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Dhatri ignored everyone.  She forgot that it was her sister’s marriage.  She saw only Appa and even forgot to invite Teacher inside.  

“Rini Didi...!” she called out loudly and Disha looked at her youngest sister from the altar with a shabby, yokel, dirty person.  She looked around to see whether anyone else noticed.  Everyone had.  “Shit..!” she muttered turning her face.  Salil too had noticed Dhatri dragging Appa inside.  He came forward hurriedly. 

“Papa... Appa...!” she said happily clutching Appa’s bony arm.  Salil joined his hands looking confused.  “Papa.... Appa.... Good Boy.... Nanu..!” she tried to help him remember and he looked at Appa in realization.  He held his hand.   “Please come...!” he took his hand in his and made him sit next to him.  Appa gaped.  Dhatri looked around for Rini.

“Rini Didi...!” she called out.  Rini was nowhere.  Salil gestured at the altar.  Dhatri dragged Appa up the altar to introduce. 

“Bhanu Bhaiyya....Appa... My Appa... from the jungles...!” she found out the word to introduce.  Bhanu gave a broad smile.

“Oh yes...! He took Appa’s hand in his...! Thank you for coming...!” he said.  Appa inserted his hand in his kurta/Bandi... and took out a crumpled, soiled ten rupees note looking around sheepishly.  Dhatri had a broad smile.  Her Appa had got ten rupees gift.  She looked at her sister excitedly and her face shadowed seeing Disha frowning...! But Bhanu had accepted the gift happily and was talking to Appa in Hindi...! Dhatri dragged Appa down the stairs ignoring to introduce him to Disha.  Disha took a sigh.  Bhanu had neatly folded the note and had inserted it into his heart pocket.  “So sweet of him...!” he blurted and Disha gaped.  She looked at Dhatri who was taking Appa inside.  Ravi walked in with Teacher, a person in his early fifties, in a very simple attire.  He took him straight to Bhanu. 

“Dhatri is inside, with her Appa..” Bhanu whispered seeing Ravi’s searching eyes.  Ravi nodded taking Teacher down to introduce him to others.  The crowd was curious... Teacher merged into the group and soon they were listening to his stories and how Ravi was helping him in his welfare efforts.  Ravi left Teacher seeing him comfortable with others and went in search of Dhatri.

“What are you doing here?” he asked sternly seeing Dhatri and Appa in the stores and she was stuffing something in his hand.

“What? Why?” she asked angrily and Appa grinned.  He held her hand... “Baby... have some work with Saab... And don’t you ever be rude to him...!” he scolded her and she frowned.  Ravi smirked turning to leave with Appa. 

“Ravi....Stay here...!” Kalindi, Bhanu’s mother walked in.  “What? Why?” he asked looking at her ghostly face. 

“Sanyogita... has come...!” she whispered aghast.  He froze. And then took a step ahead.

“I don’t care...!” he said moving out holding Appa’s hand.  Dhatri ran after them.  She wouldn’t leave her Appa.

“Rini Didi...! Appa...!” she screamed and Rini stopped in her tracks.

“You mean....!” she asked and Dhatri nodded furiously grinning ear to ear.  “Come...!” she said and Rini followed.

“Appa.... My didi... Rini Didi...!” she said interrupting the discussion between Ravi, Appa and Teacher.  Rini came and held his hand.  Appa looked at her tall figure...!

“Miltry...!” Dhatri told him in his language... Appa staggered backwards  in shock.  The settlement didn’t have good experience with the CRPF Jawans...!! Rini smiled considerately... and said.... “Please come in and have food...!” her politeness eased out tension.  Appa shook his head.

“No.. we are going back..!” he whispered in Dhatri’s ears... Ravi was watching them.  Dhatri flared up.  “Nothing doing... have food...” she ordered and Ravi smiled.  “Let me finish the work...!” he looked at Rini.... She understood.  Taking Dhatri aside, she said... “Dhaa... these people have some urgent work... Let them finish it and then we will invite them...!”

Ravi had already pulled the chairs around a small round table and Teacher had spread out some papers on it.  Dhatri went away sulkily. 

“Sonny...!” Sanyogita was at the table and Kalindi followed panic struck. 

“I am busy...!” he said curtly not even looking up.

“Sanyu, Chalo... Please...!” Kalindi begged.  Sanyogita stared at Ravi for a second and moved away with Kalindi.

The pin drop silence prevailed in the crowd.  The groom’s side was in tension and Bride’s in confusion.  Kalindi had a hard task to contain Sanyogita. 

“Bhanu... Maasi has come...!” Someone whispered and he looked up startled.  “What? How?” No one knew how she knew.  No one had invited her.  But now that she had come, they had to put up with her.  She sat fanning with her palm in the AC hall looking around curiously.  Her completely westernized attire and looks made people turn their heads towards her curiously.  She looked out of place there.  Disha gaped in disbelief.  Kalindi sat by her side clutching her hand, not to allow her move anywhere. 

“Where are Disha’s parents?” she asked loudly and Kalindi turned her face to avoid the booze smell...! She was drunk and not in her senses....! Anything could happen any time.  Kalindi looked around for help.  Rini saw her face and understood.  Kalindi pleaded with her eyes.  Rini understood. 

“Madam... please come...!” she pulled her hand and Sanyogita got up struggling to steady herself.  Rini signalled and Kalindi took a sigh of relief. 

“Please come...!” Rini took her inside never to bring her out till the function ended.