57

Salil took the phone and listen to the message relayed.  "2100 hrs?" A maths professor took time to calculate the time that it was nine in the night.  He kept the receiver and stood there not knowing what to do.  He looked at the wall clock and again calculated counting fingers.

"Three hours..." he sat on the chair.  Then getting up, he entered the bed room where Nilima and Disha were discussing the wedding plans.

"There is a problem.  I need to go to Delhi..." he said gravely and Disha flared up.  "There is always a problem with you Papa.  Its now new... !" She blurted furiously.  Nilima looked up at her husband's serious face.

"Salil, what happened?" He shook his head.  Dhatri had barged in with a new point to support her argument and froze looking at Salil.

"Papa, whose call?" she asked looking at everyone.
"Some urgent call and he is going to Delhi..." Disha spoke irritably. 

"Whose call?" Dhatri demanded.

"Command Office..." he said gravely.
"What?" Dhatri yelled and Disha looked confused.

"What happened? Rini Didi...?" Dhatri held her father's hand.

"Rini is hospitalized.  She is shifted to Military Hospital Delhi Cantt...." He said. 
"I am going to Delhi..." he declared opening his wardrobe to pack his bag.

"I will come!" declared Dhatri.  "No! Dhaa, you are not comming!" Salil put his foot down.

"I am coming...!" she said adamantly.  Nilima couldn't assimilate anything.

"No! Wait... Rini would call us at 2100... I mean, at nine...Thats what the person from Command Office said..." Salil said and Nilima sighed. 

"He said, she is recovering and will be fine in a week..." Salil relayed the message.  Dhatri was already trying frantically on her cell.

"Dhaa, stop it... You can't contact her on mobile.... let us wait till nine.... I will book my ticket..." he rushed out.

Everyone waited with bated breath for Rini's call.  She was shot in the arm in her battle with the infiltrators and had developed lung infection.  She was transported to the base camp immediately and was flown to Delhi Military Hospital. 

Dhatri paced the hall muttering furiously.  She sat down on the floor folding her knees and banging her head on the floor praying her Marimai... She held her kirtimukha pendent holding back her tears....!

"Mari mai... please.. please help Rini Didi..." she held her pendent in her fist tightly.
"Dhaa...She will be alright..." Disha was sitting beside her.  Dhatri looked at her and turned her face.  She got up and went out of the house.  She didn't want Disha's sympathy. 

Fifteen minutes to nine, Dhaa's phone rang.  "Rini Didi..." she screamed and everyone gathered around Dhaa.

"Dhaa... I am alright... enjoying the bed number 37 in this hospital...." Rini said pleasantly and Dhaa burst out!
"Rini Didi... I am coming..."
"No Dhaa.... Don't come.... you have your internals coming up..." Rini still was tracking Dhaa thinking about Dhatri's college and studies.  Dhaa shook her head... "To hell with internals..." she said frustrated.

"Dhaa... listen to me.... don't come... I am alright... I will be discharged soon..." Rini said hoarsely from the other end.

"You come here...." Dhaa ordered.  "Nop... Dhaa, listen to me... I will be joining immediately...." said Rini.  "If I take leave now... I won't be for Disha Didi's wedding..." Rini said reasonably.  Dhatri flared up...

"Yeah... right... wedding is more important... even if someone gets injured or even dies..." she blurted furiously.

"Stop it Dhaa..." Rini understood... "I am fine.... You take care and go back to college..." she ordered sternly.  "Whats wrong with these two... ?" Rini wondered about the animosity Dhaa had with Disha. 

Salil was impatient and was interrupting Dhaa.  "Didi... talk to papa... he is breathing on my neck... but you should talk to me later...." Dhaa handed over the handset sulkily.  All of them took turns to talk to Rini.  Finally Dhatri snatched the phone from Disha and said... "Time up... I need to talk to her..." She ran out clutching the phone to her ear. 

Disha broke down.... "What's wrong with her? Why is she so hateful?" Disha looked at her mother hopelessly.  Nilima held her hand sympathetically.  "We will talk about it later...." she took her inside.

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

"So?" Maj. Vikram sat on her bed.  Rini smiled brightly.  "Yeah.. Papa is coming..." she said.  Vikram patted on her shoulder.  "Take care...!" he whispered and with efforts stood on the support of creches....  Rini gazed...!  He too had suffered injuries and was flown to Delhi.  He was shot four times... two on his knees and two in his back, when he was racing back to the base camp after helping Rini, repair the Gun Carrier. 

The support team had found him unconscious a mile away from where his ice scooter was found.  Seven soldiers managed to kill 18 and two had just disappeared... All seven from Rini's troop were safe.  The battle had hit the headlines.... !! The terrorists had managed to sneak into Himachal Pradesh and from their marched towards Drass, killing a truck driver Jawan who was carrying the laundry and traveling in a military carrier truck.

"Lt. Dharini...!" The doctor on the round helped her stand up.  Her hand tied in an immobilizer was released but the excruciating pain blinded her.  She kept her face straight swallowing the pain.  "I feel better...!" she murmured faking a smile.  The doctor moved her hand and instructed to insert it in a sling... "No need for immobilizer...Sling will do!" Rini smiled.  She saw Vikram at her bed again.  "Forgot this...!" he said waiting for the Doctor to move on.  Rini looked at the packet.  "Chocolates..." he smiled and Rini's face changed color.

"Thank you!" she murmured and Vikram held her hand.  "Good night....!" he whispered and Rini inserted a piece in her mouth. 

*************
"Yes?" Ravi asked folding his arms...! Mrs. Russel had opened the door and he saw her standing at the door.  "Saya..?" she asked looking around waiting for him to invite her inside.  He didn't. 

"Mr. Deo is on his business tour...!" Mrs. Russel answered on his behalf.  She completely ignored Mrs. Russel and came inside.  Bruno... his dog barked furiously...! She didn't bother...!!

"Didn't you hear? He is not at home..." Ravi bellowed and she stopped gaping at him.

"Son...!" her voice suddenly became gentle.  He didn't move.  Mrs. Russel stood at the far end...

"Son.... I am so happy....!" she started off.  "Mrs. Russel ...!" he gestured and she nodded.  He turned and left the place.  She gaped at his figure...
"So..n...!" her voice trailed behind him.  Mrs. Russel came forward.  She understood and turned.  Mrs. Russel opened the door for her and she stepped out. 

Ravi dashed to the library fuming with rage.  "How dare she come here...!" he threw the paper weight. 

"Ray...!" Mrs Russel came in.  He looked at her helplessly.  She held his hand and brought him out.  "Mrs... Russel...." he chocked.  "I know... son!" she knew everything.  He sat on the coach with a thud.  She moved away.   She made the drink and brought the glass.  He looked up in surprise.

"You know... no alcohol...!" he said.  "Yes, I know...!" she said still holding the glass.  She pointed at the glass... "Lemon honey...!" she smiled.  He breathed. 
A greying middle aged, fat black lady sat with him wordless.  There was nothing to talk about.  She knew everything.  Sayajirao had told her everything when she had entered the house as a housekeeper about twenty three years ago when Ray... Umm.... Ravi was just six months old...!