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“Dhaa...!” Dr. Salil called up at the hostel office.

“Hello Papa?” Dhatri asked confused.  Her Papa would never call her on weekdays and not in the office.  She looked at her mobile.

“Dhaa... Listen... Indroneel had called up!” Dr. Salil started off.

“Yes, Papa.  I got a mail too...!” she said happily.  Disha snatched the phone from Dr. Salil.

“Dhaa...!” she screamed.  Dhatri pulled the receiver away from her ear.  “Dhaa.... This is a big opportunity...! Think about it, Dhaa...” Disha didn’t bring her voice down.  Dhatri showed no interest. 

“Didi, I am coming this weekend... ! We will discuss later...!” she said calmly. 

“And listen.... We have to arrange for Chat.... his mother likes Chat very much...!” She changed the subject. 

“I will handle it, Dhaa... forget about Chat and all... Think over the opportunity... I will....!” Disha stopped abruptly.  By now she had learnt not to discuss money, or expenses ... with Dhatri.  But Disha wanted to do something for her little sister...!

“Didi... please... Rini didi’s in-laws are coming...!” Dhatri didn’t let the subject go and Disha gave in.

“Yeah, Dhaa.... I will handle it.  Arrange for Chat... and sweets.. and Rabdi... and Kheer... and Bhajiya Chaval...!” she went on with the list.  Dhatri felt better.  She never wanted to tell anyone about the email...! But Indroneel Ghosh had done the damage and now everyone knew about it.

Dr. Koite, The plant scientist and Professor had written to the team.  He had submitted his research document after almost four years of hard work on deciduous forests and had won the prestigious “Botanical Society of America Merit Award..!”  Apart from this, the team members had received Undergraduate Travel Awards: Preparing Leaders and Nurturing Tomorrows Scientists.  The team was invited to Boise Idaho... Dhatri didn’t even know the place called Boise exists somewhere on this earth.  She was not interested... She had her engineering degree to complete...! But these people wouldn’t  let her live in peace.  She frowned placing the phone receiver in its cradle. 

She came back with a straight face.  “What?” asked Ragini.  Dhatri shook her head.  “Nothing...! It was about Vinit’s parents visiting us!” she lied looking away.  Ragini nodded turning to the laptop.  It was time for the skype call.

“Hey Everybody!” Greeted Ray Dave pleasantly and the three waved back.  Dhatri was behind the three almost invisible and there was no need to show her face. 

“Hello Ray..!” Ragini took over.  They discussed the project and the tools for image processing.  Ravi agreed to send the software licence and the camera.  Dhatri took no part in the discussion but no one bothered to ask her anything.  Suresh, Pruva and Ragini were enough to take ahead the project.  Dhatri waited for the call to get over.  Ravi too ignored her.  She was relieved when he was all set to conclude the call.

Hey, Dhatri, did you receive the invitation for the conference?” he asked suddenly and she shuddered.  All of them looked back at her.  She fidgeted nervously.

“What conference?” asked Ragini curiously.  Dhatri shook her head.  “No.. nothing.. “ she said weakly looking away.  Ragini was not to give us.  Dhatri knew, Ray knew about the conference... and she didn’t.  This was not done.  She turned to Ray...

“What conference?” she asked him curiously, thinking it to be some technical conference.

“Oh! She is invited to the Undergraduate Travel Award for the Botanical Society of America, Annual conference” He provided all the details to Dhatri’s dismay.  She shrunk.  Suresh looked at her in admiration.

“Botanical Conference? Dhatri?” he nudged her.  Ray at the other end smirked.  “Got you! Dhut Teri..!” he waited folding his arms for the four to sort it out. 

“No....!” she could say. 

“No?” He raised his eyebrows.  Dhatri glanced at his image on the screen and looking at others said...

“Ok. Then.  We will go ahead with studying the software for image processing... I have a 90 days evaluation copy of LabView.... so we will do it..!” she stretched her hand to logoff. 

She couldn’t forget that smirk on his face for a long time.  She had no intention to attend any conference....! She had a hard time answering the questions from her friends. 

“What do you want me to do? Go there without a passport? I don’t even have a passport...!” she yelled getting agitated. 

“So what? You get it in three weeks...!” Suresh was a veteran in these things. 

“Do you think, I should leave my studies and go attend some stupid conference?” she asked him appealing to his studious nature.  He shook his head.  “You are impossible, Dhatri! I would have grabbed this opportunity at any cost...!” he said ghastly. 

“This is not an opportunity, its a headache!” she muttered shutting down her laptop.  Ragini looked at her friend all lost.

“Dhatri, how can you think of missing such an event?” she asked and Dhatri flared up.  “Do you want me to flunk this year?”

“This year? Dhatri the conference is in next May... We will be finishing our exams...!” Suresh pointed at the flaw.  Dhatri shook her head.

“Forget it... let us get back to our mini project...” she suddenly was interested in the project. Purva glared at her piercingly.  Dhatri avoided her completely.  She knew, she could hoodwink Ragini and Suresh but Purva was shrewd. 

“And... you are not going to call Rini didi about this..!” she warned all of them.  Purva smirked.  She knew what to do....! She wouldn’t let her friend miss this opportunity. 

*****   *****

“Dhut Teri...!” Ravi smirked logging off.  He knew what exactly he needed to do.  He dialled Dr. Maria Nixon...!! She would do the rest. 

Next Monday, The College received an invitation and request to permit, Ms. Dhatri Dixit inviting her to attend the National Science Foundation’s (NSF), USA Conference as an award winning team member. 

Dhatri had gone back home for the weekend to meet her Free Vini’s parents.  Disha was super excited.  “Humm... her marriage has brought her on track...!” Dhatri thought to herself.  There was no time to discuss anything else other than Rini and Vini.  Dhatri was happy.

Vinit’s mother Swarnima, was from Jammu, Akhnoor and his father was from Himachal Pradesh, Kangra...! Both from Pandi family... They shared the similar turmoil in shifting to other places in India for terrorist attacks when they both were very young.  Her family shifted to Chandighar and his to Delhi.  She worked for Army Accounts for a while and he was posted to Chandighar.  They met, never to part again.  The courtship culminated in wedding....!    

Disha was at her best.  Vinit’s parents stayed for the whole day and when Dr. Salil requested them to stay over, they happily agreed.  Dhatri was happily helping her Disha Didi in every way possible, of course remaining inside all the time.  She came out only when Disha introduced her and ran back again inside. 

****  *****  *****

When Dhatri returned to her Hostel on Tuesday bunking her Monday classes, there was a message for her.  The Director of the Institute wanted a word with her.  She was nervous...!

“Ragini Chalo naa!” she pleaded but Ragini had a Practical.  She pestered Purva.  She wouldn’t go alone in Director’s cabin.  She was sure, he was going to reprimand her for missing the classes.  Purva looked at her expectantly.  Dhatri bit her lip... “Ok. I will give you all my notes for this semester...Ok?” she asked falling for Purva’s blackmailing.   Purva agreed.

“Congratulations Ms. Dhatri.  Here is your invitation letter...” He gave her the letter and a permission letter to attend the Conference.  “Yeh toh badi garv ki baat hain...! We are proud to send our student for the Conference...!” he said and Purva grinned nudging Dhatri.  Dhatri as usual had lost her words to respond.  She merely nodded gazing at her toes. 

*****   ******

“Hey, Bhanu... How are you dear?” She called out cheerfully over the phone.  Bhanu was surprised to get her call.

“Hello, Maasi, how are you?” he asked confused.  “I am fine, Bhanu, just wanted to ask about your plans this weekend..!” she came directly to the point.  Bhanu got the hint.  “Sorry, Maasi... Weekend is not possible... Going to New York!” he said. 

“Ok. Never mind.. Just wanted to say hi... Your wedding was a grand one... just wanted to say hi to your Wife..!” she thought of roping Disha into this.

“Oh! Sorry Maasi, Disha hasn’t yet returned...!” he said ready to hang up. 

“Oh! I see... How is everyone at her place?” she asked casually.  Bhanu didn’t know where is the conversation was heading. 

“Oh! She has an adorable family..!” she praised and Bhanu heaved with pride.

“Yeah..!” he said.  “You know... Someone had come with her after your wedding.... Do you know who that girl was? She is so cute ....!” She said sweetly.  Bhanu came back with a thud.  “Dhatri? Is she asking about Dhaa?” he thought to himself not knowing what to answer. “Maa had told me about some incidence... “ he remembered. 

“Oh! I don’t know... Maasi...! Must be some relative...!” he said and went ahead... “Maasi.. I got to go! Have a meeting in half an hour!” he said.

“Oh! Ok... Bye...!” she said gritting.  She had to try someone else to know the name of that girl and more about her.