73

The morning bustle of people woke Dhatri up.  She looked around to find no familiar face.  She got up from the sofa with a jerk. 

“Hey, good morning...!” Ravi came up with a tea cup for her.  She nodded shyly and hurriedly went to the other room to get her bag.  She brushed and came back to find her tea cup on the tea table.  Ravi had vanished.  She picked up the cup feeling relieved. 

“Dhaa...” Disha was approaching.  “Good morning didi” Dhatri greeted hugging her lightly. 

“Dhaa... there is some chouka puja.... I am supposed to make kheer...!” Disha said nervously. 

“So? You make the best kheer Didi... “ Dhatri was unable to understand Disha’s nervousness.  “Humm...!” Disha went away looking lost.  Dhatri looked for her friends and to her dismay they were with Ravi.  She scoffed... “Why do they have to latch on to him? For project?” she was confused.  “But HOD said he can give a hypothetical problem at the end if we do not get sponsorship....!” she already had a solution.  But Suresh was all set to impress Ray Dave for the sponsorship and a live problem.... Ragini had different motive.  She just wanted to impress this handsome, rich, NRI guy!!  Dhatri had no interest in these career things.  She shuddered and vanished from the place when she found his eyes watching her intently. 

“Dhatri... how are you Beti?” Kalindi cupped her face.  She nodded shyly.  “I am fine..” she said and moved away.  She had to push off ASAP. 

“You are supposed to help your sister, in the kitchen...!” smirked Ravi and Dhatri gaped stupidly.  “What?” she looked towards the kitchen.  “Yeah.. go and help her...!” he pointed at the kitchen.  She went in opposite direction in search of Ragini.

“Chalo... you need to help Didi in the kitchen...!” She pulled Ragini’s hand dragging her.

“What? Why?” Ragini asked flabbergasted.  “Because you are her sister too!” Dhaa mocked and Ragini gaped. 

“Look... You know, I can make only tea... And Didi is supposed to make Kheer... Do you want to have tea for Kheer?” Dhaa asked scoffing... Ragini shook her head completely lost.

“Then go and help Didi in the kitchen..!” Dhatri ordered and suddenly took a U turn to avoid Ravi.  She went away frowning.  Ragini moved towards kitchen.  Dhatri vanished somewhere.

“We are going...!” She found Suresh.  He looked back.  “What?” he asked confused.

“We are going....!” she again said.

“Oh! No... Not so soon...! Some rituals here and then to your place for lunch...!” Ravi knew the program well.  She again turned.  Ravi heard the angry gruff and growl of Bruno....!

“Oh! Don’t even try it! I know it’s you....!” he had caught up with her.  She broke into action dashing towards the kitchen.  Ravi blew a sigh.  Suresh grinned.  Ravi moved out with Suresh. 

“Dhaa... help me! Grind this...almonds...!” Disha issued the orders.  Ragini was already into action helping Disha stir the Kheer in the huge vessel.  Dhatri did not come out of the kitchen for a long time. 

*****  ****

“Awaaa.... when did you come?” she screamed entering her house and throwing the bags on the floor. 

“Dhaa...!” Dr. Salil clutched her shoulder.  She bit her tongue and picked up the bags sheepishly.  Maj. Vinit watched her with a serious face.  She saw her Rini Didi come out with the tray and she winked at Vinit.  Vinit looked away.  Dhatri grinned.  Rini blushed. 

“Sorry, I couldn’t come yesterday... “ he held out a flower bouquet for Disha and Bhanu.  Disha accepted it. 

“He is Maj. Vinit... Rini’s colleague...!” Disha introduced him to Bhanu.  “Not Colleague... her Boss... Big Boss...!” Dhatri said grinning and Rini pulled her inside.  “Dhaa... stop it...!”

Ragini walked in with Suresh.  She gaped at Vinit and dashed in.

“Hiii... Who is that tall handsome guy outside?” she asked dreamily.  Dhatri pounced on her. 

“He is already booked.... For my Rini Didi.... He is your Jijaji... Stick to your handsome guy... that ABCD...Samajhee?” she said and Ragini looked at Rini’s flushed face.

“Didi? What is this? And you didn’t even tell us...! We are your aide in keeping a watch on Dhaa... and you....!” She said sulkily hugging Rini.

“Shuu... Its a secret... Didi hasn’t disclosed yet...!” Dhatri said in a hushed voice.  “Humm...” Ragini felt better to share the secret of her Dharini Didi. 

“Hey.. where do I keep these bags?” asked Ravi looking at the trio in the room.  Dhatri looked up at him and then at Ragini and said... “Ask her...!” and moved out of the room with her Rini Didi.  Ragini took the bags from him smiling at him.

“What’s wrong with her?” he asked bewildered looking in the direction of Dhatri. 

“N... nothing...!” Ragini said looking at his face.  “Where is Suresh?” he asked an aimless question.  She gestured outside.  He went away.  She sat there dreaming.  “He is so handsome...!” she had no other adjectives to describe his charm. 

Dhatri came out laden with bags.  Both Vinit and Ravi got up courteously to help her.  She ignored both of them.  “Now what’s wrong with her?” Ravi gazed at her furious face.  “Where do I keep them?” She didn’t know.  “Disha Didi...?” she yelled angrily. “Keep them in my room!” Disha yelled back from inside and Dhatri turned muttering.  “Your room? Which is your room? Its our room too...!” Ravi smiled inwardly.  “This silent, shy, timid mutant is a fierce tigress ....!” Ragini dashed to Dhaa’s help.

“Dhaa... I tell you... If he gives me his contact number....!” Ragini said dreamily.  Dhaa gaped.  “Contact number? Its easy... go and ask him his contact number...!” she gave the solution and Ragini shook her head hopelessly.

“Tera kuch nahi ho sakata...Dhaa! You don’t understand these boys...!” Ragini had done her doctorate in that subject.   Dhatri shrugged.  “Whatever! Come and help me...!” she said going out.

They had gathered in the hall after the lunch...!!

“Umm... Papa... Rini Didi and Maj. Vinit ... They need to go to the Office for some urgent work...!” Dhaa declared to the utter bewilderment of both Vinit and Dharini.  Dr. Salil looked at Maj. Vinit.  He nodded reluctantly.  Dhaa winked at Rini. 

“And Ragini needs to go home..! Can Mr. Ray drop her? Suresh is busy with some other work...!” she asked boldly and Salil looked up shocked at his youngest daughter.  Now it was Ravi’s turn to be bewildered.  According to Dhaa she had done a great favor sending the couples  away together....! 

“Iss Dhut Teri ko toh main chodunga nahi...!” Ravi clenched his fists.  He couldn’t say no.  Inside, Ragini was hugging Dhatri gratefully. 

Disha and Bhanu were to leave for Ooty in the evening to return after eight days.  Disha had made sure that everyone knows that she was invited to deliver a lecture in TIFR (Tata Institute of Fundamental Research) on Astro Physics and tracing the movement of comets... !!  Dr. Salil’s chest heaved with pride. 

.........

“I don’t know what happened to Dhaa...!” Rini blurted in the half ton military carrier.  Vinit looked at her fondly.  “She wanted to give us some time alone...!” he said smiling and Rini blushed. 

“Dharini...Extend your leave by a couple of days... I want you to meet my parents...” he held her hand.  She suddenly fell silent. 

“Vinit... I mean... Is it not too early?” she asked seriously.  He looked at her.  “Do you want more time?” he asked clenching the steering...She could see the pulse throbbing on his forehead.

“Maj.  Vinit... We need to talk...” she said seriously.  He turned the vehicle to a secluded place.  She breathed relief. 

“I am listening...!” He pulled over.  She looked at him.  “I... I want to talk about ... Umm... “ she didn’t know how to open the topic.  But she needed to clear this before going ahead with him.  She had a responsibility.  He gazed at her trying to read her mind.

“I mean... Its about... I mean ... about...!” she fumbled for the first time...

“About Dhatri?” he made it easy and she looked up in his eyes.  His eyes were fixated on her face.  She nodded looking down.

“Rini.... I know everything about Dhaa....!” he said gravely.  She was shocked.  “... You don’t have to speak up the unspeakable...” he held her hand.  A relief brought tears in her eyes.  He cupped her face.

“I know... Rini... Dhaa... is now our responsibility...!” he said stressing on the word ‘our’.  Rini buried her face in his chest. 

“Rini... I know everything... possibly the things you may not know...!!” he said gravely and she broke apart.  He nodded...

“Do you know who killed Indrajeet Negi, the minister?” he asked her and she gaped.  “That bad man, her Dhaa detested...!”  The Union Minister Negi was killed in a car bomb explosion,  immediately after Dhatri was discharged from the hospital.

“One of the group members of Dhatri’s kidnappers...” he said gravely.  No one could trace the conspiracy back to the mastermind.  He slightly smiled.  Dharini looked at him mesmerized. 

“Dharini... I promise to protect her as long as I am alive...!” he cupped her face and the next moment she was in his tight embrace. 

“Now is it ok, if I..” he looked into her eyes and before she could approve, kissed her hard.  Dhaa had a double protection now.