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“Dhaa... Listen.... I want you to go to....!” Disha started off when the phone was answered.

“Hello..... Hello.... Didi... This is Poorva....!” Poorva clarified hastily and Disha stopped talking. 

“Didi... Dhatri is in the library to get the book....!” Poorva said guiltily for picking up Dhatri’s phone. 

“Oh! Ok! ... Thats ok.  Just give her a message that she needs to see the doctor for her repeat tests...!” Disha said.  Poorva was confused.  The medical file flashed before her eyes and she said... “Tests, Didi? What tests?”

“Oh! She didn’t tell you? You are her friend, right?” asked Disha surprised.  Poorva collected herself in time.  “She did, Didi...! But I don’t know the schedule...” Poorva said hesitantly. 

“ She needs to take those medical tests.... Her Hippatitice and HIV tests are due...!” Disha dropped the bombshell on Poorva.  HIV? Poorva’s head spinning at lightening speed....! 

“Does this mean.....! HIV?...” she couldn’t comprehend anything....! Dhaa’s changed behavior flashed .... Her staying aloof, not sharing her things with anyone... even sleeping on the floor with her separate mattress..... Poorva sat on the chair with a thud. 

“Oh God! Dhaa.... why didn’t you tell us?” she clutched her fists in rage and waited for Dhatri to return from the library....!

“Poorva, you know what? That Circuit design dame.... She said she will give the list of experiments and we..... h...a..v..e.....  t...o...!” Ragini’s voice trailed off as she saw Poorva’s ghostly face. 

“Haan?” Poorva looked up.  “Poorva, What happened?” Ragini kept her hand on Poorva’s shoulder.  She didn’t get any answer for a while.

“Ragini... did you know about Dhatri’s illness...?” she asked finally trying to clear of her confusion. 

“No...! Why?” Ragini asked surprised.  Poorva opened her mouth to tell her... but shut it closed thinking otherwise.

“No... Nothing... Just asked...!” she said moving away and picking up her bag. 

“You know what? All the copies are gone... I got this old edition... torn book...!” Dhatri walked in and stopped suddenly looking at Poorva’s face.

“What happened?” she asked looking at Ragini for some clue...! Poorva made up her mind, clasped Dhatri’s wrist and said... “We need to talk...” she dragged Dhatri out of the room.  Ragini followed bewildered.  Poorva raised her hand to stop her.  Ragini stopped at the door of the room.  Dhatri was dragged behind Poorva, clueless....!

“Are you going to tell us, Dhaa or not?” Poorva started off without preamble pushing her on the bench in the lawn.  Dhatri gaped blankly.

“What?” she asked.  

 “About what happened in US?” asked Poorva and Dhatri got up with a jerk.  “No!” she said trying to move away but Poorva caught her. 

“Ok!  Tell me, what are these medical tests?” Poorva asked gathering her patience.  Dhatri gaped and then turning her back....

“I don’t know anything....!” she took a step away from Poorva and was grabbed forcefully. 

“What is this HIV test, Dhaa? Did you sleep with someone there?” A bombshell shattered Dhatri....!

“No.....! I don’t want to talk about it...” she jerked away from Poorva anguished and hurt....!

“Why?” Poorva asked equally hurt.

“Because I don’t want to die the same death again and again....Thats why!” Dhatri yelled and sat on the bench losing all her strength. 

“Dhatri....!” Poorva knelt beside Dhatri hugging her tightly.  Dhatri pushed her away. 

“You don’t have to worry Poorva...! I have taken enough precautions...! I don’t share my food, clothes, my things.... I even avoid touching you guys... But....!” she stopped drawing a deep breath.  Poorva gaped with dropped jaw.

“But If you guys have any problem... I will change my room... !” she said jerking poorva away. 

“Stop it Dhaa...! I just want to know what happened...!” Poorva pulled Dhatri in her embrace with all the force.  Dhatri stood still in her embrace and then sighed dropping her shoulders, giving in.  Poorva left her on the bench and dialed the numbers...!

In next hour or so... They heard the story unfolding,  with Ragini sobbing and wailing constantly, Poorve clutching Dhatri reflecting her anguish and Suresh swallowing hard to control his emotions....! 

“And then I saw Ravi running towards me in the light of the flames rising into the sky.... and he hugged not bothering about how filthy I was...!” Dhatri said hiding her face in her palms.  Ragini hugged her tightly....

“And then... another walk through the hell began.... When Disha Didi pointed out how dangerous I was for the Americans....!” She narrated further....

“And hence all these tests....!” she concluded exhaling ....!

“Dhaa....!” Ragini cried her heart out.  Suresh clutched Dhatri’s shoulder and Poorva got up in rage...!

“Damn that Doctor... I will kill him...!” she strangled someone in the air.  “He will die his own painful death...!” Suresh cursed but Dhatri sat on the stone bench like a stone herself.  The ordeal of re-living the hell was over for her.  She had released the burden from her shoulders....!

“So this is it! You guys decide what you want to do with me...!” Dhatri got up after what seemed like an hour or so of silence. 

“Hey..hey... Wait...! I have more questions...!” Ragini ran after Dhatri and Poorva gaped.  Dhatri stopped...

“Tell me Dhaa...! How was it?” Ragini held her hand and brought her back.  All of them gaped shocked.

“How was what?” Poorva asked for Dhatri...!  

“That hug...! When Ray hugged her....!” She couldn’t complete as Poorva pounced on her.  Ragini giggled.  Poorva glanced at Dhatri and breathed a sigh when she saw a line of smile on Dhatri’s face.  

“Dhaa.... ?” Ragini pulled Dhatri again into the middle.  Dhatri fumbled... “I don’t remember...!” she said weakly and Poorva winked at Suresh.

“But he  hugged you on the Airport again, Right?” Ragini was not to give up. Dhatri’s face changed color.

“I was in a hurry to board the plane.... I don’t remember anything...!” Dhatri said trying to break the circle  but Ragini snapped again...

“And he gave you that gift packet...!” Dhatri stopped abruptly.  “How do you know?” she asked exasperated.  “Did they open the packet?” she felt her mouth running dry and her breath shallow....! 

“Mujhe guess maranaa aataa hain... Duffer...! I could guess...!” Ragini said giggling, catching Dhatri off guard. 

“Shut up you all....! What topic we were discussing... and where are you taking it...! No seriousness....!” Suresh snapped and suddenly his mouth fell open....

“Aiyoo... Daa.... That JL.... He said its personal....! What personal can it be? Romantically personal?” Suresh had his share of pulling her legs...

“What are you doing here? I want you all out of this place, right now!” They froze hearing the rector’s voice bellowing.  Dhatri broke into run and others ensued looking around, to find no one around except these Fabulous Four...! Dhatri again had escaped narrowly... !

*****  ****  ****

“Hi...!” the lady said brightly and Disha’s mouth fell open.  She had taken a break of a  week after the tiresome project phase was over.  She needed rest and Bhanu had gone to Detroit.

“Hello...!” Disha was surprised to see Sanyogita at her doors.... She made herself comfortable on the soft looking around in the house.  

“Nice house... A big one...!” she complemented and Disha smiled smugly making a drink for them.  Sanyogita’s eyes flashed with greed.  

“I have heard a lot about you... your brilliance, charm, smartness....The list has no end...!” she said sweetly and Disha felt on the top of the world.  She kept the bottle on the table and Sanyogita poured herself another glassful of wine....!