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Vinit got up to talk to Sayajirao. 

“Now that she is gone, we better call the Doctor..” Vinit said and Sayajirao nodded taking out his phone.

“Wait a minute... I will call my friend...!” Sayajirao dialled Dr. Goyal’s number.  

“She is coming...!” Sayajirao took a sigh of relief.  Indroneel looked puzzled.  “We have to be sure... She is at risk..!” Vinit said gravely and Rini’s heart twisted.  ‘Out of the frying pan into the fire..” She thought swallowing hard thinking about her Dhatri.  She turned her face.  

They all waited for the Doctor anxiously...! And when she came she gave them the list of ailments, infections, diseases that would be caused by exposure to medical waste... Right from catching cold to herpes, to skin infections, to Gastroenteric infections, Respiratory infections, Ocular infection, Genital infections, Anthrax, , Meningitis, Septicaemia, Viral hepatitis A B and or C, And Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS).  They all were completely drained out listening to the hazards of exposure to Medical waste.  Dhatri was inside the chute for a long time... !

“And above all this, the mental trauma and may be physical, sexual assault at the hospital...You never knew..!” The doctor painted the grim picture.

“Oh.. Baba... Dhaa...!” Indroneel was aghast.  “Vinit.. we have to take her to the hospital..!” he blurted forgetting his resolve to take her back to her parents as early as possible.  Rini nodded.

“And not to forget... There is a longer window period for some of these infections... they go unnoticed or give negative results ...! For example, the window period for rapid test for the HIV is 9 days to 6 months...! The test will be negative but the person transmits the virus... you have to repeat the test after the window period is over...!” The Doctor informed to their dismay..!

They waited for Dhatri and Ravi to return... !

*********  ******

“You ok?” Ravi asked glancing at her.  She nodded without a word. 

“I want to go back...!” she murmured anguished.  Ravi’s heart twisted.  He slammed on the accelerator.   

“Dhatri..” he tried to touch her shoulder.... she shrunk.  He looked away hopelessly.  “How do I convince her to stay?” he didn’t know.  She had shut herself. Realization was sinking in... She was in infectious filth trying to save herself... !!

“Yeah... Airport!” he said with the fake brightness.  She too forced a smile on her face.  He parked and opened the door for her.  She got down avoiding his touch. 

“Dhatri... Stay with me!” he forcefully pulled her closer.

“Don’t touch me!” she said trying to move away...! He didn’t leave her hand.

“I am all filth..” she said looking away dejected. The reality was sinking in. 

“I don’t care...!” he wrapped his arm around her and pulled her along.  She walked with him. 

They saw Bhanu and Disha walking out of the airport. 

“Bhai...” Ravi yelled raising his hand.  Bhanu dashed forward...!

“Dhaa...” Disha was faster...! She tried to pull Dhatri into her embrace.  Dhatri hid behind Ravi...!

“It’s ok, Dhatri!” Ravi said protectively glancing at shocked Disha.

“She is still in shock!” murmured Ravi looking apologetically.  Disha came around and pulled Dhatri closer...!” Dhatri looked miserable...! Disha couldn’t stop her tears...! Ravi drew Dhatri closer to himself, away from Bhanu and Disha...! Dhatri hid behind Ravi..

“Let us go!” Ravi pulled them back from the emotional trauma...!

******  ******  ********

Dhatri stopped at the door looking at a stranger sitting with her family.  Rini got up and pulled Dhatri in.

“Let us have something, first...! Dhatri chalo..!” Ravi gestured and Dhatri walked behind Ravi obediently.  Sayajirao had a contented smile on his face.  Ravi opened the fridge and took out jumbo packet of ice cream.  Dhatri’s eyes flashed.  Ravi couldn’t take his eyes off her bright face. 

“Haan? Bowls?” Dhatri asked him and Mrs. Russel walked in.

“I will get it!” she said relieving both of them.  He came out clasping her hand.  He knew the inevitable when he saw Dr. Goyal waiting for them.  Vinit pulled Dhatri and she settled herself between Rini and Vinit.  Ravi looked on settling himself at the other end.  Disha looked up with expectations.  Rini narrated the drama briefly and Disha let out her trapped breath wailing in anguish for her Dhaa.  Rini looked away overwhelmed with emotions.  Vinit took over.  Holding Dhatri’s hand he gestured at Dr. Goyal.

“She is a Doctor and she will help you...!” he said looking at Dhatri’s ghostly face. 

“I want to go home...!” she wailed under his firm grip. 

“This is very important, Dhaa... for you..!” Rini clutched her hand.  Dhatri shook her head.  Ravi got up to pull Dhatri away and hide her somewhere.. Away from everyone...!

“Please... stop all this!” he said looking at his father for support.  Bhanu too got up in support.

“Let me explain...!” The Doctor intervened.  Rini held Dhatri protectively praying for her strength.  Disha gaped speechless...!

...................  ........

“You mean she can spread infection?” Rini looked up in shock hearing Disha’s distant, dry voice.  Vinit stared at Disha and Bhanu closed his eyes dejected...!

“How tactless..” Bhanu thought looking away guiltily. 

“She should be quarantined then...!” Disha went ahead forgetting that Dhatri was shivering seeing death ahead with multiple infections...! Vinit wrapped his arm around Dhatri pulling her down from running away.  The Doctor nodded and said...

“Immediate Medical check up will rule out many possibilities...!” the doctor said looking at Vinit and he gave a nod, eyeing Dhatri for her reaction.  Dhatri stared at her feet.  Her mind was all riot...! “Why did I try to escape? I should have died there being a Rat Lab” she chocked.  Rini pulled her closer.  Dhatri pushed her away...!

“I should be going...” she said getting up.  Ravi too got up, making up his mind...!

“I don’t care... I don’t care if she is infected...!” he said firmly and everyone looked at him in shock.  He came forward... “Dhatri... I give it a damn to all this...!” He said pulling her up.  Dhatri gaped in shock... so did everyone.  Sayajirao gazed at his son intently, with pride. 

“Ravi...” Bhanu gaped in shock.  Ravi was determined to end the torture for Dhatri...!

“If she doesn’t want to take the tests, she will not!” he said looking at everyone.  Doctor shook her head hopelessly.  Rini and Vinit looked at each other... “Worst case scenario...” They both murmured the first rule of combat...! Vinit got up and Dhatri felt paralyzed..! Rini pulled her in her arms. 

“Are you out of your mind?” Disha asked aghast...! “she... she was in that filth for so long... !” Disha went ahead.  Bhanu tried to stop her.  Everyone knew that she was in filth for a long time...! But no one had uttered it.... not in front of Dhatri...! Rini didn’t know how to stop Disha...! Disha had gone ahead...!

“I think.. we should quarantine her... Keep her away from all of us... “ Disha said shuddering with the thought of possible infection...!

“Oh God! She could be infected with viruses... spreading it all over...!” Disha stood up with a jerk. 

“How can she be so insensitive?” Rini looked at her eldest sister aghast...!

“Doctor... We should admit her to the hospital...!” she reiterated raising her voice, taking charge...! That was the last straw...! Both Dhatri and Ravi got up at once...!

“Disha... Don’t be so insensitive..!” Bhanu held her hand urging..!

“I am not being insensitive, Bhanu... I am being practical...! What if she spreads infection? We all are here...! What if we get infected? What if everyone falls sick...? I don’t know what kind of infections she must have brought in....” She looked at the Doctor for support.  But before the Doctor could speak anything...

“Stop it!” Both Rini and Vinit yelled and Ravi held Dhatri’s hand tightly....!

“I don;t care what she brings in... She is here, with me! That is enough for me!” Ravi said glaring at Bhanu...!  

“You don’t have to fight for me...!” Dhatri quivered with tremors...!

“Dhaa... come with me!” Vinit took her away to the cool pool side... gesturing that no one should follow them...!  Ravi looked at Disha with hatred, clenching his fists...!

“No one had the right to hurt his Dhatri...!”