Part 26

They were eight days into their expedition and pretty well settled into their routine.  They were to break their trail for consolidation.  They had combed the Hoshangabad Forests and were to move down south east at Balaghat which would lead them to Chhattisghar the moist deciduous forests way Down Dantewada and then upwards towards Indrawati National park, after visiting Bastar.  Chinu was to leave them at Hoshangabad.  Another person from Chhattisghar Forest Department would join them at Dantewada. 

They travelled in a private vehicle upto Dantewada.  Two armed Rangers joined them.  Dhatri shrunk again.  Her responses became dull and withdrawn.  Maria failed to understand her.  Indroneel was more protective towards Dhatri now.  He never left her alone.  The gap between the boys and Dhatri increased filling up hatred towards each other.  Jim tried his best to make amends but Dhatri withdrew.  Ravi too looked more upset.  Jim and Soumya glued together to the annoyance of Ravi.  Dr. Koite was little friendlier towards Dhatri calling her by her name and smiling at her.  She latched on to her Sir when Maria tried to ask her about herself more and Soumya laughed disdainfully.  Dhatri refuse to let out anything.  Maria was puzzled at Dhatri's sudden withdrawal. 

They were shocked by the fierceness of the armed men accompanying them. “We will be moving through Red Corridors...” One of them explained and everyone fell silent.  The maoist terrorism had broken out. 

“You want to go back?” Indroneel asked Dhatri putting his hand on her shoulder.  She shook her head.  “No..” she said in a small voice.

“Dhatri... I talked to Salil.. he too feels that you should go back” Indroneel tried to convince her. When they were brought to a resort in Dantewada.

“No..” she shook her head again determined to continue.  Indroneel was worried. 

****   **********

“Papa?” Dhatri hugged her papa tightly and was shocked to see her Rini Didi emerging from behind her Papa.

“Rini Didi…!” She screamed running into her arms.  Salil looked at her youngest daughter.  Indroneel came forward.  As soon as Salid heard that they had reached Dantewada.. he dashed to meet her.  Rini accompanied.  Rini was holding Dhaa at arms length and was gazing at her tanned, bright face.  Dhaa was smiling broadly.

“Dhaa… come with us..!” Rini said and Dhaa took a step back.  She dragged her didi aside and said

“But Rini Didi, I want to continue…! Please, Didi… Please…” she pleaded earnestly holding her didi’s hand.

“But Dhaa… you know the….” Dharini was cut…

“No Didi… nothing will happen… I will stay away… stay hidden…” Dhaa pleaded.  Rini looked lost in thoughts.  Salil was all set to take her back home. 

“But Dhaa… “ Rini couldn’t complete as she saw the others approaching.  Maria was talking to Dr. Salil who was carrying Dhaa’s luggage.

“Papa…” Dhaa protested.  “I can’t leave the expedition in the middle..” Dhaa looked at Indroneel for support.  He shook his head.  “You go Dhatri.  For you the expedition is over..!” he said forcing a smile on his face. 

“No…Rini Didi…!” Dhaa turned to her Didi crying for support.  Rini melted.

“Papa…” She took him aside.  They had a long talk.  Dr. Maria and Koite looked on.  Dr. Salil shook his head hopelessly.  Indroneel intervened.

“Go Beti…” he said gravely.  “No Sir, I want to continue….” She sobbed sniffing in her kerchief. 

“Go.. cry baby…Your father has come..” Soumya Soorie whispered in her ears disdainfully.  Ravi, close behind looked up startled. 

“No!” Dhaa was determined.  Team from Stanford understood nothing.  Ravi went back to his room shrugging, disinterested in the drama.  Jim looked on at Rini curiously.  Rini ignored him completely.  Soumya burned within.  Dhaa didn’t stop crying.  Salil was not ready to listen to anyone this time.

“Ma’m..” Dhatri pulled Dr. Maria’s hand.

“Please… tell him that I have some responsibility..!” Dhatri tried her last resort.  Maria looked at her surprised.  She turned to Dr. Salil.

“Please…” Dhaa pleaded in a bare whisper.  Dr. Maria couldn’t decide.

“Yeah… Dhatri, you can go!” Soumya was in a hurry to get rid of her.  Everyone looked at her.

“Anyway, she didn’t have any responsibility…” Soumya continued loudly.  Salil looked relieved.  Dharini bit her lip in rage and took a step forward, Dhatri clenched her fists.   

“Yeah, that’s right! She doesn’t have assigned responsibility, but she is a great help…!” Dr. Maria intervened and Salil looked up at her surprised. 

“She is my assistant and I would like to have her in my expedition….!” Maria said looking at Dr. Koite.  He nodded understandingly.  Dhatri grinned victoriously.

“Dr. Salil, if you permit, I would like her to continue with the expedition…!” Finally Maria uttered.  Dr. Salil forgot to react.  He looked at Indroneel helplessly.  He didn’t want to tell anyone, why he was so desperate to take her back when he heard that they were to enter Chhattisghar… the Red Corridor…! He dreaded to even utter that word.  Dhatri’s condition a decade back floated before his eyes and he sat on the chair with a thud. 

“She will be alright Papa~” Rini came and sat beside.  He looked at her hopelessly.  “Its ok Papa…. She ..” Rini too chocked recollecting the same incidence. 

“Papa.. Please?” Dhaa pleaded planting a kiss on his cheek….

“Dhaa… try to understand!” he pleaded helplessly. 

“Salil… let it be… forget the past now! Nothing has happened in these years….” Indroneel couldn’t bear Dhatri’s crying.  Salil looked miserable. 

“Why did I allow her to join this, in the first place?” he repented. 

“Papa.. Its ok… She will be alright!” Dharini assured him.  He got up with a heavy heart.  Dhaa hugged her father.  He patted on her head. 

*********   ***********   ********

“Why was he so worried?” asked Maria when they were alone in the room and Soumya had again disappeared in boy’s room.  Dhatri didn’t look up.  Maria waited patiently.  Dhatri had not said anything about herself in these days.  She spoke very little.  Maria took it as her communication problem.  But she couldn’t stop herself this time.  She was waiting for Dhatri to speak.  Dhatri looked up at her uncertainly, swallowed heard, made up her mind and said…

“I was kidnapped by Naxals when I was five!” Maria gaped with pale face.  Dhatri dashed out of the room to breathe.