62

"Dharini...!" he was standing before her.  She jerked up raising her hand.  She had lost control.  He stood unmoved.

"Just go away...!" she spoke fuming.

"No!" he was determined.  She turned to leave the place.  He held her hand.

"Come with me!" he said gravely.  She gaped in disbelief at his atrocity.

"I almost had lost my job...!" she blurted wrenching her hand free.

"No!" he said firmly.
"No?... I was stripped off my badge...!" she fumed.
"That was Viky...!" he said exhaling.
"Viky?" She didn't know.
"Maj. Vikram.... his revenge..." he said. 

"I was to face court marshal for no fault of mine...!" she accused.
"No! I had given my confession.... in writing...!" he said straightening himself up.  She gaped with dropped jaw.
"In writing? Are you crazy?" she said aghast.  He merely looked at her. 

"Who are you...?" she blurted her puzzle. 
"Maj. Vinit Pandit...Southern Command...!" he said firmly and she shook her head.

"Anyway.... whoever you are...!" she had reached the door.
"Dharini... !" he held her hand with his rough strong hand.  She turned. 

"Stop this...! Please....!" she said looking at her clasped hand.  He didn't move.
"Come with me!" he again said.  She walked with him. 

"Don't take her to the other side of the fence...!" someone yelled from behind and his clasp tightened. 

They were sitting on make shift bench outside the cabin.  "I am going tomorrow...!" he said gravely.

"Thank god!" she breathed.  "You will continue to work here...! Khemkeran..." he added.  She didn't react.  There was a killing silence... The storm roaring outside... she could see the border far away.....!! "I will take her to the other side of the fence...." she shuddered. 

"Why are you doing this?" she asked anguished....!! He looked at her.
"Is it some kind of conspiracy....!" she couldn't continue with lump forming in her throat. 
"No..! It was my decision...!" he again said mysteriously.
"Your Decision?" she stood up at once.

"Yes....!" he said pulling her back on the bench.  She looked away dejected.
"You are coming with me in the evening...!" it was an order cum request.  She looked at him aghast.

"No!.... Maj. Vinit... I am not going with you!" she marched towards her cell.  She reached her cell and turned back.  He had disappeared.  She sighed losing her strength and sat on the bed with a thud.  She had to wait till her next order. 

**********  *******

"I am waiting...!" he knocked the door.  She had no wish to go out.  She hadn't even changed, still in uniform.  She made up her mind and came out in full uniform and stood before him. 

She gaped in shock.   He too was in full uniform.  She had expected him to be in dinner jacket... formally dressed...!!

"Let's go!" he marched ahead.  She stood her ground.  He turned.. "I am waiting..." the threat in his voice was audible.  She followed.  He started his Royal Enfield...!!

"Can I?" she heard the familiar voice and smiled.
"No!" he commanded and Vikram froze. 
"No? Why not?" he asked bewildered.  Vinit looked away in frustration.

"Tit for Tat...Maj. Vinit..!" Vikram mocked.  He pulled the chair and Vinit stopped him.  She watched the drama contemptuously.  Vikram winked at her.  She looked away smiling.  Viky was all set to ruin the dinner.  She waited patiently for the food.  Vinit had got up aggressively. Vikram staggered back.

"Ok. Ok....! But... Ms. Dharini... just in case.... I want to let you know.... If in case you two broke up..... I am there....you know...!" he roared in laughter moving away... Vinit took his seat sighing. 

"What is all this?" she asked angrily. 
"Nothing...!" he said draining a glass of water down his throat.  She looked at his furrowed face. 

"Who are you?" she asked again, this time determined to get the truth from him.
"Vinit Pandit..." He looked up at her.  She folded her arms on her chest.
"I am waiting..." she said gravely.
"Military intelligence..." he disclosed and rose from her seat.

"What?" heads turned in their direction.
"Yes..." he said gravely...! She gaped.  His rough palm clasped her hand.  She looked at him with pale face.

"Why me?" Her head was all riot with numerous questions.  "Are they roping me in? Was he asking about that? He wanted me to say yes... and ... and I thought ... he ... he..." she suddenly felt embarrassed. 

"The moment I saw you in DRDO....." he stopped looking at her pale face.

"What?" she asked shocked.  "DRDO? .." she gaped.  She waited....

"Dharini... Thank you...!" he again said gravely.  She shook her head.
"No. Maj. Vinit...!" she kept the spoon aside.

"I haven't finished yet...!" she looked straight into his eyes....