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“What? Where is Dhatri...?” Sayajirao asked astonished, looking at the trio.

“See? I told you! She is quarantined...!” Disha said proving her point, looking at Bhanu.  Ravi clenched his fists in disgust.  Vinit sat up at once. 

“What? And you left her alone, there?” asked Indroneel looking at Rini angrily. 

“She is isolated, quarantined....!” Disha looked at Indroneel’s stupidity.  “No one is allowed there...” She said in simpler terms... Indroneel stood up.  “Oui..Baba... Dhaa is alone there...!” He looked at Rini accusingly... “And you left her all alone ...!” he raised his index finger at her reprimanding her... Rini looked away guiltily hiding her tears...!

“Poor Dhaa... she is all alone there...!” Indroneel turned to Ravi.  “I will go there... Where is the hospital?” he asked.  Ravi looked away, his throat hurting, choking him ...!

“Uncle...! I told you, no one is allowed... And she is alright...!” Disha said sitting on a sofa with a thud. 

..........  .............

“Hey... !” Dr. Maria greeted pleasantly.  Dr. Koite and Jim walked in with her.  All the team members were there except the girls...!

“Where is Dhatri? Our brave girl?” Maria asked and everyone looked at each other.  Disha spoke ... “She is in the hospital, for her tests...!” Maria looked at Dr. Koite.

“Then we should go there and meet her first...!” he reflected Maria’s thoughts and Jim turned to move out.

“No, Dr. Nixon, she is quarantined...” Disha said stressing on the word, emphasizing its seriousness...

“Ok.. But... We can wear the protective mask and meet her...!” Dr. Maria said and Ravi looked up with hope.  Rini shook her head slightly.  She knew her Dhaa won’t meet anyone. 

“Dr. Maria, she will be back soon...!” Rini said glancing at Vinit. 

********   *********  *****

“Dhatri... you are a very strong girl... You cleared all your tests...!” Dr. Said smiling and Dhatri gaped. 

“This.. skin itching and rashes will go away in a couple of days... Don’t worry...!” Dr. Said placing her hand on Dhatri’s shoulder.

“You may feel breathless... sometimes....A bit of lung infection is still there... but you will get over that soon...Take the medicines properly...” She went on further.  Dhadri nodded. 

“Umm.. When can I go back to India?” Dhatri, for the first time in her 72 hours in the Hospital, opened her mouth to ask something on her own.

“Oh! In a couple of days...!” the Doctor said smiling broadly. 
"Take the medicines, repeat the tests on time....!" Dhatri thought for a while....

“Umm.... Can I stay here for these two days and directly go to the airport from here?” she needed the clarification.  The Doctor nodded, puzzled.

“Don’t you want to go home?” she asked and Dhatri shook her head.  “I want to go home.. My home!” she said looking away dejected.  Dr. Goyal placed her hand on her head sympathetically.  

“Umm... Can I talk to Dr. Ghosh on phone?” Dhatri asked and Dr. Nodded dialing Sayajirao’s number. 

“Here...!” she handed over the phone to Dhatri...

“Uncle....!” Dhatri went aside to talk to Indroneel, alone....!

The next couple of days went in jiffy.  Dhatri refused to meet anyone, talk to anyone except Indroneel.  He was her mouthpiece.

“You brought me here, to this US of A, you take me back!” she had said threateningly and Indroneel had agreed, taking up the responsibility.  He collected everything, Rini packed her bags, Vinit arranged for the tickets... Ravi and Sayajirao watched helplessly.  Dhatri refused to be discharged and requested the fumigation of Ravi’s house, for the possible germs and infections by her presence ...!

Indroneel shunted between the house and hospital.  Dhatri even refused to meet her M’am and Sir, Dr. Koite. She turned her back on Rini and Vini...! That was a big blow to both of them...! Vinit had no words to console Rini...! Disha had put up a brave face, as if nothing had happened.  She was hurt deeply by Dhatri’s attitude....!  Dhatri had behaved as if Disha was non existent...!

...............

“Dhaa.... the ordeal is over...! You are fit and fine...!” Disha hugged her tightly at the airport.  Dhatri gently pushed her, freeing herself from her hug and without a word, turned to Bhanu.

“Thank you, Bhanu Bhaiya...!” She said and Bhanu pulled her closer, patting on her head.

“Thank you, Uncle..” She turned to Sayajirao touching his feet.  He held her to his heart, overwhelmed with emotions..!

“Come back soon, my dear...!” he said with a heavy, hurting throat and moist eyes.  Ravi looked away hiding his tears, his hurt.  She had avoided him like plague...! She turned to her M’am and Sir..!

“Thank you..!” She could only say.  Maria pulled her into tight embrace, wiping her eyes... “Keep in touch... At least an email in a month...!” Dhatri smiled faintly remembering their unwritten rule to be in touch once in a month...! “Yes..!” she nodded.

“Keep in touch with me too, Dhatri..! Else I will have to keep in touch with her, to get the updates about you...!” Dr. Koite said gesturing at Maria and hugging Dhatri lightly, a goodbye, bringing a smile on Dhatri's face...!

The announcement of their flight was done.  Indroneel braced up with the luggage trolley.  Dhatri turned to Jim and before she could say anything... he hugged her tightly kissing her hard on her cheek.  Dhatri wriggled, struggling...!

“Dhatri.... !” he gave her a hard look.  “Don’t thank me..!” he said threateningly.  She smiled showing her deep dimples.... ! Jim lost himself again... ! Ravi was looking at them with blurred vision, from a distance.  No one had noticed him withdrawn.  There was nothing left for him in this emotional farewell....! She wouldn’t even look at him in the crowd.  He turned to Rini.

“This... is... for... her!” he murmured with a small packet in his hand.  Rini looked up surprised.  He glanced at Dhatri, Rini understood. Dhatri was clutching Indroneel’s arm.  Dhatri glared at Ravi.....!

“ABCD... Gori Chamadi...!” she mouthed frowning.  Indroneel grinned...!

“Rovi...” He called out brightly.  “She wants to say goodbye to you...!” He pushed Dhatri towards him and Ravi snatched the gift packet from Rini. Now, he would give it to her himself....! He gazed at her coming closer.

“Goodbye...!” she murmured looking away still puffing her cheeks. He held out the packet.  She looked up.  “For you!” he said.  She didn’t know what to do with it.  He came a step closer, pulled her hand, thrust the packet in her hand.  She looked up into his eyes.... and he lost himself, forgot the family, forgot the crowd...! Pulling her hand he wrapped her into his arms...! Indroneel did not hide his tears of happiness.  Rini inched closer to Vinit, trying to hide her emotions! Disha gaped in disbelief....! Koite had a broad smile on his face... “I suspected this long back...!” he gazed at Maria... Jim forced a smile on his face, hiding his disappointment.. and then coming back to his senses said “Oh! I lost it!” Indroneel patted on his shoulder... “You never had it, my boy...!” he said winking.

“Umm... Let go of me ...!” She struggled... He gripped tighter... “Don’t go!” he whispered in her ears...! She pushed him away...! “Gudda...” she turned to Indroneel frowning.  “I am not going to talk to him...!” Ravi had a big smile on his bright face....! His gray blue eyes had a bright tinge of happiness...!