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"She.... She is the one...!" He pointed at Dhatri supported by Suresh and Purva.  Purva and Suresh tried to hide Dhatri in vain.  A heavily built person and a pale old man got down from the Car...!" 

“No!” Purva stood in-between, shielding Dhatri from the bouncer like man.  The other person came forward and pointing at Dhatri, said,

“She is the one... She saved me.... She is injured....!” Suresh gaped at the strangers holding Dhaa tightly. 

“She... She saved me from the stampede... She healed my wounds...” he pulled up his right sleeve to show the healed deep would.   Purva took a closer look. 

“What do you want?” she asked picking up a stone, ready to strike, losing her grip of Dhatri and Dhatri was on the ground in a heap.  The bouncer ran forward to pick her up.

“No... Stop!” Purva raised her hand to strike.  The pale man raised his hand gesturing the bouncer. 

“Look, Beti! It is not safe here... There are shoot at sight orders... Anytime the firing will start.  Tell me where you want to go.  I will take you...!” he said kindly.  Purva weighed the situation looking around seriously and looked at Suresh for his approval. 

“Please, hurry up!” the man said desperately looking around the chaos. 

“Dhaa... wake up!” Suresh patted on her cheek.  She blinked open her eyes somehow. 

“This man....!” Suresh pointed at the man and Dhatri couldn’t recognize...

“Beti... I am the one you saved! Let me help you, please....!” he said earnestly.  Dhatri hid behind Purva... “Purva...!” she groaned in pain.

“No! We are not coming with strangers...!” Purva declared supporting Dhatri in her arms. 

“Please.... let me help!” he requested again.  “No!” Dhatri said painfully.  Purva looked around.  They have to wait for Ragini. 

“No! Help is coming for us...!” she said praying hard for Ragini. 

“She is an angel, she saved my life...!” the man joined his hands and turned. 

“Wait...!” suddenly yelled Purva.  Dhatri shuddered. 

“Do you have water?” she asked and the man looked at her, confused. 

“Bottle of water?” she asked taking her thumb to her mouth.  The bouncer ran back to the car to get the water bottle.

“Thank you!” Purva snatched the bottle and turned to Dhatri.  The man watched on. 

“You can go...! We don’t need help!” Suresh said angrily.

“Ragini...!” Purva shouted seeing Ragini running in search of them.  Ragini came panting and huffing.

“Thank god!” She said and then looking at Dhatri’s condition screamed in panic.

“Dhaa.... What happened? Look at her... She is bleeding....Oh! God!” Ragini sat down losing her energy. 

“Please... let me help!” the man had not gone away...! Purva lost her temper...

“I told you to go!” She raised the stone angrily and the bouncer stood between the man and her.  Ragini took over.

“Can you drop us at RGI... Radharaman college?” she asked the old man and he nodded immediately.

“Wherever you say!” he said and Purva looked at Ragini in shock.  How can they take Dhatri in a car with strangers?  Ragini didn’t look at anyone.  They had to go away from the place as early as possible.  She had seen and experienced the mayhem.  She calculated... the distance was around 18 km. And there were no busses. 

“Ok.  Leave us at RGI...” she said holding Purva’s hand to stop her from striking. 

“Yes... Please come!” The man opened the door for the four friends....! He said something to the bouncer and he moved away from the car.  The four friends cramped up the back seat.  The driver raced away...!  Purva kept a watch on the known landmarks and making sure the car is not taking an unknown route.  Ragini was holding Dhatri’s bleeding trampled hand blowing gently on the wound.  Luckily there seemed to be no broken bones.  The cold water had worked.  Her temperature was receding.  Suresh knew what to do?

“Who are you?” he asked the man sitting on the passenger seat next to the driver.  “I am a shop owner, in Rana Pratap Nagar.” He said looking back at the four. 

The riots broke out and I pulled the shutter down.  Before my car could arrive... I was swept away by the crowd.  She saved me! I fell down and she pulled me away from the stampede risking her life....!” he said emotionally.  They had crossed Van Vihar.... Suresh took a sigh of relief.  They were on the right track. 

“What business....” Suresh continued with the conversation keeping a watchful eye...!

“Arms and ammunitions...!” the man said plainly taking out a gun from his hip pocket....!! The four froze....!

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

“Rini...!” Vinit was at the door.  She looked up fighting her tears. 

“So?” he asked wrapping his arms around.  She looked away, blushing. 

“They knew...!” she said looking at him and he nuzzled on her neck. She pushed him away. 

“I should have told them, myself!” she blurted guiltily. He suddenly broke away stiffly.

“You know, Rini! I am a very impatient person.... You would have taken your lifetime to tell them.... I wouldn’t wait that long...!” he again inched closer to pull her.

“In fact, I can’t wait.... !” his lips traced her ear and she pushed him away...

“Vinit...!” she looked at him sternly and he touched his ears... “Sorry!” he said sheepishly, smiling at her.  She looked at the time....  “Time to go!” she got up, he reluctantly followed her.

“Come home soon!” his mother kissed her affectionately.  She nodded.  His father held out a gift.  “Vinit is a lucky man!” he said and she blushed.  Vinit had taken out a car.  She needed to travel back to Khemkaran to join her duty. 

..........  .......

“Dad, I am sponsoring a student project...!” Ravi explained the concept to his father. 

“Ok! Good! I think I can help you in fabricating a conveyer belt assembly...!” he said thoughtfully.  Ravi’s face brightened up.

“That will be great, Dad!” he said excitedly. 

“Which University?” his father asked thinking its some US university.

“REC Bhopal....!” said Ravi and Sayajirao raised his eyebrows.  Ravi looked away for a second... “I mean... the concept is good!” his father encouraged.  Ravi was concentrating on the Industrial Division of his Camera Company using the cameras for quality inspection....!!

“Yes Dad! The group is promising!” Ravi said getting up.  “Oh! I see!” his father looked at the back of his son stroking his chin thoughtfully.  Suddenly his otherwise American son had become very considerate about India.  Smirk appeared with curiosity on his face...!

“When did you meet the group?” he probed.  Ravi looked back.  “Wedding...!” he said avoiding his father’s gaze.  “Oh! Ho!” his father grinned and Ravi dashed out. 

“Nice Name... Dhut Teri...!” his father grinned...! His son, who hated woman was turning in.... But Dhut Teri was not the woman category, for Ravi.  He still detested woman in general.... with very few exceptions...!