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“Sycophants...!” Dhatri muttered furiously.  She had lost it, three to one. Suresh had already written to Ray Dave requesting him for the sponsorship and a live project on Image Processing, giving names of the team members including Dhatri Dixit.  Dhatri was furious as he had written her name without her permission. 

“Why do we have to beg? We will find out some local industry or HOD will give us some problem at the end?” she argued not willing to be a part of the team. 

“Daatri... We are getting this big opportunity ... “ Suresh tried to convince her.  She shook her head.  “Yeah big opportunity.... more work... slog... slog.... and get beheaded under the guillotine of pressure...” she flared up.  Suresh gaped. 

“Why do you think so? This is a student project, Dhatri... and we are getting a live industrial problem... “ Ragini too jumped into the discussion.  Dhatri looked away sulkily losing the argument. 

“Ok. Fine.  If she is not ready... we three will go ahead...” Purva put her foot down.  Dhatri’s jaw dropped.  Dropping out of the team meant, teaming up with some other group .... Dhatri couldn’t be ready for that.  She only had these three in her inner circle.  She was comfortable with these three..! She frowned.  This hungry gudda had lured the group into the trap.  Dhatri never wanted get into the trap.  She wished a easy way out.  Take some hypothetical  problem, copy paste some ready made code... show some UI – user interface and the year ends.....! But her group wanted this project at any cost. 

“What if I drop out of this project?” she pondered over and finally said... “Fine... I will drop out of this.... will join some other group...You three carry on...!” The other three looked at each other aghast.  They failed to understand her logic. 

“Why, Dhatri?” Ragini asked her shocked.  “I don’t want to do this crap project...!” Dhatri made a statement and Suresh flared up.

“Fine.. Dhatri... If you don’t want to join... I will write to Mr. Ray to remove your name.  I have already given him the team....!” Suresh flared up too.

“Listen, Dhaa... Are you not interested in getting good score?” Ragini asked her.  Dhatri stared at her confused.  “Ofcourse..” she said and Ragini looked at her victoriously.  “Look, if we take up some hypothetical problem from Sir, he will surely cut our marks for not getting live industrial project.  It has 25% weightage, Dhaa... We will get full score in that if we take up Ray’s project.  Dhatri looked lost in her thoughts.

“What’s your problem Dhaa.... This Ray or the Project?” Purva asked point blank.  Dhatri gaped.  She didn’t know what was her problem.  Project? No! Anyway she had to do some project to get her engineering degree.  Ray? She was not sure. 

“Don’t put our degree in jeopardy, Dhaa for some silly idea of yours...! We are going ahead with the project and thats final... Take it or leave it...!” Purva threatened Dhatri.  Dhatri stormed out of the scene furious... Suresh ran after her.  Ragini glared at Purva for being so blunt with Dhatri. 

“Maan hi nahi rahi hain...? What should I do?” Purva glared back.  Ragini shook her head hopelessly.  There was a rift between the friends. 

“Look, Dhatri... You don’t want to interact with that guy.. I will handle him.  You only give back end support... Do coding... literature survey... study data sheets and explain us... Ok.  Don’t interact with outsiders... Is that ok? Is your problem solved?” Suresh knew exactly what was her problem.  She looked away hiding her frustration.

“Done? Dhatri? I will convince the group and also write to Ray that I will be the contact person.... Ok?” Suresh took it on him.  Dhatri looked at him weighing the options and finally nodded reluctantly.  Suresh grinned brightly.  The problem was solved temporarily....!!  They didn’t know Ravi yet....!!

.........

“Do you think I am an emotional fool?” He asked Dharini lifting his head from her shoulder.

 “Only emotional fools can do things you did!” she said with twinkling eyes. He cupped her face.  “Like?” he asked looking into her eyes...

“Like... threatening me to cross the border... like proposing me in the moving T90 Tank... Like barging into my house... “She closed her eyes. He smiled smugly.  She opened her eyes in realization.  She looked at his smiling face.  He inched closer. 

“Vinit... I haven’t told my parents...!” she spoke gravely.  He still smiled.  “Don’t worry.  My parents are going there next week!” He declared.  She looked up shocked.  He nodded pulling her closer. 

“Yes... “ he said.  “But...” he kept his finger on her lips.

“No But and If! Everything is arranged...!” he again gave her a shock.

“Dhaa will manage...!” he said smirking and she jumped startling. 

“What?” she blurted aghast.  “Yes, Rini! Dhatri said she will handle everything... She is going home next weekend...!” he said putting his arms around her.

“But... how? I mean... Why?” she was confused.  “I called her up to help and she agreed...!” he said in her ear.  

“Vinit...!” she was not sure, what he was doing was the right thing.  “What?” he looked at her questioningly. 

“I mean, I feel, I should talk to them...!” she said seriously.  She ought to have talked to them but she had procrastinated. 

“Yeah! You should! So, go ahead and talk to them...!” he took out his cell. 

“No! I will call them up!” she said making up her mind.  He looked at her.

“Are you worried?” he asked her.  She shook her head.  “But I should have talked to them earlier...!” she said guiltily. 

“Ok. So, talk to them now!” he said getting up.  She looked up confused.  “Take your time Rini... I am waiting downstairs...!” he ruffled her hair and went out.  She took out her phone.

He smirked descending the stairs.  He had already talked to her parents and they were happy with him....!!