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“Bhanu...!” Disha held his hand.  Bhanu didn’t move. 

“I think I should call mamma...’ She said deep in thoughts.  Bhanu looked at her.  They were on their journey back ...  !

“Sometimes... Ravi acts so childish..” she said looking out of the window.  Bhanu didn’t react. 

“I mean he should have understood... Hugging Dhaa like that....!” she went ahead.

“Whats wrong with that, Disha?” This time Bhanu couldn’t stop himself. 

“Whats wrong? Bhanu, she is an Indian girl....!” Disha couldn’t believe her husband’s reaction.

“So?” he questioned little irritated.  Disha looked at him. 

“Even Jim hugged her..! And you were ok with that...!” he pinpointed.  Disha kept quiet for a while.  Bhanu was disgusted....!

“I mean... Dhaa shouldn’t start day dreaming of settling in US!” she said deep in thoughts.  Bhanu turned his face away.  Disha looked at her husband.  She thought, he was unable to understand her fears. 

“I am worried about her, Bhanu...!” she tried to explain.  Bhanu looked at her.  Encouraged by that, she went ahead blurting her chain of thoughts.

“I mean... she is still so young... not even graduated... “ Bhanu shook his head hopelessly. 

“And Ravi won’t understand Indian mentality...His casual gestures may send wrong signals ....” she said closing her eyes.

“Ravi is a grownup man, Disha..!” Bhanu said firmly with pride.  Disha nodded in acceptance. 

“Stop worrying about Ravi and Dhaa... Concentrate on your new high level responsibility at NASA, Disha!” he said sarcastically.  Disha nodded again, lost in thoughts.  She was deeply hurt by Dhaa’s behaviour.  “Dhaa should have understood my intentions... I am not her enemy... It was all for her good...” Disha kept thinking, consoling herself that she was right.... she was always right!

Suddenly, the same insecurity... same feeling surfaced, when her success in board examinations was overshadowed by Dhatri’s kidnapping....! Dhaa was all over the media... and Disha’s success was forgotten with the sensation of Maoist attack on a peaceful and quiet town of Vidisha...! Disha shuddered with the possibility...!

“Thank God! She went back ....!” Disha felt better.  The chapter was closed for her.  “But what if... Ravi...and Dhaa...?” she couldn’t ponder over that thought.  “No... Not possible...” she brushed away the thought and holding Bhanu’s hand closed her eyes peacefully. 

******   ********  ******

“Humm... I am indebted to him for my life...!” Dr. Salil said gravely, clutching the medical file of Dhatri.  The schedule of all her repeat tests, for the longer window period infections was given, along with the medication.  Indroneel nodded.  He had given a vivid description of the events in US and the way Sayajirao and Ravi helped them all. 

“I should thank him...! I should pay the hospital charges....!” Dr. Salil came back on earth.  “Naa... No need.... there is more to it...!” Indroneel’s mood suddenly changed.  Holding Salil’s hand he blurted... “Ooii Baba... Ravi and Dhaa.... They are the best... sweet as Roshogulla..” Salil gaped with blank face.  Indroneel had joined his hands for prayer!

“What?” Salil asked thoroughly confused.   “Baba.... Ravi is such a nice boy... Very sweet... very sweet...! Soaked in love like Roshogulla...” Indroneel added to his confusion...

“Pull out of that sticky sweetness, Indroneel... Tell me what is it!” Salil was irked.  Indroneel winked grinning at Salil...! “Our Dhaa and Ravi..!” He winked again thumping on Salil’s shoulder sending him off balance!

“Come to the point, Indro... !” Salil said threateningly. Indroneel animatedly described how Disha threw disgust and how Ravi stood by Dhaa and proposed her....!

“Ooii Baba... Salil... Our Dhaa and Ravi...!” he said clutching an aghast Salil’s hand.

“What? But... How? I mean.. What?” He forgot words. 

“Dhaa,,, I mean... how is it possible?” he knew his Dhaa well.  She avoided boys like plague..! She would never....

“Though... Dhaa pushed him away... but we should try... we must help...!” Indroneel said looking at Salil’s grave face.  Salil was speechless.  Indroneel understood.

“Salil... don’t worry... Everything will be alright...!” Indroneel patted on his back understanding his worries.  “Why didn’t Rini tell me about this?” Salil wondered glaring at Indroneel’s overenthusiastic expressions...! He was not to be taken so seriously...!

“Humm...Indro...” he sighed calming down.  Indroneel grinned. 

“Ravi is a nice boy....! Very good boy...!” Indroneel went on.  “Just like my boy... Maitro.... “ He kept his hand on his chest.  His son... An IT engineer had settled in Bangalore with his wife...! Indorneel had been his mother and father both, when his mother, Indroneel’s wife died in an accident.  Maitro was only Five and Indroneel became his mother....! He had felt Ravi’s craving for a family life... and his love towards his father...! Indroneel saw Maitro in Ravi...! He decided to help Ravi get Dhatri, at any cost...! With or without Salil...!

******  ********

“Vinit...” Rini blurted and he held her hand.  “ I should have told about Ravi to Mamma – Papa...!” she said gravely.  “But thought it was too early! And, I am not sure about Dhaa...!” she said turning her face.

“Don’t worry..! She has taken a small step towards it!” he said chuckling.  Rini looked at him exhasperated...!

“What? How do you know?” she asked turning to him.  He smiled smugly. 

“I know...!” he said closing his eyes.  Rini folded her arms on her chest angrily.  He gave up.

“She didn’t like, her gift was given to you...!” he said with a mischief.  Rini gaped...! “And they share their Jungle secret, where even you, Rini, you too are not allowed!” He said putting his arm around her sympathetically...! Rini pushed him away....

“There is nothing, I don’t know about Dhaa...!” she said angrily.

“Oh Yeah? Did you know she kept the cristelized stalactile in her vanity bag?” he asked her sitting up straight. 

“Yeah, I know! Its her find...in that expedition...” she said smugly.  Vinit chuckled. 

“That was a gift from Ravi...It was his find....” he grinned and Rini gaped in disbelief. 

“And... I saw a paper weight size peacock blue calcite in his room... her find....” he winked repeating her words.

“How do you know?” she asked.

“Simple.. I checked her vanity bag for some clue .... and asked Ravi about that bright blue paper weight....!”  Rini gaped with dropped jaw with a small pain surging in her heart.  “Her Dhaa kept secrets from her...!” She couldn’t digest..! She tried to get up.  Vinit pulled her down. 

“Rini... Dhaa is growing up...!” he said cupping her face.  She looked into his eyes in realization.  Indeed Dhaa was growing up.  She smiled snuggling in his arms...!

******  ********  ********

“Dhaa... only one semester...! You got to study hard..!” Nilima said stroking Dhaa’s head fondly. 

“I know, Mamma.... I will pass....You don’t worry...” Dhatri looked up confidently.  She already had lost a month and she had to make up the back log for the studies.  Nilima pulled her back on her lap. 

“Dhaa... “ She pulled her up in her embrace.  “Mamma... stop being emotional... I will go to the hostel tomorrow, study, finish off this half gone semester ... and come back for good!” she said patting her mother’s back.

“And then... I will go for that great Himalayan trek... Uncle has promised me...!” she said dreamily.  She had blackmailed and coaxed Indroneel into taking her on the expedition....!

“For God sake, Dhaa... No more treks... please!” Nilima pushed her a bit shuddering.  Dhatri grinned and hugging her mother tightly, said... “Mamma... I am hungry... Kheer do naa!”