80

There was a knock on the door and Rini got up with a start.  It was 2:00 am.  She opened the door to see a Sentry with the message that she had a call.  She ran towards the administrative office of the residential barracks. 

“Hello...!” she said with bated breath.  “Rini...!” his deep voice bored deeper into her heart.

“Hello..!” she said heaving....!  “Rini..... Going!” he said and there was a silence on the other side.  He knew, she wouldn’t ask “Where?” and  she knew he wouldn’t tell “Where!”

“Al.... All the best!” she said trying to keep her voice steady. 

“Love you!” Vinit said heavily, disconnecting the phone.  He was on a mission again.  This time going in an official convoy as the Prime Minister’s Security Officer to Afghanistan...!!

“Love you too, Vinit! I know you will come back soon!” She left the office lost in herself.  She didn’t know when she will see her man again....!

********* ********

“Hey... whatsup!” She chirped jovially.  There was no response.  “Sonny...!” She stepped in.  Mrs. Russel fidgeted nervously.  Ravi was unmoved.  “Thank God! Dad is not here!” he assessed the situation. 

“Sonny... you have turned into a Handsome man!” she smiled at him appreciating his physique.  He still stood there folding his arms with no reaction what so ever.  She came inside, made herself at ease on the sofa.

“Make me a drink..!” she ordered Mrs. Russel.  She moved hurriedly.  Ravi raised his hand to stop her.

“No... !” he said. Sanyogita looked at her son’s flexed muscles....! The next moment she was breathing heavily... perspiring profusely in the controlled environment.

“I am feeling uneasy...!” she somehow uttered and Mrs. Russel dashed forward, again to be stopped by Ravi. 

“Give her a glass of water...!” he ordered.  Sanyogita looked up.

“Sonny....Come here!” she beckoned him.  He assessed her for a second and moved towards her.  She held his hand.  He sat beside her.  She felt better, resting her head on his shoulder.  Mrs. Russel looked on nervously, not knowing what to do.

“Where is Saya?” She asked after a while feeling much better.  No one answered. 

“You should leave now...!” Ravi said gravely, looking at the time.

“Why? Are you going out somewhere? I will be here.  Don’t bother... Your work is more important..” She said gauging him holding his hand. 

“Sonny...I am so happy...” She said trying to pull him in an embrace.  He removed her hands. 

“Stop this and leave...!” he said in a deadly voice.  She looked up feeling thirsty.  Saya would have given her a bottle.... Her next move was to move Mrs. Russel... The next vulnerable victim...

“Can you get me some drink? I am feeling weak... “ she requested and Mrs. Russel moved towards the fridge.

“No! Mrs. Russel, you are not giving her anything...!” he again stopped her.  Sanyogita’s anger saw no boundary. 

“This is my husband’s house and you are a housekeeper...!” she spat at Mrs. Russel.  Ravi gestured her to go out.  Sanyogita got up from the sofa and moved towards the fridge.

“Stop... else I am calling 911...!” he said getting up too!

“Sonny...!” She faked terrible shock.  “Out of this house.. right now!” he bellowed and she knew.... he had seen her through....!

“Yeah ok! Sonny... you are upset... I mean ... I did terrible things...!” Sanyogita was on the verge of breaking down.  There was no effect on him.  He stood his ground. 

“But you know... That day... In Kalindi Didi’s house... That girl...” she stopped to get his reaction.  His fists clenched.  She continued.

“I don’t know... what she did to me...! But I am a changed person now...! Sonny... She did some magic...!” she said dreamily.  Ravi’s face changed color, his eyes mellowed down for a fraction of second.  Sanyogita went ahead without even looking at him.  His clenched fists released.  She moved towards the fridge again.

“Out of this house...!” he again was deadly with his threat to call 911.  She stopped.

“Leave, right now!” he said showing her the door. 

“Ok. Sonny... I know you are upset... but you will know soon... that I was trapped... I was a victim of a bigger conspiracy.... They ruined my life.... Sonny... I missed being with you, Saya...!” She chocked as a lump formed in her throat, tears brimming her lashes.  Ravi had taken out his cell phone.

“Would you do me a favour, sonny? Will you request Saya? Please? Ask him to call me!” she said earnestly.  He remained unmoved.  She wiped her eyes and went out through the door.  Ravi closed the door shut.  Mrs. Russel walked out.

“Ray... !” she brought a glass of water... he sent it down his throat in one gulp. 

“She wanted to talk to you, I believe!” Mrs. Russel truly felt that Ray should have listened to her story.  But Ray shook her head. 

“We have to cut her off our lives, Mrs. Russel... She will continue to play the same game with us again.... She did twenty five years ago with Dad..~” he said seriously and Mrs. Russel nodded staring at the floor. She knew much more than what Ravi knew at that point of time...!

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

“Sanyogita came out clenching her fists in rage... She had tried to measure up Ravi... for his strengths and weaknesses... He seemed to have a soft corner for that girl... she could use against ...! But he seemed to have seen her through.  It seemed that he knew her... for who she is! Her lips curled up.  Ravi was a challenge ...! He ought to be the one .... who would give her what she wanted...! He was a tool to reach to the goal... !  The girl would help...! Ravi... my son! She smiled inwardly ....

“No! I know you well... I won’t let you use us anymore..! We are not puppets ...! I will not let you hurt my Dadu again...!” Ravi blurted clenching his fists...! “I know you are a sociopath...! I know how to cut you off our lives... I will protect my Dad...!” Ravi came back to his room losing his interest to go out.  He gazed at the ceiling lying down on the bed. 

He waited for his Dad to come home~!

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

“Sorry, son! You had to handle it all alone...!” his father was really sad.  He looked up at his smugly.

“I handled it better..!” he said and his father clutched his hand.  “I know, Ravi...! It must have been very hard to...”

“No.. Dad! It was easy... I just didn’t budge...~” Ravi said smiling.  “I threatened her to call the cops, Dad!” and his dad looked at him with gaping mouth. 

“You called the cops?” he asked aghast.  “No! I didn’t...! But I would have, had she not moved out!” he said and then kneeling down, holding his father’s hand urged...

“Dad... for god sake... please don’t give in... when I am not around!” his father looked at him guiltily.  Ravi gazed at his father... simple, god fearing, with high moral values...! His grip tightened and Sayajirao looked up at him.

“I just can’t write her of, Ravi.. I married her.... the ties just can’t,,,!” Ravi flared up!

“Oh! Stop being an Indian Dad! There is nothing like that...! She is a paracite... needed to be cut off!  Its just a failure of marriage...!” he said thoroughly frustrated.  His father shook his head.

“She is your mother....!” he tried weakly to cover up his weakness.  Ravi looked at him piercingly. 

“I know, everything, Dad... You are my mother.... and my father...!” he said emotionally and Sayajirao looked away swallowing hard.  He had loved her and she had used him. 

“Dad, promise me! You will be stronger when she is around... Please~” Ravi held out his hand.  Ravi was everything for Sayajirao.  He promised.  He didn’t know how far he would be able to keep it up. 

“Be practical Dad! She has nothing to do with us now...!” he said trying to convince his dad.  Sayajirao gaped at his strong son. 

“When I am not here, just call the cops, if she showed up!” he instructed and Sayajirao nodded.  “You have to be tough, Dad!” he said and his dad nodded.  He was never tough enough to handle her.  She took advantage of this and manipulated him to her advantage.  But Ravi was not to give in.  He would confront, catch her off guard, trick her in her style and save his father....! He would do anything for that...!

He suddenly got up...! She had talked about Dhatri... She was all set to use her against him.... he knew her next move..... Dhatri! He must protect Dhut Teri....! He waited for the skype call ....!!

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

“Its our evening... not his..!” Dhatri was trying hard to misguide about the timing of the skype call.  Suresh just ignored her. 

“Dhatri... stop your tantrums...! Its our morning, his evening.. Don’t you understand? He has written it clearly that its 10:00 am IST.” Ragini shut her up.  Dhatri muttered frowning. 

“Not all are required...” her next statement flared up Purva.

“Dhaa... no one has asked you, your opinion... Just be there for the call, ok?” Dhatri looked away contorting her face in frustration. 

The free wi-fi in the hostel was of great help.  They were all set to have their kick-off skype call on their mini project with Ray Dave.. Partner Exix Cameras and Surveillance Systems, California..USA..!!