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“Just stop it...!” Disha yelled, frustrated...! Nilima startled at her rudeness.  “Disha...!” Salil got up with a jerk.

“Stop all this non sense, Papa... This is not possible...We need to talk...” She said emotionally.  Her sister’s safety and wellbeing was at stake.  

“What is it, Disha?” asked Salil worriedly.  Disha glanced at Indroneel.  

“Papa... I need to talk to you in private...” she said and Indroneel got up.  “Ok. Sholil... I will see you later....” he went out of the door and Disha went inside the room.  Salil, thoroughly puzzled, followed her.  

“Papa... Please.. we got to stop this..” She started off without any preamble, closing the door of the room.

“What is it, Disha?” Salil asked. 

“Papa... we can’t go ahead with this marriage....” she said taking a deep breath.

“Why?” he asked.

“Because, its not good for Dhaa...” she said and before he could open his mouth, raised her hand...

“Let me finish Papa.... Royal family and all is one thing and Dhaa’s happiness is another... She won’t be happy there, Papa... The family... I mean Ravi’s Dad... I don’t know how to tell you this, Papa....!” she again looked away, taking her time to choose the right words...! Salil waited....

“Papa... I met Ravi’s mother, the other day...” she looked at Salil’s aghast face.  

“She is Bhanu’s aunt...She had come home, Papa... stayed with me for a day...” Disha clarified.  Salil looked lost.  Bhanu had not told anything about this...

“But Bhanu....” He was cut off... “Bhanu was in Detroit at that time... I was alone at home..” Disha said and Salil took a deep breath.  “Humm...” he sighed.  “Papa... his father... he is no good, papa... he..he is a pervert... a sex maniac...” she chocked even while talking... Salil was shocked...!

“Disha... What kind of accusation is this?” he asked aghast....

“I know, Papa... Sanyogita aunty told me that day... she had to leave him.... She was tortured... She... she was...” but before she could finish, Salil raised his hand.... 

“Stop it Disha... I understood...” he said sitting on a chair with a thud.  Disha gaped.  “Papa.. thats why I was ... I mean... I want Dhaa to be happy...” Disha held Salil’s hand tightly.  

“Papa, you know... Dhaa thinks she can think... but the fact is she goes only by her impulse... her mood...!” Disha said and Salil sighed.  “I know, Disha... I will not do anything in a haste... I will talk to Bhanu and his mother...” he said and Disha shook her head.  “They won’t talk anything against Ravi and his father...” she said hopelessly.  Salil was puzzled.  

“Did you confirm this with Bhanu?” he asked and Disha shook her head.  “He won’t talk about it, Papa... I know...” she said.  “So you have her version of the story... Disha, we need to know the other side of the story... before we go ahead...” Salil had his head on his shoulder.  Disha looked at him in disbelief.... “Papa... you think, they will accept what they did to her?” she asked little irked.... Salil shook his head... “Disha... she told you her story... We will have to find out his story too....” he said firmly moving to go out.  

“why can’t you understand, Papa... These people won’t tell you anything.... They all shield Ravi and his father like anything...” she felt hopeless.  

“Why?” Salil turned and asked sternly.  Disha had no answer... Salil turned again...

“Disha... finished your packing?” Nilima was at the door and Disha grabbed the opportunity.  “Mamma.. need to talk to you...” She pulled her inside.  

“Disha... You got to finish your packing... And I have a lot of work in the kitchen... Rini’s inlaws are here...” Nilima moved out of the room.  Disha sat there for a while and got up with determination.  

As she came out, she saw her father talking over the phone...

“Yes, Mr. Rehman... I will be waiting for you tomorrow morning...” he said keeping the receiver on the cradle.  He turned and saw Disha waiting.... 

“Disha, beta, don’t worry.  I will not go ahead unless I do a thorough background check...” he assured her.  She gave a nod and turned inside to pack her bags...! The issue was put off, atleast for some time....! Her Dhaa should be happy... thats what she wanted...! Nilima gaped in disbelief and had dialled Dhatri’s number....

**** **** ***

“Awa.. Rini...!” he jerked his face away with a tight slap square on his face.  The tremors went upto to his skull shaking his brain....! She threw a paper on his laps and as she had barged in, stormed out like a tornado.....! Everything went black in front of his eyes.  Someone patted on his shoulder giving him support to regain his composure.

“What was that for?” Vinit asked aghast.   “Her answer...!” Vicky said gravely and Vinit turned his face hiding his emotions.  For a long time, silence prevailed....! 

“Sir...!” a sentry broke their trance.  “Note from Madam...” he said handing over a piece of paper to Vinit.  He took it with shaky hands ... “Goodbye...!” the words stabbed him again and again as he read the note.....! The note slipped down on the floor and Vicky picked it up.  

“What did you tell her?” finally vinit asked after what it seemed like an hour.

“In exact words....” Vicky clenched his fists.  “And I am out of it now... You understand?” he clutched Vinit’s injured shoulder and Vinit groaned in pain.  

“I should have died in that rescue operation....” Vinit murmured hanging his head.

“It wouldn’t have changed anything....” Vicky showed the paper on his laps.  Vinit picked it up and his face changed color, his mouth went dry, sucking his breath out of his chest....!

“No... Thats not possible...” he looked at Vicky for support... “No... I can’t, Vicky...” he tried to hold Maj. Vicky’s arm.  Vicky jerked him away angrily, without bothering about his injuries....!

“Did you not tell her....?” Vinit looked up pained and hurt.

“I told her exactly what you had told me to tell her...!” Vicky said fuming....

“And?” Vinit looked at him questioningly...

“She kicked me right in my abdomen....breaking at least a couple of ribs...twisted my arm, kicked me in the butt, with her military boots...” Vicky still went through that pain groaning.  A faint smile of pride appeared on Vinit’s face. 

“And then she was in the vehicle ....I had to literally beg, going down on my knees to allow me to accompany her...!” Vicky went ahead.

“All night she drove like a meniac, silently throwing disgust at me... as if I was some kind of filth beside her smelling like horrible pile of bovine excreta...” Vicky described.....

“Humm...” they both sighed simultaneously falling into silence again.

“I want to talk to her....” Vinit said looking up after some time....

“Not unless.....” Vicky pointed at the paper.  Vinit looked hopeless....

“No Vicky... I can’t....” he said looking away... Vicky held the paper thrusting a pen in Vinit’s hand.

“You have to....” he said gravely and Vinit looked up with teary eyes... Vicky swallowed hard... !

“Damn you, Hawk... you swine... You bloody buddies... Why do you have to put me in this emotional termiol? I am out of it....! You two decide what you want to do....” Vicky stomped out leaving Vinit crestfallen....!

“And ... I am dancing with joy... celebrating your breakup....!” Vicky shouted from the door pointing his finger at Vinit, smiling wickedly....! 

Rini was out on the highway, slamming on the accelerator going at the speed of the bullet... not knowing where she was going....!

********  ********  *********

“Mamma... my decision is not going to change....!” Dhatri said and Nilima had a faint smile on her face.  She somehow had a feeling that Ravi and Dhatri were made for each other... She had seen him taking care of Dhatri when she was hospitalized when she got seizure curing Swarnima...! He had understood Dhatri’s every need, her mood, her anguish, her pain, her happiness.... She knew he was the right person for her weakest child... her Dhatri...! But the things didn’t turn out in her favour.... Disha had raised numerous questions which imbibed doubt in Salil’s mind ... He needed to be sure about Ravi and his father....! Nilima and Swarnima kept glancing at each other dejected....! The marriage was stalled....!

**** ***

“Hey.. Dhaa... we have a call now!” Ragini yelled from behind and Dhatri cut her Mamma’s call....!

“Yeh ABCD ab Kuch na Kuch gadbad jharur karega...!” She muttered and turned on her heels to go to library... Best to avoid the call.  She had backlog after all....!

“Arey.. Beti Aap?” Someone had stopped right in front of her, on her way to library...

“Y..You” Dhatri’s throat went dry seeing the person in front... Her legs made involuntary action to run away from that place...

“Ruko... Beti...!” he had sensed her panicky.... She stopped as if someone had jinxed her and turned her into a statue...! He came around and stood before her....