa..!” For the first time, Dhatri was asking for something and Rini was not giving in.  Salil looked up at Rini.

“No Papa, she can’t go!” Rini declared.  “Why?” Milima asked.  “Because I can’t go with her..!” said Rini and Salil took a sigh.

“Rini, its her collage project..!” Salil pointed out the fact.

“Yes, but she can’t go alone.. !” Rini looked at Dhaa.  Dhatri was looking away weeping. 

“Rini... Stop policing..! I she is old enough to take her dicisions...!” Salil took this opportunity to reprimand Rini.  Rini frowned adamantly.  She was not letting Dhatri to take her decision.

“Ummawaaaa.....!” Dhatri started off.  Salil held her close to him.  “Don’t cry, Dhaa... tell me what happened!” he said kindly.  Dhatri glanced nervously at Dharini and took out a circular.  Salil looked at her astonished.  She sobbed.

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“Are you sure?” asked Sayajirao Dev looking at his son Ravindra Pratap.

“Yeah Dad...!” he said taking out his SLR camera and his camera cleaning kit.  He busied himself in taking out the lenses and checking the flash.  Sayajirao gaped at his son. 

“But... you never wanted to go to India!” he blurted.  Ravi looked up.  

“Dad, every year I go! This year its India.  Thats it!” he said matter-of-factly.  Sayajirao looked puzzled.

“Ok!” he said and came out of Ravi’s room. 

Ravi, a 21year old engineering student in Communication Engineering straightened himself up, looking at the open door of his room.  He was an environment enthusiast and assisted the Professors of Stanford University.  Dr. Roger Koite, Department of Plant Science planned a months research program to study Flora and Fauna  of Satpura mountain range in central India jointly with Dr. Maria Nixon, a Professor in sociology; and Ravi had volunteered to assist them.  He was immediately selected looking at his past experiences in assisting the professors in Africa, Mississippi, Savage Jungle, Amazon Rain Forest..on their research tours.  

Dr. Koite had visited India earlier and had spent a couple of months in jungles of central Inida, Chhattisgarh, focusing on the National Parks.  Ravi was selected as he claimed to know the area. 

Ravi had not visited India over a decade and was eager to visit.  

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“Dharini... stop it! And Dhatri let me talk to your teacher...!” Salil took over sidelining Dharini.  He wanted Dhatri to decide on her own.

“Papa.. I want to go!” She said holding his hand and he nodded.  

“But Papa, she is too young for this expedition...!” Dharini said in a worried tone.

“Let her decide that, Rini!” Salil said sternly.

“I want to go Papa.  But Rini Didi says I should not!” Dhatri said on the verge of crying again.  Salil put his hand on her head.  “Let me handle this...!” he said looking at Dharini. 

“But Papa! I have my practical exams... I can’t go with her...!” Rini said looking at Dhaa angrily.

“Why do you have to go with her?” Nilima intervened.  “Mamma...she is still a kid...!” Dharini said argumentatively. 

“She is a fifteen year old girl... She can decide for herself... and besides...She knows that area inside out!” Salil spoke gravely.  A golden opportunity was presented to him to encourage Dhatri to be independent.  

Dhatri had been an ardent Trek enthusiast.  She never missed an opportunity to go on a jungle trek.  In fact she used to feel uneasy if she didn’t go for trek or mountaineering.  Her friends used to call her jungle girl.  She was a ventriloquist, very few people knew.  Her ventriloquism ranged from mimicking humans to animals to birds...!! Even her parents got confused with her art, sometimes...!

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“Ok! I will talk to your teacher...!” repeated Salil and went out.  

“Come on.. say your prayers and go to sleep!” Nilima said and moved out of their room.

“Rini Didi...! Thank you!” Dhatri hugged her didi tightly.  Her drama had worked.  They had done it successfully, coaxing Papa to talk to the professors of Dhatri to take her on expedition.  Dhatri was in dream state...! She was going back to Jungle. Rini was happy that her Dhaa was happy.