75

“Look at these, Dad...!” Ravi flashed few more photos.  Sayajirao had returned from his business tour and Ravi was all excited to give him the account of the wedding. 

“You seem to have captured this young lady in every frame, sonny...!” Sayajirao chuckled.  Ravi looked at the photos in realization and then shaking his head said... “She was all over, Dad...!” His Dad kept his hand on Ravi’s shoulder and Ravi moved on to the next photo. 

“You know, Dad? Disha’s family is extraordinary... Her father is a Maths Professor, her sister a marine and this Dhatri, a mutant...!” he blurted looking at Disha’s family photo with the newly wed. 

“You mean commissioned officer...!” Sayajirao corrected his son.  Marine was the term used in US, not in India...!

“Yeah, whatever! She is cool...!” he looked at Dharini’s photo admiringly.  Sayajirao looked at his son curiously.  

“Oh great! How did you manage to capture her here?” Sayajirao brought him back to Dhatri’s photo.  “You seem to appear behind her from nowhere...” Sayajirao caught him red handed.  He had paid a few bucks to the Video guy and handed over his camera to his assistant.  The assistant tailed him everywhere and with his signal flashed the snaps. 

“No, nothing like that Dad... “ he felt embarrassed but he did appear with her in every photo of his. 

“Oh! May be a coincidence..!” his Dad chuckled again.  Ravi skipped a bunch sulkily and showed him only the important photos on the big screen. 

“Oh! Shit..!” Sanyogita had flashed on the screen and before Ravi could change the photo Sayajirao got up to go.

“Dad...!” Ravi held his hand.  “Its ok, sonny...!” he said forcing a smile on his face.  Ravi’s grip on his wrist tightened.  He sat down again. 

“Dad..” Ravi said gravely.  “No... That’s ok! I mean, it’s her nephew’s wedding....!” he said heavily.  Ravi braced his father.  “I didn’t even meet her!” he said apprehensively.  Sayajirao was shocked.

“What? Why?” he asked aghast.  Ravi buried his face on Dad’s shoulder. 

“Dad... Maasi told me everything, you didn’t!” he said gravely and Sayajirao hung his head lifelessly.  Ravi held his shoulders.  “Dad.... I just want you to know...!” he swallowed hard.  Sayajirao looked on with bated breath....

“Its only you and me, Dad... No one else....! I love you Dad...!” he hugged his Dad wiping his Dad’s tears....!!  His Dad went back twenty four years down the memory lane....!!

........................

“Then suddenly Papa decided to shift to this place.  I was devastated Mamma... All my friends, my life there, my studies... I had to leave everything and come with you all here.  Why? Because of Dhatri... Her protection was more important...!” Disha said bitterly and Nilima stopped stroking her head. 

“I missed my school so much.... I just couldn’t forget .... I was out of place here Mamma...! Teachers here, just didn’t understand my level...!” she said looking up at her Mamma.  “When Dhatri was not there you used to care so much for us.... but then everything changed...! You too expected me to take care of the younger ones...!” she accused and Nilima hid her tears batting her eyes.  

“I don’t blame you, Mamma... you did best you could...!” Disha consoled her mother.  “No one understood my feelings... my aspirations... my level...! Because of Dhaa’s kidnapping, I had to rot here after my 10^th for two years....! Dhaa’s kidnapping taught me lessons for my life....!” Disha got up with jerk, fuming...

When I went to Delhi IIT, I understood the real meaning of competition... May be ... in that mad passion of proving myself.... I became a part of that rat race, Mamma.... alone.... without any help....I lost myself somewhere... And there was no looking back.  It was only the race to be the best.... Every competitive exam, every test, every competition, every exam... its only the best .... the topper.... who was rewarded.... I was addicted to be the best, Mother....!” Nilima looked at her aghast.

“But we never forced you to...!” She started off weekly but Disha stopped her.  “Yes! You did your best, Mamma... but I was far away from you all...!” Disha wiped her eyes missing those vital years of her life away from her home....!

.....................

Dharini looked at Vinit’s family at the dining table.  The breakfast was ready.  She heard a loud growl and Vinit screamed...

“No.. Sandy... stop.... Goldy... No!” A loud barking and growl startled everyone.  Vinit’s mother dashed outside.  Dharini followed.  Two huge golden retrievers had brought Vinit down on the carpet and one of them was sitting on him with the other one growling and barking...! Rini looked at the scene mesmerized.  The dog licked his face to its satisfaction and got down from his chest.  The other one took over.  “Abba... Please...!” Vinit pleaded suffocating under its weight.  “Sandy, Goldy... come here...!” his father ordered and the dogs moved away from Vinit. 

“Are you ok with these family members...?” asked his mother and she nodded happily.  She sat down... “Sandy... come here...” Vinit called the female golden retriever and Sandy came wagging.... Dharini opened her palms and showing them to Sandy, beckoned her.  Sandy growled sniffing and then licked Dharini’s ear for approval... She was ok with the new entry in the house.  Goldy followed.  Vinit’s mother had a broad smile on her face.  “They too have accepted you!” she said and Rini blushed glancing at Vinit.   The servant took the dogs away. 

Vinit’s mother too was a person with few words.  Most of the time she was silent and his Abba did all the talking.  Vinit was resting on the sofa with his eyes closed.  The maid made the lunch.  They had the lunch silently.

“come...!” Vinit took her upstairs to his bedroom.  She could see his neat, specious bedroom with his childhood photos with his elder brother.  She looked around not knowing what to do. 

“Sit..!” he made her sit on the bed and placed his hands on her shoulder.  She looked up at him nervously.

“Rini...!” he said in a deep grave tone... She waited. 

“I know, it’s not going to be easy for us...!” he looked into her confused eyes.  “You know the life in Intelligence...! Every Mission is a new mission of my life and every day is the LAST DAY of my life..!” he said mysteriously.  She looked up at him.  His eyes were probing deeper into hers.

“My parents are very strong... they withstood the untimely death of my brother with a smiling face...” His vision was hazy with tears.

“I know, you are the strongest....!” he clutched her shoulders emotionally.  She couldn’t see his expression with her teary eyes.   

“My parents have given their sons to the nation....!” he said gravely with pride and she gave a nod looking down.  “I know...!” she blurted, not knowing where the conversation was going.  This was the problem with all the persons with few words... she thought gravely. 

“Will you be there for my parents too? Along with yours?” he asked earnestly and she couldn’t stop herself.  His tears disappeared on her shoulder. 

“Vinit..... I promise...!” she tightened her grip around him.  They broke apart after a while reluctantly.  Vinit gazed at her unblinkingly.  “Rini...” his voice filled with emotions.  She looked up at him.

“I wish.... My only wish...” he looked at her longingly... She looked up with apprehension. 

“I want to grow old.... very very old... with you Rini....!” the evanescence of life made his plain statement so very grave.... Dharini kissed his tears away....! She got her real life partner.

“I want to make every moment of our togetherness a memorable one....!” She merged into his embrace.