64

Dharini waited nervously.  “What am I going to tell him?” she didn’t know the answer. 

“He would arrive anytime ... and I haven’t even had the answer...!” she fidgeted.  Everyone was looking for Dhatri and she had disappeared somewhere.

Disha blew her top.

“How irresponsible...!” she blurted in anger.  “I had told her to make the list of my bags to be carried to the wedding hall and she just has disappeared...” she fumed. 

“Its ok.  I will do it...” Nilima came to Disha’s help. 

“Mama.. .. what’s wrong with her?” Disha asked her mother.  Nilima looked up.

“There is nothing wrong with her, Disha...!” She said calmly. 

“She doesn’t even talk to me properly... I am her elder sister...!” Disha raised her voice. 

“She is so rude.. Mamma... As if I am her enemy, a filth...!” Disha vented out.  Nilima shook her head.  Dhatri and Disha never shared that bond...Dhatri detested Disha’s bossy nature and Disha wanted Dhatri to obey her. 

“I am the eldest... she should listen to me Mamma...!” Disha confronted her mother too. 

“I know!” Nilima said considerately.  But Disha flared up.  “You know! But don’t want to do anything about it! Isn’t it?” she asked getting up.

“I got a bag full of dresses for her... And she? She asked that stupid used salwar kameej from Rini...!!” Disha again lost her control in rage.

She had got the dresses and had shown them to Dhatri.  Dhatri had pulled the dresses out of the bag and was trying them out when Disha had inadvertently said that she had hardly used them.  Dhatri suddenly had thrown the dresses away saying “I don’t use used dresses...” Disha was shocked.

“What do you mean, Dhaa? You always wore our old, used dresses...” Disha said disdainfully pointing at Dhatri's childhood.

“Yeah.. I had no choice... but now I do! My Rini Didi gets me new dresses every time....” Dhatri had retorted back.  Disha felt insulted.  Salil intervened and the argument died out there.  But hurt Disha was waiting for the opportunity to give it back to her youngest sister and when Dhatri asked Dharini about her beige top... Disha blew her top.  This time, Rini had intervened.

“Dhaa... its an old one.  I promise, I will get you a new one of same style and same colour...” she had promised Dhaa. 

“But I don’t mind wearing your used dresses, Rini Didi...” Dhatri had said loudly eyeing on Disha’s reaction.  The rift between the eldest and the youngest was audible and visible... Rini’s bridge was too short to bridge the gap....!!

 “Rini, where is Dhatri?” Disha shook Rini and she winced.  “Don’t know...!” she blurted looking out of the main door.  There was no trace of Dhatri.  Rini grew restless.  She didn’t know what to do!

***** ****

Dhatri hid her face in her palms to calm herself down.... “No... I can’t...!” She looked up tormented with the thought that someone else was in her Didi’s life.  She clenched her fists feeling lonely.... No! she would have no one... Her Rini Didi had someone else....

“Humm....!” someone exhaled sitting by her side on that same stone bench and she yelped. 

“Dhatri...!” said his deep voice and she gaped.  She looked at his side profile.  “Who is he? I have not seen him before...” she thought gauging him.  He looked at her.  She stood up to go.  She never talked to strangers.

“But how does he know my name?” she stopped.  He gestured her to sit.  She did not but didn’t move away either.  She looked at him alarmed...!

“How about having two people at your disposal..?”  He asked mysteriously. 

“What?” 

“Yes...” He got up.  Dhatri looked at his tall figure...!

“RINI ke Saath VINI Free?” he asked looking at her.  She staggered backwards...

“Rini ke saath Vini free?” his words echoed and “Huf... hihi...” she couldn’t hide her smile. 

“Maj. Vinit...!” he introduced himself.... “At your disposal, Madam...!” he added seriously and the sense of authority made her feel better.  Her shyness and fright fading away, she measured him from top to bottom... somehow judging him for her Rini Didi....!!  She sat on the bench again, so did he. 

“So... he is the one....!” she murmured looking away.

“No, Dhatri... you are the one...!”  his sharp ears had heard her murmur.  She turned to face him...

“You are the one.... Dhatri.... your Rini Didi thinks about, all the time...!” he said seriously. 

“How does he know? Rini didi must have told him about me....!” her heart twisted... “Rini Didi shared our secret with him....!” she concluded with bitterness.  She suddenly got up....

“I don’t talk to strangers...” she said angrily...!

“We are not strangers... I know, you are Dhatri and you know, I am Vinit...!” he too had got up. 

“No!!... You will take my Didi away...” her inner fear blurted out....!

“No...! I am coming with your Rini Didi, in your life...” he said and she turned.

“Yeah... Rini ke saath Vini Free... Only for you....! Think about this fabulous offer, Dhatri...!” he again said seriously and she again had to work hard to hide her giggle.

“Not a bad idea...!” her heart said.  “Rini ke saath Vini.... Two-two persons at my disposal..” Her child-like mind jumped....!! She looked up at him removing her hand from her mouth and he gaped at her beautiful dimpled smile. 

“Didi sent you here?” she asked after a short while.  He shook his head.

“I haven’t met your Rini didi... yet!” he said.

“What? You haven’t met her at all?” she yelled bewildered and he gave her a child-like smile.

“No... I mean... not today... I was getting out of the auto... and saw you running out of the house... and... followed..!” he said seriously.  She gaped in shock.  “ I met Dharini four months back...!” he added getting serious. 

“What?’ Dhatri squeaked in shock.

“I was on Sikkim Border...!” he said.  Dhatri gaped in disbelief.... She remembered how desperate Purva, her friend was when she couldn’t meet her boyfriend even for a day.... And her Rini Didi didn’t meet him for last four months....!!

“Shall we...?” he gestured at the stone bench all set to tell her the story...!

“You proposed her in a Tank? Are you crazy?” she asked with wide eyes full of amazement.  He merely nodded. “Why?” she asked bewildered.

“Ghaas hi nahi dal rahi thi...! Toh yeh gadha kya karata?” he said sulking. She giggled tossing her head back... He gaped...!!

“And what did she say?” she asked him pressing her hand on her chest.

“No matter how many times you take me to the other side of the fence, Maj. Vinit... If Dhaa says no... Its a NO from Rini Too!” He mocked Rini and Dhaa felt a knot in her stomach...!

“My Rini Didi...!” she looked down in realization.  She must ensure her Rini Didi’s happiness.  She wrapped silence and then looking up into his eagerly waiting eyes said seriously...

“Promise me.... you will never hurt her...!” he promised pressing his palm on his heart.

“And you will keep her always happy....!” he nodded getting serious too. 

“Humm.... “ she sighed gazing into the distance.  Vinit stared at her bright smiling face and he knew....!

“So? Have I passed?” he asked with a smile.

“What..?” she asked.

“The test?” his smile grew.  Dhatri stroked her chin thinking hard....!! Sharing her Rini Didi... twisted her heart.... a trapped breath left her.

“Dhatri....” he suddenly leaned forward and cupped her face....!!

“You are her little sister....” he looked into her eyes and then said in a whisper... “And mine too....!” she looked up at him with teary eyes.  The genuineness in his gesture touched her heart.  A faint sob fanned his face.  He wiped her eyes...

“If you say NO, Dhatri... I promise... I will go away without meeting her..! She wouldn’t even know, I was here...!” he said seriously taking his hands down.... She looked at his face...

“And what if I say YES?” she asked raising her eyebrows smiling broadly... He looked up at her face... Holding her shoulders, he said grinning...

“Then,  this Vini is at your service, Madam.... Always...” She got up with a jerk....

“Let’s go home...!” she said holding his hand and swinging it happily.  

It wasn't Rini ke saath Vini.... It was Rini ke Saath Dhaa...!! for him..!  He walked with her silently.  

"Shuuu....!" she pressed her finger on her lip as they approached the house.  

"I go first....!" she commanded, he nodded.

"Half an hour...!" she said in a hushed voice.  He grinned...!!

She had a plan.... to rag her Rini didi for getting a brond new Vini for Dhaa....!