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“Airport?” She looked aghast.  Terminal Four of the gigantic, massive JFK International Airport was buzzing with bustle of people.  She held Indroneel’s hand tightly, again losing herself in fright.  “What am I doing here?” she was dragged behind him.  He held his cabin bag on one shoulder and held her hand.  She was all lost doing nothing to help him. 

“Dhaa…! Chalo..!” he dragged her with him to collect their baggage.  She swallowed hard.  “I shouldn’t have come here…!” She just wanted to run away.  She was trapped in the jungle of buildings and people all around. 

“Wait…! I will be right back!” he said and she clutched his wrist.

“No.. Please… Uncle… Don’t leave me alone…!” she held on to him.  He sighed. 

“Ok. Come with me..!” he said pulling her to collect the baggage.  They had to wait for a long time for their baggage to arrive on the conveyer belt.  Then it took time for the security check.  Dhatri’s restlessness increased with every passing minute. 

“Why did you bring me here?” She asked on the verge of crying.  Indroneel pitied her.

“Poor Girl!” he sympathized with her.  “Dhaa… Beti… We will be out soon…! Your Maria M’am is coming…!” he tried to cheer her up in vain.  She looked more pathetic, not even trying to walk on her own. 

A long walk to the exit exhausted her completely.  Indroneel did everything.  She acted like a baggage herself. 

“Should I put you on this luggage trolley?” he asked angrily and she looked at him sheepishly. 

“S…Sorry!” she said still clutching his arm as if he had threatened her that he will leave her at the Airport.. 

“Dhaa…. I am not going anywhere without you..!” he said irritated.  She again left his arm only for a second and then clutching his coat, walked with him. 

Dr. Maria Nixon had volunteered to receive them at NY Airport. 

“Hey…!” She saw Dr. Maria waving at them excitedly.  Indroneel turned to her.

“See? I told you!” he said grinning at her.  Dhatri smiled happily.  Maria shook hands with Indroneel and hugged him lightly and then pulled Dhatri into a tight embrace.  Dhatri smiled broadly. 

“Look at you…!” She held Dhaa at arms length appreciating.  Dhatri smiled blushing.  “Put on weight… huh?” Maria teased her.  She looked away embarrassed. 

“No trek, no exercise…!” Indroneel pulled her leg.  She hid herself behind M’am.  But to her shock, someone pulled her apart and she screamed in fright.

“Hey.. Dhatri …!” Jim was pulling her towards him.  She gaped.. “Hey…Smile..!” he touched her dimple with his finger drowning himself again in her deep dimples and bright innocent smile.  She moved away shyly and Maria pulled her closer. 

“Look Who’s there..!” She said.  Indroneel had already gone ahead to greet the couple.  Soumya Soorie… now Soumya Bhind… came running.  Dhatri gaped at her in surprise. 

“Hey, Dhatri..!” Soumya hugged her too.  Dhatri glanced at her husband, Mr. Harindar Pal Singh Bhind…! He had his business in Canada… Soumya had come from Canada for the conference.  Another round of greetings took place.  Dhatri pulled Indroneel’s sleeve.

“What?” he asked her turning back.  She pointed at the person approaching and Indroneel dashed to greet him enthusiastically. 

Dr. Koite greeted everyone pleasantly.  He pulled Dhatri near… “You have turned into a beautiful young lady…!” he ruffled her hair fondly.  Maria smiled broadly and putting her arm around Dhatri’s shoulder said, “Time to move…!” Dhatri happily pushed out the trolley. 

A specious big van pulled over and they stuffed their luggage in the boot space of the van.  Dhatri hopped in and froze.  Ravi looked behind smirking from behind the steering. 

“Here is a plan…!” Maria took out a big scroll of paper and Soumya screamed… “Oh.. No… Not again!  No Contour Map please…!” Dhatri tossed her head back and giggled happily… and suddenly fell silent sensing that Ravi was glaring at her from the rear view mirror.  She hid her face moving towards the window and busied herself looking out the window.  Ravi smirked. 

First stop Cleveland…. Indian Exotic…! Maria said grinning.  Till then… “Food packets..!” she distributed taking out a huge canister for drinks.  Dhatri grinned happily.  Finally she would have some decent food. 

“Next is Detroit..! We will fly to Boise, tomorrow morning..!” he said.

“Again?” Dhatri shuddered with the nightmarish experience of her first flight from New Delhi and New York.  Indroneel patted on her shoulder.  She looked back at him angrily.  He grinned.  “Don’t worry, Dhaa…Nothing will happen to you!” he said and everyone looked at him.

“She gave me a hard time….!” He wiped off his forehead and Dhatri frowned. 

“Why did you bring me here?” she blurted looking out of the window. 

Dr. Koite was happy to be with his old team again.  Soumya was very quiet.  Her husband had left her at the JFK Airport and had left.  Dr. Maria kept glancing at Dhatri fondly.  Jim was grabbed by Dr. Indroneel and Dhatri had enough time to close her eyes and have a nice nap… She had no interest in the talks.  Maria patted on her head soothingly.  Dhatri went into deep slumber in the moving van. 

The seven hour journey went by in a jiffy