92

Time was running out.  He had to act fast.  Time was running out for Vinit.  He saw the time and called up Rini.  Rini was in Vidisha, taken eight days leave.  Brg. Randhawa had helped her by sanctioning.  

She had to break the news.  Salil and Nilima were already worried about Dhatri.  She had not called up since she reached US and Disha also kept saying she is busy and Dhatri is fine... Indroneel never responded to the emails or the calls.  The didn’t know how to contact Dhatri. 

Nilima broke down...! Salil prepared himself to travel to US for his Dhaa.  Rini persuaded them ... “Mamma, Papa... Vinit is already there.  He will take care.  I am sure she is alright...” Salil hugged Rini for support.  “Papa please... I am sure she will be back soon” She said on the verge of breaking down.  Even Vinit had not called her up...But she was sure, Vinit will do something...!

“But Dhaa...? She can’t fight... she can’t handle...Rini... What if she is caught in wrong hands?” Nilima was miserable.  Rini tried to pacify, finally called up their family doctor for help.  Both Salil and Nilima looked ten years older in a day..! Rini had nothing at present to console them. 

“Why did I force her to go? She was not ready...!” Salil repented.  “Papa..please... there is no point lamenting on this....Don’t lose hope, Papa... she will come back...!” Rini herself was not sure...!

“Yes.. She will come back... She has protection... Her kirtimukh... !” Nilima said with hope.  Rini looked at her ... “Can a wooden carved locket be the protection?” She shook her head.  The answer was a NO.  

“When God has given her the powers... he has given her the protection also...” Nilima consoled herself.  “And given her the curse.... her suffering... every time she uses her powers...!” Rini thought gravely looking away anguished.  

“The Monk will save her.... he will save her....!” Salil said trying to stop his tears.  

“Monk?” Rini asked surprised.  Nilima looked at her husband.  He sat on the chair and said....!

“Yes... Kushak... Lama... We had been to Leh Ladakh... “ Salil went into trance...! Rini looked on...!

“You were just four... Our group from IIT-D ... For the annual festival of Gompa... Hemis Monastery somewhere in June July... I don’t remember exactly...!” He said.

“23 june...!” Nilima added.  Salil had closed his eyes...! 

“There was a very long queue to take blessings from Kushak ... the head Lama...I had no interest... but Nima insisted...!” he said dreamily.  “But then looking at the long queue she gave up!”.. Nilima looked up with wide eyes.

“We turned and saw him walking in the shrine....I can’t tell you... Can’t describe that divine feeling.... “ Nilima had closed her eyes again.  

“The ceremony at the central square had begun... We were dragged towards it... And he stopped.... Gave a cloth he was holding, to the other person.... And blessed me... !” Nilima got goose bumps .... reminiscing the feeling of being blessed....! “He will save the child...” he said gesturing at the idol of Padmasambhava....! I went inside to worship... Others watched the ceremony...!  When I came out... I was a different Nilima...!” She said still in the trance.

“I thought it was you, Rini... Or Disha...But then I conceived, was pregnant.... and Dhatri was born...” Nilima said hypnotically.  Rini’s body burst into bloom of goose bumps...!

 “Dhaa...” her heart cried out...!

“Salil didn’t believe, he was more interested in the ancient manuscripts and the Monastery’s connection with Nalanda University....! We kept it to ourselves...!” Nilima said looking at Salil and he nodded gravely.

“We got the opportunity to see the Lama and got his blessings... Thats it...!” He said matter of factly, reflecting Rini’s thoughts.  

“So Mamma... Dhaa had the blessings... you don’t worry...She will be alright..” Rini grabbed the opportunity to pacify her parents....! The blessings came to her rescue, she thought!  Nilima nodded but Salil was still lost in his thoughts, worrying about Dhatri....!

*********  ******

“Humm....” D’amama sighed loudly to ease out her tension.  The boy was taken inside the procedure room and she was helplessly waiting outside.  “God.. Help us..!” she prayed...anxiously.  The unconscious boy was shifted to the recovery room.  She was not allowed inside.  The nurse walked out.  “We found this in his clutched fist...” she gave her a pendent....!

“Whowaa....” She didn’t know what was that.  She felt it with her fingers... surveying it carefully... “Looks like miniature Tongo Mask..” She thought.  “When did he find it?” she was puzzled.  She kept gazing at it.... Suddenly the realization flashed.... “The girl... He must have taken it from her.... and wanted to give it back to her...” she remembered the boy’s pleads to see the girl again....!

“Humm..... “ She must return it to the girl....! She thought gravely, clutching it in her fist.  Dhaa’s Kirtimukh... her protection was removed ...!

*********  ********

“Rini...!” Vinit’s deep voice echoed in her ear.  She held her breath...! “Rini, I need you...!” He said at once and she closed her eyes.  “That means... Dhatri...” her thoughts trailed... as she listened further...!

“Rini... I will arrange for your official visit...” he said hurriedly and she winced coming back to her senses...!

“Vinit... No... Please.. listen to me.... We can’t use Defense Machinery for our personal cause.. Its an abuse of your power....” she said gravely.  There was a silence for a while...!

“Can I... Can I request Brigadier Randhawa for your leave?” he asked.  She didn’t respond.  She was already on leave favored by Brigadier Randhawa...! 

“You come here on a tourist VISA... Is that ok?” he asked impatiently.  She still was not sure if this was righteous, justifiable....!

“Rini, listen... I will return his favor sometime later... You extend your leave... hook on to some travel agency... Come here Rini... Its important... For our Dhaa..” He literally begged.  He knew... He knew, she wouldn't approve of this... but he had no option.  

“Rini, please?” he asked earnestly...! “Ok!” she finally said with a sigh.  

“God...! Love you, !” he said and she retorted making up her mind.  “Vinit... I am not coming back without my Dhaa...!” she warned threateningly.  He nodded ... “Yeah... We will return with our Dhaa...” he said disconnecting the phone.

..........

“She is coming....!” He declared and Ravi looked relieved.  Detective Earl Greenburg looked up.  “Lt. Dha-rini is coming... “ Vinit said with a little smile, for the first time on his face.  

“Back to the plan...” he rubbed his palms.  Detective Earl Greenburg knew where this was heading.... They were about to bust a huge scam.... involving Government agencies like CIA, Big giants like Physer... Gelmm... Mercck... The top pharmaceutical companies... The health organizations.... and raise a question on credibility of Charitable Hospitals...! The secrets of Project MKUltra were about to be busted....!

*********   ********   *********

“Take her back...” He ordered clutching his writing pad and moving out of the Lab.  Dhatri still was running high fever... He had surreptitiously administered smaller doses of Drugs... Her electrode cap was removed.  The nurse washed her hair.... The water did the trick.  Her fever subsided... the drug’s effect had not worn off.  She was brought out strapped to her stretcher.   

“Hey.. hey... “ D’amama was shocked to see her body carried on a stretcher.  She ran behind.  “Sorry... You can’t enter...” the paramedic stopped her.  She looked on helplessly clutching the kirtimukh.  Dhatri was moved into the isolated room for her next level of clinical trial.... sensory deprivation...!

“Keep her awake for next 48 hours...!” He ordered over the intercom. 

The boy was floundering in the recovery room....!

“I can’t wait... Soon the trials will be curtailed... monitored... I need to hurry up...!” The man thought gravely erasing the sensitive data....! He had a very little time...! Dr. Murrey Trepka had already issued the warning...!