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They were speechless… stunned… shocked…! Nilima and Salil looked at each other helplessly…! They couldn’t ask Rini, why she risked Dhaa’s life! It was Vinit’s life at stake…and he was her life! They couldn’t bear the thought of Dhatri’s suffering…!

“Mamma…” Rini tried to hold Nilima’s hand to explain.  Nilima avoided looking at her daughter and looked away clutching on to Salil’s arm.  Guilt stabbed Rini…! She had caused pain and anguish…!

“Its.. Ok Rini…! Let us wait ….!” Salil could only say with hurting throat…!

“Rini…!” Ravi walked in with Suresh and she held back her tears.  He pulled her in his arms and patted on her shoulder.  He looked around and walked towards Salil and Nilima.   “Vinit’s parents…!” Salil introduced and he shook hands.  

“Can I meet the Doctors?” he said taking over instantaneously.  Virender nodded.  “His round at 1400 hours …” he said and Ravi turned to Suresh.  Suresh looked at Rini for support and she hung her head saying… “I told them….!” Guiltily.  Suresh took a sigh.  He had to tell everything to Ravi…! Ravi and Suresh went out to talk over a cup of tea…!

“Why, Swarnima? Why did you risk her life..?” Virender asked her angrily.  “I.. I just wanted my son …. !” her voice trailed looking at the couple Salil and Nilima…! In a desperate haste of saving her son’s life, she had risked someone’s daughter’s life…! Guilt took over.  Nilima looked away dejected….! She held Salil’s hand… 

“Let’s go inside…!” she said pulling him a bit.  Swarnima and Virender got up too! They walked towards the hospital waiting room.  .  

“Dharini Dixit…!” A public address system in the waiting room, announced and they looked at each other. “Lt. Dharini Dixit, please contact the Chief Medical Officer… Col. Revati…”

Ravi got up with a jerk.  Gesturing everyone to stay where they were, he walked out with Rini to meet the CMO.  Afterall he felt, Dhatri was his responsibility too….!  

Nilima and Salil waited with bated breath.  Swarnima tried to say something, but words failed her.  Virender had no words to apologize for his wife for risking Dhatri’s life.  They only had to wait helplessly….!

“Who are you?” CMO was asking Ravi and Rini responded … “He is family!” Ravi looked back relieved hearing Rini’s voice.  The Doctor explained the situation… ! Dhatri had a severe seizure…A Grand-mal… and she needed care and tests…! Rini gaped in horror.  Ravi’s brain working super fast … he asked… “You mean, do we have to shift her for better treatment?”

“Oh! No! We have the best Doctors…” The CMO said with pride looking at Rini.  Ravi understood that he had inadvertently hurt the Military Pride.  

“I am sorry… I never meant to doubt your capabilities…! Indian Army services is one of the best in the world…!” he praised getting hold of the situation.  

“I just want to ask, what will be the line of treatment…!” he said softly and the CMO opened Dhatri’s file…!

**********  *********

“What is this? Why did he go there?” Disha was furious to know, Ravi had reached….! Bhanu looked at her and said in a calmer tone… “He had time, sweetheart and he said he will go there and update me on the situation…!” Disha seemed to have cooled down a bit.

“Yeah… He can squeeze in time whenever he wants…! It hardly affects his business…”  she said bitterly.  Bhanu shook his head…! “Disha.. his is a 100 million company…!” he tried to pump in some sense in her…!

“Yeah.. such a big company…. He has people to do everything… he can get time for himself…” she said changing color…! Smile appeared on Bhanu’s face.  

“Sweetheart… let us plan our trip to India… “ he said pointing at the fact that she had earned a paid vacation for eight days encashing her overtime…!  She smiled sweetly at her success…!

“Yeah..!” she said and picked up her note pad to jotdown the to-do list…! Bhanu took a sigh.  He had not told her anything about Dhatri’s condition…!

***********  **********  ********

“Dhatri...!” She opened her eyes and saw Ravi at her bed staring at her unblinkingly...! She looked around to find no one.  He took her hand in his.  She had no energy... she felt weaker.  She closed her eyes and a droplet rolled down from the corner of her eyes... ! She remembered last night’s ordeal and stirred restlessly.  

“Shuuu... Don’t move...!” he pressed her shoulders gently.

“Ravi.... Vini.... I... I... “ she tried to move.

“Dhatri... Its ok.  !” he placed her head on the pillow and raised the headrest a bit.  She could see him blinking to send back his tears...!

“Is he ok?” she asked anguished...! “Was it a failure?” She tried to gauge his expression.  She had passed out exhausted...! Was she able to help? She didn’t know..! She opened her eyes in horror...!“Rini Didi...?” she asked and he shook his head.  

“Dhaa.... !” he tried to pacify her.  “Rini Didi?” she again asked jerking away his hand. 

“She is with Vinit...!” he said finally and she looked up at him with hope.

“Is he ok?” she asked holding his hand for support.  He stroked her and leaning forward, said.. “Dhatri... don’t think about it...!” 

“Ravi... Please... I want to know..!” she said with efforts rolling up her eyes again and passed out ...!

“Dhatri....!” Ravi ran out for help...! Dhatri went into deep slumber... into nothingness...! She had felt something was terribly wrong...! She was trying... She was fighting... She was struggling... But some greater power was pulling her back... blocking her energy... She couldn’t feel the connection.... “No... No... Please... I want to help... Please... “ she was fighting a losing battle...

“No.. Baby... You can’t do anything... She is gone, already...!” Grumpy was pulling her back...

“No! I can help... I want to help... He is still breathing... Breathing... “ She staggered... The darkness thickened...! 

“Breathe... breathe....!” she murmured while her fingers moved on his body... “Breathe... Breathe....” she fell down as something sucked her breath out...! 

“Breathe....” she moved her fingers with lightening speed on the wounds.... the warmth entering his body... He shuddered... hicking up... the monitors beeped... Someone came rushing in... Dhatri was pulled out of the Intensive care unit...! 

*********  ********

“I am sorry...!” Swarnima dropped down ...! Nilima dashed forward and pulled her up. 

“Shuu... Please stop... Stop!” he patted on her shoulder, tears gushing out uncontrollably.  They all had seen Dhatri’s condition in the morning visiting hours when she had regained her consciousness...!  Rini was with Vinit and Ravi had not left Dhatri.  Nilima took Virender and Swarnima out and Dhatri held Ravi’s hand...!

“I tried my best... “ she murmured.  “Dhaa... Please... pray... pray...!” he too joined his hands and prayed... “Mari mai... Mari mai...!” 

“Mr. Ray...” Suresh dashed in excitedly.  Ravi looked alarmed...! “He is improving...!” he said looking at Dhatri and she smiled faintly closing her eyes....!

“Suresh...No one should know...!” she warned weakly.  Every body knew already....!

*************  ******

“OH! Come on Papa…! This is not the time to discuss…!” Disha dismissed the discussion… But Vinit’s father continued… 

“That boy is a gem of a person…!” He said and everyone nodded.   “Yeah.. may be… !” Disha too gave in.  She didn’t want to drag the discussion further.  Ravi had gone back once the things settled.  Dhatri and Suresh were sent back against their will...!

 Dhatri had the second severe seizure in the night… twice in twenty four hours, which raised an alarm.  She was found unconscious in the hospital near ICU sector.  Vinit’s health improved…! His wounds healed faster than expected.  His life support system was withdrawn and he was on non intrusive ventilator...! Soon that too was removed and he was declared out of danger...!

Disha landed and dashed to the hospital.  Nilima couldn’t control herself and Disha took over.  Rini felt better... ! 

“Rini... Don’t worry... Everything is going to be fine....!” She said hugging her sister Rini.  Bhanu watched them from a distance.  

Salil fell short of words praising Ravi and Virender had almost found his son in Ravi.  He had helped them in these days of crisis understanding the problems,  not discussing them...! He was always there for everything they needed....! Nilima was overwhelmed ... Swarnima was grateful and Rini was proud to have Ravi around.  Dhatri hardly talked to him and didn’t mind he helping her.  That was a great leap too...! Vinit once winked at Rini when Dhatri and Ravi helped each other feeding him soup...! Rini turned her face hiding her tears...!

“RaDhaa...” He murmured seeing them going out and Rini looked at him surprised.... He beckoned her closer and whispered in her ears... “RAvi’s DHAAtri...” She wiped her tears kissing him on his cheek....!