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They moved in the motorcade ... “Disha Salil Dixit officially became Disha Bhanu Pratap Singh...!” Dhatri thought sighing.  Somehow she was lost... her Disha Didi.... Whatever differences they had between them... Dhaa felt very sad.  She looked out of the window and wrapped silence throughout the journey.  Ravi glanced frequently in the rear view mirror.  Suresh engrossed talking to Ravi about his business and his future plans. 

“Hey.. did you decide on your project?” asked Suresh, nudging Dhatri to bring her back.  She looked at him blankly and shook her head. 

“Project?” asked Ravi and Ragini said... “Yeah Project of one year.  We are supposed to get live project from the industry.  Sponsorship....!”

“Yeah...!” Suresh agreed.  “Don’t know, what we are going to do!” he looked at Dhatri. She was not bothered.  Ravi thought for a while...

“I can sponsor an academic project...!” he said to the delight of Suresh and Ragini...

“Really? So nice of you...!” Ragini held his hand and he gazed at the mirror. 

“What is your area of interest?” he asked and Suresh said “Beggars have no choice... ! Whatever the sponsor wants us to do...!” Suresh said bitterly.  Ravi looked back at him shocked. 

“What? Don’t you have your choice in this?” he asked surprised.

“No.. I mean... I am interested in image processing.... but I should get a problem in that area... !” Suresh said and Ragini nodded.

“Ok.  I will think over it.  May be you can do something in Machine Vision using cameras...!” He glanced at Dhatri.  She was not in the conversation. 

“Or something like RFID and wild life...” he said little loudly and Dhatri’s eyes flashed.  She looked at Suresh... He was not interested... So was Ragini.  Dhatri looked away disappointed. 

“Why do you have to talk about study and projects..?” she asked frowning and Ravi smirked.  But Suresh ignored her.  He wouldn’t miss this opportunity of getting sponsorship for his project.

“Shut up Dhatri... We have to decide before the college reopens...!” he said angrily and Dhatri folded her arms on her chest sulkily.  Ravi had hooked them cunningly.  Every one ignored Dhatri’s protests and continued their Discussion on Machine Vision using cameras and LabView...!!

In an hour they pulled over in the porch of Bhanu’s Mansion like house and Ravi took the bags from Dhatri.  “I will take them inside...!” he said smiling at her.  She looked at Suresh who was busy gaping at the beauty of the mansion...!!

The grah-pravesh was thoroughly boring for Dhatri.  She stood somewhere at the back gazing at peoples’ backs waiting for the ceremony go get over.

“I will dump those bags inside and push off...!” she thought looking around, still in the porch waiting for people to file in. 

“Hey...!” she sat down patting Bruno... The Black Labrador of Bhanu's house.  The dog licked her hands excitedly and she lost the world around.  “What’s your name?” she asked cupping its fat huge face.  It fanned her face with his wet, warm breath.  “Hihi... So sweet...!” she whispered in its ears.

“Bruno... his name is Bruno..!” Bhanu’s another cousin was watching them.  She looked up smiling at him.   “He is so cute...!” she couldn’t stop kissing its forehead.  “Huuuu....Uoooo....” Bruno moaned a low growl.  She giggled.  She had a friend in that unknown crowd.  “He he...Come... let us go inside...” She called Bruno and he ensued wagging his tail. 

She paused at the entrance looking at Disha’s footsteps .... Grah-Pravesh... “Humm....!” She sighed.  Her work was over.  Time to go back.

“Dhatri beti, come inside” Kalindi invited her inside and Dhatri reluctantly stepped in.  Suresh and Ragini were already inside...! Dhatri went to them hurriedly.  “Time to go, Ragini... Chalo...!” she pulled her hand. 

“Chalo? Where? You are not going anywhere... You are staying over..!” said some elderly lady and Dhatri shuddered.  “Stay? Here?” she looked around the Mansion full of guests and relatives...! “No way! I am not staying...!” she muttered.

“Didi... Your baggage and bags are kept. Everything is settled.  Can we go now?” she asked Sweetly and Ravi poked in.

“But they are to stay over...!” he pointed at the elderly woman.  “So you have heard it.... You hungry Gudda...!” Dhatri glared at him.  Disha looked confused.  Ravi beckoned the old lady and she made the point clear.

“Bride’s sister stays overnight and then moves out with the bride next day...! This is to make the bride comfortable in the alien environment of Groom’s family...”

Dhatri clenched her fists.  “Dhaa... don’t create a scene here... Just stay over, Ok?” Disha gritted her teeth looking at Dhatri’s furious face. 

“Fine..!” Dhatri moved towards her friends to inform them.  Ravi smirked.

“Suresh....!” He called out.  Suresh ran towards him.  Ragini followed leaving Dhatri alone to brood....! She sat on the nearby sofa watching the hustle and bustle of the people.  Someone gave her a cup of tea and she felt better to sip that sweet tea. 

The younger group had gathered and were planning some games.   Suresh and Ragini behaved as if they were one among them.  Dhatri didn’t leave her place.  Someone thrust a plate in her hand and her face lit up looking at the food.  “Not bad...!” she devoured it in no time and looked around to wash her hands. 

“Chalo... Bed sajanaa hain... We have to decorate the bed...!” Someone pulled her hand and she jerked it away...

“No... I can’t do that...Decoration and all!” Her feet broke into action to run away from that place.  But Ragini pulled her back.

“Yeah... we will do it!” She said to the lady and winked at Dhatri.  “Don’t worry Dhatri... I love this... I will do it!” Ragini said and went away.  Suresh and Ravi were deep into conversation and Dhatri sensed Disha sitting on the sofa with a thud. 

“Are you ok, Didi?” Dhatri suddenly felt concerned about Disha.  Disha shook her head hopelessly.  “I feel nervous, Dhaa!” she looked at her younger sister.  Dhaa gaped.  “Why is she feeling so nervous? This is only an eye wash marriage?” Dhaa couldn’t understand.  Disha held her hand.

“Dhaa... Look at their family.... How am I going to manage? I am so miserable... pathetic....” Disha blurted out her fear.  Dhatri smiled broadly.

“Look at how nice and considerate they are, Didi... They made you so comfortable....You are the luckiest to have such a nice family, didi!” Dhatri squeezed her hand and Disha smiled faintly.

“You think, I will be able to manage?” she asked and Dhatri nodded furiously.  “Yes Didi... Nothing is impossible for you..!” said Dhatri confidently pumping some in Disha’s mind. 

“Humm...!” Disha sighed.  Dhatri looked at Disha in surprise.  “All the time she is so confident, why is she behaving so weak?” Dhatri held her hand tightly.  “Didi... you are the best.  I am sure, you will manage this front too, very well...” she said and Disha pulled her into a tight embrace.  Dhatri for the first time felt like crying her heart out in her didi’s arms.  Disha sobbed hard burying her face in Dhatri’s shoulder.  Dhatri patted her wiping her own tears. 

“Come on Didi... Have some food.  I will get a plate for you...!” she changed the subject.

“Oh! No! They can’t have it here...!” Ravi said loudly and everyone looked at them.  Dhatri gaped.

“Hey everyone...! Is she allowed to have food?” he asked loudly over the noise ...

“No!” came a roar from everywhere.  Disha looked confused.  Bhanu flushed looking away. 

“Keep them hungry...!” Someone yelled from behind and the crowd roared in laughter.  Disha blushed.  Dhatri got up and merged in the crowd, changing the party.  Now she was with the crowd and not with her Didi.  Someone pushed Disha and Bhanu towards their room and the room door closed securely among loud whistling and jeering....! 

Dhatri kept her hand on her chest sighing.... “Missing your sister already?” Ravi had taken Disha’s place.  Dhatri shrunk.  She looked for her friends for support. 

“Come on... help us in laying the mattresses...!” he ordered pulling her hand and she got up with a jerk.  “Chalo...!” he said dragging her inside where a group was laying the mattresses...!!

“Go get the pillows..!” he ordered and she moved out of the hall.  “Pillows, my foot!” she muttered.  She went exactly in opposite direction and ended up in the kitchen.  “Are wah...!” she opened the fridge to take the water bottle and saw packs and packs of ice cream.  “Good..!” she grinned happily.  The servant came forward with a bowl.  “Which flavour?” he asked politely and she took her time to decide. 

She saw Kalindi pulling someone inside and the servant moved out hanging his  head.

“I had told you, not to come here Sanyu...!” Kalindi gritted her teeth.  The other Foreigner looking lady was swaying uncontrollably. 

“Why not? Its my nephew’s wedding after all....!” she could speak up and Kalindi shook her head hopelessly. 

“Do you have anything in there?” her eyes fixed on the refrigerator, she moved towards it and Kalind saw Dhatri rooted to the ground.

“Aray, Dhatri beti... what are you doing here? I will ask someone to take the ice cream out...” she said weakly shaking slightly.  Dhatri moved away clutching the bowl. 

“Hey, who are you?” asked Sanyogita clutching her arm.  Dhatri could feel her body warming, her eyes burning, fingers twitching..... She clutched Sanyogita’s shoulder tightly....

“You are not well.... you are not well...” her eyes rolled up....Sanyogita felt warmth entering her body.... Kalindi didn’t know what to do... Dhatri had brought her down on the floor and Sanyogita had rolled up her eyes feeling the warmth.... The fingers were moving on her abdomen and chest....

“Ravi....” Kalindi screamed, running out of the scene.....!!