46

"Rini Didi....!" Dhatri screamed in excitement hearing that news.  She was woken up with Rini's call early morning.  Rini smiled from the other end.  "Listen Dhaa... Don't start dreaming about it, just study ok? Finish your summer exams and come back." Rini warned Dhatri.  But Dhatri already had reached the dreamworld with all her sisters and friends....!

Again Rini had taken over the charge.  "Don't worry Mamma, I will handle everything..." she again had assured everyone that nothing will go wrong.... This time there were double celebrations.... Rini was excited too.  Now she had no time for anything else... She had to plan... arrange to execute.... make sure everything goes well.... After all it was a prestige issue for her.... !

"I will be completing two years reckonable commissioned service....! Promotion will be due... I will be Capt. Dharini Dixit...!" she stood before the mirror puffing her chest with pride adjusting her cap....!" Her vehicle honked... She marched out of her barrack in full uniform...! Maj. Vinit Pandit was waiting for her.  Vinit was no way near being Vinit... a humble person... ! A task master, an astute military officer from Southern Command, was on deputation in DRDO...

"Durrdoo" as Dhatri used to call. Being in Forces, he detested Officers in Services, especially women... ! "They are no good!" he remarked every now and then, to Dharini's annoyance.  She had learnt to obey and not to answer back, bidding her time for a slightest opportunity to retort back.  She craved for Forces... 'This DRDO sucks!'  Every day she used to detest before going to bed.  'The age old animosity between Services and Forces ran in the blood right from the 49 weeks training program... They were grown to hate each other... the Forces and the Services....! Though they were meant to complement each other... they always turned out to be competitors...!

  "Good morning!" she greeted her senior officer saluting... He gave a curt nod! Rini frowned, seeing Vinit glancing at his watch! The fact was, she was ten minutes ahead of time and he had a problem with that too! He never left an opportunity to taunt and bring the morale down.  All her colleagues had given up on him and his grueling tactics but Rini had stood up to him always,  giving him no chance to chide at her.  "Let me enter the Forces... and then I will show you, Major Vinit...!" she gritted under breath entering the Three Ton carrier...! Vinit followed and taking his seat next to the driver, ordered to move.  Rini contorted her face, biting her lips, visibly upset.  All the happiness of talking to her Dhaa had drained out seeing Vinit's face, at the break of the day.  She was not aware of what was in store for her...! She didn't bother either!

***********   *************   ***********
"Damn it!" Disha frowned shutting her system.  She was running late... She had spent all the night fixing up bugs.  One single damn thing had tossed up her simulation... She was actively involved in Open Source White Dwarf Code, A computer program / code to model the evolution and pulsations of white dwarfs. 

Her cell rang.  "Hey... Will talk to you later... I am driving...!" she said disconnecting and repenting the next moment for forgetting to wear her blue tooth.  She took the ticket issued for breaking traffic rules when she was asked to pull over....!

"Damn!" she banged her fist on the steering...! This was taking her nowhere.  Her mounting frustration levels were bringing her performance down.  Her professor guide and her mentor in the Lab, both were unhappy with the progress.  "If you can't finish by this monthend... I will have to reschedule your defense... her guide had warned her.  She had almost finished but these last minutes bugs were biting her to death. 

"No! I can't take it anymore...!" she banged her forehead on the steering, breaking down.  The tears didn't help either... She had to work it out... increase her working from twelve hours to sixteen hours to given her theses a final shape. 
"Damn! I am a mess.... My head is all riot...!" she clutched her head in frustration!  Her cell rang... She picked up as the car was pulled over.  "Haan?" she answered the call with a question!

"Hey, you ok?" someone asked.

"No! I am not ok!" She burst out.  "This white dwarf screwed up my night and this Simulation will do exactly the same with my day~" she broke in a sob.

"Disha...!" Bhanu waited for her to gather herself.  "Huf... humm... I am alright...!" she said sniffing and he took a breath.  "Go and get a hot cup of coffee, Disha... Everything will be alright...!" he said soothingly. 

"Hope so!" she said little dejected and drove off.

**********   *************    ***********
Dhatri took out her laptop.  She opened her mail box.  First time she felt like writing the mail on her own.  Every time she responded to Dr. Maria's mail in all these years.  Dr. Maria was the only person who was in touch with Dhatri from her team.  Dhatri only wrote to her and no one else.  Maria had made it a point to write to Dhatri once in a month.

But the morning was different for Dhaa.  She felt like sharing the news with someone like Maria who didn't mind her monosyllable answers to Maria's lengthy emails.

"M'am,  My Didi is getting married... " she started off without any preamble.  Her Mail ended with an invitation to attend the Marriage of her sister. 



********************
What is white dwarf?
It is a small very dense star that is typically the size of a planet. A white dwarf is formed when a low-mass star has exhausted all its central nuclear fuel and lost its outer layers as a planetary nebula.  All stars one day are going to be white dwarfs......

45

Rini waited with bated breath for someone to call.   She had made frantic calls to some of her acquaintances in Army to find out what she can do best for her sister. 

"Sir!" she greeted forcefully as she got a call from her training head in Army Training Center, with expectation.  "Ms Dixit, Call Col. Parekh! He may be of some help to you.  He runs Ex-Army association.  Give him my reference... his number is...!" Rini took down the number thanking him.

"Humm... there was a killing silence for a while and then the deep, rough voice spoke gravely.... Humm someone in Bhopal... associated with REC... Oh! Yes! Retired Col. Narendra Parekh is the head administration and placement of REC... give my reference....He is my cousin!" the call was cut and Rini jumped in excitement.  The next moment she was heading towards the college again... Alone with apprehension...!

Things went on pretty smooth. The fraternity had worked.  Col. Parekh was very helpful.  He arranged a meeting with the rector of the Girls Hostel and Rini's rhetoric but sincere persuasive techniques did the magic.  Dhatri got a place to stay in the Hostel.  Again the calls ran back and forth with Rini thanking everyone for help, to all those she had called earlier.  She dashed back home to collect Dhatri's belongings to find Salil and Nilima had already packed her bags.

"Done, Dhaa... you are staying ...." she suddenly dropped her voice glancing at Maasi Maa.  Dhatri looked puzzled so were Salil and Nilima. 

"I don't want to discuss anything in here in her presence..." Rini said bluntly and Maasi Maa looked down guiltily. 

"Come on... we are going... we will talk on our way...!" she said stuffing Dhatri's belongings in the boot space of the car and drove off with her family without even glancing back. 

They got Dhatri into the Hostel.  "Papa.. I will stay here for a couple of days.... to see if she is ok... you go back.  Keep the vehicle for me.  I may need it!" Rini had decided everything.  Her parents only had to obey her military orders.  Things went on smoothly and recovered in a couple of days.  Rini had arranged a medical certificate for her absence from the college and Dhatri was condoned for on medical grounds. 

Rini had turned her estrainged friends to her side again painting a miserable picture of Dhatri's illhealth and Dhatri's hostelite classmates vowed to protect her and help her in studies.  The sense of hostility had gone... Dhatri was welcomed in the hostel.  

“Dhaa… this is for you!” Rini gave her a packet.

“What is it?” Dhaa looked at it turning it upside down…  “I will do the honors…” One of her room mates took it from her and opened the wrapper.  “Wow… New cell…!” she exclaimed taking out the smart phone.  Dhatri gaped.  Dharini gave a nod.  “You will call me everyday… and you all… you will report to me ….!” Rini issued orders and all of them burst out in laughter…

“Yes Sir!” they stood in attention saluting the military officer…!  Rini nodded with a glint.

“Don’t’ worry, Didi… We will take care of her….!” One of the senior girl said and Rini turned to her.  “Your responsibility…!” she raised her finger warningly and the girl nodded.  “And I owe you a Shahed Kapoor Movie…” Rini added grinning.  Dhatri got a new mobile and the hostelites got Dhatri!!

*********   ********

“Hey sonny… how you doing?” asked Sayajirao when Ray called up after reaching Lincoln. 

“You sound dully bright, Dad..!” remarked Ray suspiciously.  “I am bright, sonny… preparing my favorite…!” said Dad cheerfully.  “Huh… “ sighed Ray.  “What? Chicken masala?” he asked licking his lips and heard a roar… “Barbaque chicken…with freshly grind spices…” Sayajirao teased him.  “Oh… Dad…!” Ray sulked. 

“Ok.. listen… Samantha dropped by…!” Sayajirao informed.  “Oh!” Ray sighed again.  “She said she tried calling you…Why don’t you call her, sonny?” Sayajirao suggested gently.  Ray clutched his phone… frowning… “Girls are big trouble…” he muttered under the breath and spoke… “I will… Dad!” with no intention of calling her. 

“And…” his Dad went on.  He waited … “Your Big B paid a visit…” Ray’s face brightened up.

“Really? That’s a news…” he said grinning and his father laughed  “Yes and finally….” He paused creating enough suspense.. Ravi grew impatient. 

“Finally… he is getting married…” Sayajirao broke the news… Ray listened happily.

“Finally… Dad.. After so much of deliberation…!” Ray said with a sigh. 

“Summer…” Sayajirao gave him further information.  “She has her theses for open defense in fall….”

“Ok! That’s a news…. I should call her up..!” Ray thought disconnecting the phone. 

Sayajirao sighed hanging up.  He had not told Ray that she, Ray’s mother had visited again for money.  He had talked only about Samantha, ex of Ray…. An year ago they broke up on a silly row and Ray had never bothered to patch up. 

Sayajirao gazed at the smoking barbeque for a long time going down the dark memory lane….

********  *********  *********

Rini drove back with a heavy heart leaving Dhatri in an unknown, alien environment again.  But this time she had made sure to instruct her properly and ordered her not to leave the campus alone at any cost.  No picnics, no treks, no other activities except studies and her friends had agreed to keep a watchful eye on Dhatri, to Dhatri’s dismay…..!”

44

"Can I come in?" Sayajirao moved away.  "I am glad, you recognized!" 

"How can I forget?" Sayajirao looked up with anguish.  The ghostlike figure sat on the sofa and looked around.  

"Quite a big villa...!" a compliment came with twisted lips. 

"Why you here?" Sayajirao asked clutching the back, standing behind his chair.  Silence prevailed for a while.  

"Saya... I just wanted to meet you all...!" came a weak voice but Sayajirao refrained from reacting.  The figure moved and picked up the photoframe from the mantal shelf.  Sayajirao fidgeted nervously.  "This is...?" he refrained from answering and looked away. 

The figure kept on looking at the photo frames on the wall.  Sayajirao poured drink in the glass and kept it on the table.  "Drink?" he asked and she turned.  Her eyes saw the label on the bottle... one of the finest wines... she grabbed the glass greedily and gulped it in one go.  Her throat soothed. 

"Where is he?" she asked looking around.  He didn't respond for a while and then said "Stays with me!" she looked up in surprise.  "Oh!" she said digging her chin in her chest.  "Why are you here?" he asked her again.  She looked up.  "Can't I...?" she had a question in her eyes.  "No! You can't!" he gave her a plain answer.  She looked down again.  "I am sorry!" she said fidgeting and he sighed. 

"How is he?" she asked looking at his photos... "Grown up!" came the answer.  There was not an extra word from him.  "You are not happy to see me! Aren't you?" she asked hurt.  He looked into her eyes.  "No!" he said turning his face. 

"Goodbye, then....!" she turned and he opened his clenched fists.  Her eyes fell on the bottle.  "Can I have another drink?" she asked hopefully.  He went upto the table and picked up the bottle.  "Large... please" she said sheepishly.  He came with the bottle and giving it to her said, "Have it all!" she took it greedily.  "Thank you!" she murmured. 

"Can I see you, sometimes?" she aksed looking up.  He looked into her eyes... "Please leave..." he said gravely.  She lingered... "umm... Saya... umm.. can you help me?" she asked hopefully.  He clenched his fists again.

"How much?" he asked.  "A few hundred..." she said sheepishly... He took out his wallet.  She looked at his fat wallet... "May be a grand?" she asked.  He was disgusted... "Thank you!" she took the money and turned.  He pocketed the wallet and closed the door.  He stood standing there hitting his back on the closed door and sighing, poured himself a drink. 

*********  ***********

"Aray, Aap log?" Maasi maa asked with color draining out from her face.  Rini pushed her a bit and made her way inside.  Salil and Nilima still stood at the door.  They were surprised at the little gathering of people sitting on the wooden benches arranged in a raw inside. 

"What is all this?" Rini asked sternly.  "P..Pu...Pooja...!" replied Maasi Maa gesturing at the corner where a photo was worshiped with flower garlands on the table, a bunch of scented sticks were burning, lot of sindoor was put on the photo of some deity and a copper pot was kept. 

"Where is Dhatri?" Rini did all the talking.  Salil and Nilima were turned into statue...  "Ca...collage...!" Maasi Maa blurted  stammering... Salil and Nilima looked ghostly.

"College? You said collage?" yelled Rini with her pulse on her forehead throbbing with rising anger...

The people sitting on the benches looked on.  Maasi Maa came hurriedly and requested.

"Please leave... I will talk to you later...please... " she said joining her hands and the group got up reluctantly.  "What about ....?"

"No! I will talk to you... please leave now! I have guests...!" Maasi maa said hurriedly looking at Rini's narrowed eyes. 

"Where is she?" Rini asked looking around suspiciously.  "Sh... she... she is ...umm... Aray, Nilima... come ... sit..!" Maasi maa tried changing the subject.  Rini came forward and holding Maasi Maa's shoulder asked in deadly voice...

"Where is Dhatri?" She saw a woman coming out of a room and stopped talking.  The woman came out and Prayed in front of the photo and placed something in the copper vessel. 

"Please go...!" Maasi Maa said not giving her any chance to talk.  The woman went out confused...! Maasi maa took a sigh of relief.  Rini's jaw dropped.  "What...?' she dashed inside.  "No... wait...!" Maasi maa whimpered.

"Dhaa?" screamed Rini and Salil dashed inside.  He held the door frame for support losing all his energy.  What he saw was beyond comprehension.  Rini was lifting Dhaa's motionless body screaming in panic.  Dhaa's blood red, swollen hands said it all.

"Oh my God!" Salil couldn't believe his eyes.  "Sh... she is not well today...!" Maasi maa murmured and Rini ran to support her mother who fainted looking at Dhaa's condition.  Salil dashed forward to support his wife and Rini came back to Dhaa.  She carried her to the bathroom.  Dr. Salil supported his wife to sit on the bench.  Maasi maa looked ghostly. 

"Nilima... Please... please.... !" Dr. Salil held her tightly pressing her head against his chest.  Rini brought Dhaa out wrapping her in towel and took her into the room.  Her temperature was getting to normal after the cold water bath but Rini's temper was rising....

Rini got her dressed.  Dhatri blinked open her eyes after a while and seeing Rini on her bed tried to get up...

"Rini Didi...!" Rini hugged her tightly with overwhelming emotions...

"Rini Didi... what a surprise...!" Dhatri said breaking away from Rini and holding her by arms.  "Dhaa... stay here and don't come out...!" Rini said and went out leaving Dhaa puzzled.  Maasi Maa looked at Rini's face and sat on the chair with a thud.

"What were you trying to do? Kill her?" Rini came on to Maasi and pulled her by shoulders.  This time no one intervened...

"No... I... I... thought she is not well....!" Maasi Maa said weakly.  "Oh yeah? and what is all this? What were you doing with her?" Rini pointed at the so called pooja.  "Th... that has nothing to do with her....!" Maasi maa tried to defend..

"Oh yeah? you filthy old woman... nothing to do? " Rini had lost her control.  She left Maasi Maa and went to the pooja place.  She picked up the copper vessel and turned it upside down raising it up in the air.  Quite a few currency notes flew all over....

"Nothing to do? you greedy old woman...! You were running a business! A bloody curing business...!" Rini shook her furiously and Nilima looked at the money all over.  "Oh God!" Salil sat on the bench with a thud.  "Papa... she was using Dhaa.... to... to mint money....!" Rini yelled and pushed Maasi Maa who fell back on the carpet. 

“Dhaa….!” Nilima dashed inside.  Dhatri was on the bed under the blanket.  She had no energy to get up.  “Dhaa…” Nilima pulled her up with a force and embraced her tightly.  “Mamma… leave her! Let her take some rest…!” Rini took over.  Nilima rested Dhatri’s head back on the pillow, adjusted her blanket and came out crestfallen.

“What have I done… Leaving her with this… this Aunt of mine…!” Nilima banged her head on the wall.  “I should have known… this woman… she left me all by myself when I gave birth to Dhaa… a third girl…. And now this…!” She came on to Maasi Maa…

“Why did you do this? You wanted money… you could have asked…! Do you have any idea about her ordeal, every time she cures someone…? She dies… slowly… with every endurance… by suffering… by taking other’s pain… by hurting herself…!” Nilima sat on the floor losing her strength… “She dies… every time she cures… Its not a Power, Maasi Maa…It’s a curse…. To die … giving life to others…!” she spoke in anguish… Maasi Maa gaped. 

“You saw money… you didn’t see her suffering?” Dharinii yelled gritting her teeth, shaking Maasi Maa.  “I…I feel like hitting you… you old wicked witch…!” Rini yelled with chosen words…

“I won’t stop you…!” salil stood up clenching his fists.  “I am taking her with us…!” he said going into Dhatri’s room.  Nilima didn’t stop crying.  She had seen Dhatri’s condition.  She looked at trembling Maasi Maa. 

“Why did you do this to us?” she asked with pain.  Maasi Maa looked up. 

“Believe me, Nilima.. I didn’t do it for money… When I found out her ability… I just wanted to cure people as a social service… they paid me… I didn’t ask anything… They kept money before the God!” Maasi maa had a weak explanation.

“And you staged this so called pooja ghar… where they emptied their pockets… to get cured… You filthy woman… !” Rini yelled pulling Maasi Maa up and shaking her vigorously. 

“Bu… but, I was not doing it for myself, Nilima… I wanted to share this money with you…!” Maasi Maa opened her dirty mouth and Rini came on to her with raised hand.

“To hell with you and your money… you damn woman…!” she went out of control in rage.  Salil brought Dhatri out supporting her.  She was boney like a skeleton, weak and pale…! She couldn’t even walk properly. 

“Dhaa…!” Rini felt her anguish.  “Why didn’t you tell us earlier?” she asked holding Dhaa’s hand.  Dhatri smiled faintly… “I couldn’t… Maasi maa said this is social service and I should keep it a secret…” Rini banged her forehead at Dhatri’s innocence…!

“You were enduring.. and she was minting money….!” She said dejected.  Dhatri trembled… “Rini Didi… I… I am scared…. Scared of all these people around…. Didi…!” Rini’s heart went out for her Dhaa.  She dashed and embraced her sister, her pulse throbbing….!

“Dhaa.. why didn’t you say No? You should have called me….!” She said cupping Dhaa’s face. 

“You know… I don’t have control over my mind… wh…when I sense illness… I…I… can’t control ….Didi..!” Dhatri broke down.  Rini held her tightly for a while supporting Dhatri…

“Rini… We are taking her back home… to hell with her college..!” Nilima had made up her mind.  Rini thought for a while and said…

“Mamma… don’t worry.  I will handle this… She will continue… but not with this filth…!” she was determined. 

“Papa… take Mamma out for lunch.  I will take care of Dhaa here.  I will manage everything….!” Salil nodded.  Dharini took out her phone.  She had to make a few phone calls.  She gestured Dhatri to go inside and take rest throwing a disgust at sobbing Maasi Maa…