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“Why did you call me, Mamma? I already have missed so many lectures...!”She asked thoroughly irritated.  

“But I asked you to come over the weekend... not on Thursday... bunking your lectures...!” Nilima said smirking.  Dhatri was caught off guard.  

“Dhaa...!” Disha was at the door and Dhatri ran towards her.  

“Didi.. I don’t understand... Why you all are so worried about my future..? I will do something on my own to support myself...!” Dhatri said annoying Disha further.

“For God sake, Dhaa... Don’t create a scene when they are here...” Disha said grabbing Dhatri’s shoulder.

“Create a scene? Have you ever seen me even talking when your in-laws were here? I only talk to Bhanu Bhaiya...!” Disha jerked herself free.  “But I have a question... Why are they coming here?” Dhatri asked her mamma.  Nilima gave her a mysterious smile and Disha frowned....!

“Why can’t these people understand? “ she thought worriedly.  Kalindi, her brother in law Avadhesh and his wife Kranti were invited and Nilima seemed to be super excited.  

“What is so special, mamma?” Dhatri asked poking her mamma.  She smiled and said .. “Its about your future...” 

“Oh. Is it? Are you guys planning to arrange for an employment interview here?” She asked sarcastically and Nilima burst out in laughter...! 

“Your sense of humor is deadlier when you are annoyed,,, Dhaa...!” She patted on Dhaa’s cheek.  Dhaa turned and squeaked...

“Uncle.... What are you doing here?” Indroneel walked in ... in a very festive dress...!

“And what is this?  A typical Bongie dress...? What is special, uncle? “ She asked swinging his hand.  He grinned fanning the edge of his Dhoti.  His green silk kurta was shimmering...! Dhatri winked wickedly...!

“Have you come here to do the pooja, by any chance, uncle?” She asked in a whisper leaning towards him. 

“Haan? Jaya Jaya he Mahishasuramardini... Ramya kapardini Shailasute...? Haan?”  She mocked and he gripped her neck.

“Naak Ragado...” He pushed her towards Pooja Ghar holding by her neck... 

“Don’t make fun of god...!” he reprimanded.

“But I am not..! I am making fun of you...!” she said trying to turn back with a silly grin..!

“Don’t make fun of your Guru...! Naak Ragado...” he turned her forceably and pointed at his feet.   She again grinned...! 

“Jutain nikalo... remove your footwear...!” she said loudly and he released her turning to go out to remove his chappals...!  She vanished in no time...!

“Dhaa... come here!” He shouted on deaf ears...!”  

“Dhaa...!” Salil called out and Dhaa’s figure appeared at the door.  Looking at his stern face she dashed to Indroneel’s feet...! “Sorry Guruji...” she said waiting for his blessing.  He pulled her in his embrace...! 

“Bhalo...!” he patted on her head.  She rolled her eyes... “Why are you here?” she asked curiously and Indroneel ignored her turning his face and moved out.  She stomped.  

“No one is telling me, what’s going on...” she stormed out of the house to play with the neighbor’s five year old son Rajveer...! 

“Enjoy your meeting and decide my future... but mind you... I will do what I want to...!” she raised her finger looking back at her bustling house...!

It was eight in the evening when she walked in and froze at the door hearing heated arguments. 

“But, Disha... It’s not like that.... We are not taking any hasty decision... Ofcourse we will talk to Dhaa about it...!” Bhanu was pacifying furious Disha.  She shook her head in disapproval. 

“No Bhanu... I won’t approve of this.  We need to do the background check...!” she said glancing at Kalindi.

“But Beti... I am telling you... He is a thorough gentleman...! Please try and understand...! And we are not forcing anything on anyone... Its just a discussion...! “ she said mildly.

“Yeah... Baba.... I was so happy when I heard it...!” Indroneel said and invited the wrath of Disha.

“Please stay out of this, Dr. Ghosh... It’s a family matter...!” she snapped...! 

“Yeah.. Its a family matter... and I don’t see you all different from my family...” he said unaffected.  Dhatri clenched her fists standing behind the main door.

“How can Disha didi be so rude to uncle?” She frowned...!

“Indro...Sorry..!” Salil apologized.  “Never mind!” Indroneel dismissed and took the discussion further.

“He has made his intentions clear...! Saya has talked to me...! I am happy with it... And Disha you are right...! One should do the background check..!” Kalandi took a breath.

“Yes... You can talk to Mr. Rehman... One of his managers... you can talk to Avadhesh... his long time associate... Talk to me, Disha... “ Kalindi said urging.  Disha seemed unmoved.  Bhanu stepped in.

“Do you want to talk to his business associates?” he asked raising his voice a bit.  “I can give you the list...” Disha shook her head and then looking at each one of them asked firmly...

“What about his mother?” Kalindi’s mouth fell open in horror.  

“What? What about that? There was a breakup.. that's it...! She is not in their lives... Thats it!” Bhanu said as a matter of fact.  Disha shook her head.

“Why was the breakup...?” she asked and Bhanu gaped at his wife who proclaimed to be American ...! 

“For Godsake, Disha... Stop it!” Bhanu requested.  But Disha refused to look at him.

“Mamma-Papa... should we not be more careful...? Its a question of Dhaa’s life... We should know the reason for the breakup...!” she said sounding logical.  Everyone gaped at her.

“I will ask him about it...!” She took the decision for herself and Kalindi got up.

“Beti... Please... Don’t unearth the buried skeletons...! It will be pain and misery for Saya and Ravi...” Kalindi urged with heavy voice, her throat hurting.  

“Please... don’t get emotional, Maaji... I am just trying to bring to your notice and other facets of this issue...!” Disha held Kalindi’s hand.  

“Its about my younger baby sister...! I must know... everything about the two... “ she said calming down a bit. 

“I will tell you everything Disha... I am her sister... Please please... don’t ask anything about this to Saya...” Kalindi looked at Nilima for support.  

“Anguish... Painful? Ravi’s mother? “ Dhaa stood rooted to the ground ....! 

“Ravi has a painful past? He never told me anything about it...!” She thought.  “But why would he tell me and why should I be bothered to know, what happened in the past?” she asked herself questioning herself, whether she really wanted to know about Ravi’s past...!

“If it is so painful...why should I know? Why should he tell this to anyone? Will my life change if I knew?” she asked herself confused.  And then the things got Christel clear...!

“She wouldn’t ask Ravi or his father anything... That wouldn’t change anything in their life... No one else had the right to dig out the pain and anguish...! “ She stepped in.  Everyone stopped talking and looked at her startled.  She dashed into her room and heard faint murmur from the hall.  People had resumed their discussion.

She opened the bag... took out the gift packet and with slightly shaking hands, tore opened the box....! Her eyes popped out...mouth fell open.. her throat went dry...!

The discussion outside and the gift inside made sense...!

*****  *****  *****