50

She was in dilemma. “Is it a right decision to accept the dinner invitation?” She was not sure. No one had asked her before. She was a terror in her collage.  Her fierce nature, her no nonsense attitude kept away flirt boys.  Though she had a big friend circle, hardly anyone thought of taking advantage of her... or flirt with her.  She was a leader and her friends preferred to follow...

 “But there always a first time, Sir?” She remembered her own statement which she had thrown at him confidently in retaliation of his contemptuous question. She turned in her sleep.

 “I can take care of myself..!” she blurted turning again. This Maj. Vinit had ruined her sleep. “I should be focused. I am leaving in four days… I will be relieved in three days…” she smiled in her sleep. The thought of getting four days leave filled her heart with happiness. “I won’t tell anyone… I will surprise them all….!” She thought smiling happily.

She came back to her room after the day’s work. She was to get ready. She was again in dilemma. “What to wear?” She was not sure. “When unsure.. do what is convenient!” she said to herself and took out a salwar kameej to wear. 

 

Exactly at 1900 hrs… An Army Bullet- Royal Enfield was at the gates. She came out of her room. He was waiting in a casual attire; A bright white T Shirt and Denim jeans. He measured her up without any inhibitions, so did she. 

 

“Humm… not bad! He can easily be passed as a handsome guy!” She thought glancing at the Bullet. 

 

“She looks.... in anything she wears..!” he couldn't find the right word to describe her ..! “Where?” he asked courteously. She merely shrugged. He kick started the Bullet and she adjusted herself behind. She loved the firing of the Bullet. He drove silently through the heavy, undisciplined Pune traffic. She too preferred to remain silent. He took her to the other end of the City, ZK’s Restaurant. She liked the ambiance.. simple and tasteful…! He pulled the chair for her. 

 

They had nothing in common to talk....! He gazed at her flushed face. “Is she scared?..... Naa!” he answered himself. She can't be scared of anything. He measured her up adoring her appearance. Her short hair, the hair locks dangling on her forehead being free from the confinement of the cap... she tried to fix them and then gave up. 

 

“Why is he so polite..?” she thought. “May be .. his style of biding farewell...!” she answered herself. “Is he going to talk, or I should start first?” she didn't know.

The waiter came with menu booklet. “Your choice...!” he murmured looking at her. She glanced at him and accepted. He was surprised. She ordered. The waiter looked at him. “Repeat the same!” he said and she looked up surprised. 

He gazed. "I like what you like...!" She looked away with reddening cheeks. 

 

“M'am...!” he gazed behind her and got up respectfully. “Excuse me!” he excused himself and she looked behind. She got up with a jerk seeing him talking to a graceful lady. She walked nearer. He was talking to Mrs. Kavita Gadgil, wife of wing commander Anil Gadgil and mother of Abhijeet Gadgil who died in MIG 21 crash. She had fought to the end for justice to her son. Finally Air Chief Marshal, Tyagi had to apologize in writing that it was a technical glitch and not flight lieutenant Abhijeet's inexperience that took his life...! She had got back the honor of her son and now working for Air safety in Air Force...! 

 

He was talking to her. Dharini came around leaving her table. He realized and introduced her. Mrs. Kavita Gadgil had all praises for women in defense. Soon they both were so engrossed in talking that they forgot that Vinit and Wg. Cmdr. Anil Gadgil were with them.

“Would you like to join us?” Vinit intervened. “Oh! No! Someone is waiting for us too! You two carry on!” Mrs. Kavita Gadgil shook hands. Wg. Cmdr. Anil winked at them. Vinit and Dharini came back.

Now they had some subject to talk... Vinit being being associated with Kavita Gadgil's first ever mobile flight simulator...! They had everything to talk finding that they had so many things in common. Her Prayer... “God give me strength to change the things my conscience cannot accept...!” They both uttered in unison...! "Safety above convenience...!"

 

“Its 9:30..!” she blurted. “I have taken permission for your late arrival …!” he handed over a note and gate pass. She took it. “Humm... He has a foresight...!” she thought..!

“Ok then! Goodbye and Good luck!” he shook hand and raced away. She came back to her barrack wondering... “Goodbye? Is he not going to come tomorrow?”

“Who cares?” she shrugged changing into a night dress. 

 

*********** ********* *********

“Dhaa start preparing for GATE and GRE...!” Rini ordered and Dhatri protested. “Nooooo....! Please Didi... I have had enough of studying... No more studies.. I am finishing this course somehow...please... Rini Didi! I am fed up of the same ABCD and 1234 with permutations and combinations all these years....!” she said and Rini burst out in laughter.

“What you want to do, Dhaa? Job?” Rini asked. Dhatri didn't want a job either. “Umm... Didi I won't ask much from you, but if you can ensure my sustenance... I plan to do nothing...!” Dhatri said giggling. “Just food and clothing...I will stay with Mamma and Papa...!” she added. 

 

“Dhaa...! Stop it!” Rini raised her voice annoyed with Dhatri's no ambition plan. “Ok. I will work for Disha Didi's wedding...!” Dhatri found out something worthwhile. Rini shook her head hopelessly. 

 

“Don't you want to go to US like Disha Didi, for higher studies?” Nilima asked and Dhatri flared up.

“And become one like Disha Didi...? Always talking about Dollar, Rupee.. Money..! She has become money minded... so calculative...!” Dhatri contorted her face. Salil looked away embarrassed. He too had noticed the change in Disha. She somehow had started detesting India....always talking about the comfort and career opportunities she had in the US of A. 

 

“Its not like that, Dhaa...!” he started off weakly. “It is like that, Papa...! I don't want to talk about her, I don't want anything from her...!” Dhatri raised her voice too. Rini gaped... “What happened?” she asked her Mamma silently. Nilima shook her head. 

 

“No.. nothing much... She once said, your father earns peanuts compared to what she is earning as research assistant....” She stopped looking at Rini's furious face, and then continued... “She always converts Dollars into Rupees....! That's why...!”

“Yeah...! Its always like that...! you talk about something.. she talks about the price...! I hate it...! Rini Didi... I tell you... I will die a popper, but won't ask anything from her...!” Dhatri said with pink face in anger. “Four years... Four years Didi, she has not visited us... why? Because Papa couldn't send her air ticket, three years back...She is saving her money....!” Dhatri vented out.

“No.. Dhaa... its not like that...!” Salil again tried to defend weakly. “I know papa, I heard your conversation....!” Dhatri said looking at her mother who tried to hide her tears. She didn't want rift between the sisters but Disha's attitude was making her the weak link. Rini was a peacemaker.

“Its Ok. Dhaa... forget about Disha Didi.. Come on let us go for shopping... I won't be able to see you for months.... Once I go to Dras,...!” she said in realization. Dhatri couldn't stop her tears. “You won't even call?” she asked in distress. Rini shook her head. “I won't be able to call for days...But whenever possible... I will call you first...!” she hugged Dhaa with emotions gushing out of her eyes. Salil looked on at the sisters with moist eyes. 

 

“I can ask anything from you Rini Didi... but her? Only once I inquired about 'Security Enabled Linux by Frank Mayer and Computer Networks by Tanenbaum, She threw the Dollar prices on my face, Didi...!” Dhatri vented out again. “Suresh gave me the pdf... I downloaded some good books... !” she said flaring up her nostrils. Rini gaped. She had not talked to Disha in months. She too had sensed the change in Disha's attitude. “Chalo... Forget it...! Your Rini Didi is here...!” she said thumping on Dhatri's shoulder and Dhatri grinned...! “Yeah...!” she said contentedly. 

 

“I have to pack my baggage...!” Rini said with heavy heart looking at the scattered things everywhere. 

 

“Take care of yourself... Rini... Don't go overboard...!” Mother spoke with worry. “Don't worry, Mamma... I will be alright...!” She faked confidence....! Salil smiled faintly. 

 

“So... come on... Let us all go for shopping...!” he cheered up everyone...! He had hidden the fact that Disha had called last month and had asked him to take care of the expenses of her wedding in India showing her inability to contribute...! Had he told this, Rini would have severed all her relations with Disha....!