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“Dhaa....” Rini dashed forward.  Ravi stood at the door of the examination room and Disha took a step backwards. 

“Please...!” The doctor stopped Rini from holding Dhatri.  Ravi looked on with a horror struck pale face...!

“Wha... What happened?” Disha asked and Dhatri looked back.  “No....!” she hurriedly pulled over the sheet.  Her exposed bare back was swollen with rashes...

“Please wait outside...” The doctor requested and the three retreated hopelessly.  Disha clutched her mouth in horror.  Rini looked away dejected and Ravi closed his eyes in anguish...! “Dhaa...” he couldn’t bear her pain.  The wait was killing. 

“Come in...!” the doctor beckoned after what seemed like a year.  Rini dashed in.

“Where is she?” she looked around in the examination room.  The Doctor gestured her to take the seat. 

“We have done the tests and the results would get in a couple of days... until then, we have to quarantine her, I am afraid...!” the Doctor said gravely.  

“Can’t help, Ray! It’s for her good!” The doctor sympathized with him.  He looked away dejected, repenting for taking her to the hospital.  Rini nodded understandingly.  

“See? I told you, she needs to be quarantined..” Disha proved her point looking at Rini.  Rini completely ignored her. 

“This is only a precautionary measure... She cleared most of the tests...” The Doctor said calmly.  Rini nodded. “But then, there is a possibility of some dormant infections...We have to be sure and rule out the infections...” she said looking at the three of them.

“Ho..how is she?” asked Rini.  “Ok.  Here is a list... ! She is not sexually abused but there has been physical abuse.  She was strapped for days, tied up ruthlessly, gagged with ducting tape, pricked several times... Anesthetized several times, injecting the spine, drugged heavily, was kept unconscious for hours, subjected to

Electroencephalogram at least thrice, subjected to electroconvulsive therapy at least twice....” The Doctor went on with the list and they listened with pale faces...!

“Where is she?” Ravi asked impatiently.  “She is shifted to a cordoned off ward... Quarantined!” the doctor said to Ravi’s dismay. 

“Again...?” He clenched his fists... After so much of endurance, suffering, she had to be dumped into the hospital ward. 

“You may need to do the paperwork, Ms. Dharini..” the Doctor said gravely and Rini nodded getting up.  She was deep in thoughts... “About her papers, her insurance... about payment...!” She walked out and looked at waiting Disha.  She looked up questioningly.  Rini shook her head and walked to the administrative section of the hospital to complete the paperwork, thinking hard on her alternatives...! Disha ran behind her, Ravi followed them nervously. 

“Payment?” Disha asked looking up filling up the last form.  She had taken over once they reached the billing section, ready to pay the bills for her sister.  Rini allowed her to take over but Ravi was clenching his fists. 

“Its taken care of..! said the billing person and Disha looked shocked.  “Mr. Deo has has done the arrangements...” he said looking into the records.  Ravi’s heart filled with gratitude for his father.  He didn’t want to take any favours from Disha. 

“See.. She may have to stay here till the test reports come in and then we will decide the course of treatment...!” the doctor continued her information.  Rini nodded. 

“Can we meet her?” Ravi asked desperately.  “I am afraid, not! You can’t meet her.  She is isolated ...” The doctor stabbed his heart.  Disha held Rini’s hand. 

“You can go home..! We will take care of her!” The Doctor said.  “No.. I will wait here” Ravi was determined.  The Doctor shook her head.  “No one is allowed to see the patient”.  She said as a matter of fact and Rini held Ravi’s hand. 

“I will keep you informed...!” the doctor said and Rini nodded getting up. 

“Ca..Can we see her? From outside?” Rini asked hopefully.  The Doctor nodded.  They waited for a paramedic to guide them to the ward. 

.......  .....

“Dhaa...!” Rini called out on deaf ears.  The quarantine ward was soundproof.  Dhatri was on the bed at the far end of the room with glass walls.  The TV was on.  Sponge Bob Square Pants Displaying...! Ravi closed his eyes.  He couldn’t bear...! Disha waved furiously to grab Dhatri’s attention.  For a brief moment Rini felt her Dhaa looked at them.. and then she drew the sheet over her head, turning her back on them, not wanting to see anything, anyone...!  Rini looked on with trapped breath.  She knew, her Dhaa will never look at them... She turned dejected..! She really had nothing to console Dhatri. 

“she will we alright...Let us go!” Disha came back to her senses first.  Rini nodded and held Ravi’s hand.  He still was not ready to leave that place.  At least he could see her, though not talk to her and May be, sometime, she would see him waiting outside for her...! he hoped. 

*****  *****  ****

“You?” Mrs. Russel blocked the main door holding the frame with both the hands. 

“Yes..!” she said authoritatively and waited for Mrs. Russel to give her the way.  Mrs. Russel didn’t budge. 

“You can’t enter!” she said equally firmly.  “Are you telling me?” Sanyogita retorted pushing Mrs. Russel a bit. 

“I have instructions to call the cops, Madam...!” Mrs. Russel spat, taking out her phone. 

“I want to meet Saya, Umm... Sayajirao..!” Sanyogita said lowering her voice.  Mrs. Russel thought for a fraction of second and then making up her mind, she dialed 911.

Sanyogita stared at her threateningly.  Mrs. Russel looked back.. “Umm.. Intruder in the house...” she talked over the phone and Sanyogita retreated a bit. 

“Ask Saya to call me back..!” She ordered throwing her nose in the air and moved down...!” Mrs Russel waited thrusting her hands on her hips, till Sanyogita was out through the gates.  “Humm...” Sighing, she turned inside. 

“Who?” Sayajirao just raised his eyebrows questioningly, listening to the chatter of Indroneel.  Mrs. Russel just shook her head dismissing his question as trivial...! Sayajirao turned to the conversation again.  She wouldn’t let this happy moment turn into a disastrous one ....!

*****  *****   ******