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Nervousness and fear overpowered her resolve to concentrate on studies.  She was just moving her gaze on the letters in the book, absentmindedly turning the pages without taking in anything written in there.  Her resolve to study for the theory papers without bothering about the following shooting challenge, faded away soon.  She came out of the library and unsuccessfully tried calling her unreachable Rini Didi.  There was no one she could talk to.  Her friends were deep in sleep and she was toiling in the 24X7 open library for her theory papers, worrying about the shooting challenge.  

“Mari Mai...Mari Mai...” She tried to gather herself closing the book and her eyes.  She clutched the book, her laptop and walked out of the library.  She made another futile effort to call her Rini didi...! 

“Ravi?” she didn’t know why she remembered him.  “Should I call him? But what will I talk?” she had nothing to talk to her ‘BoyFriend!’ Her phone buzzed.  

“Dhatri... Skype Call... Log in..!” Ravi said seriously and Dhatri’s heart jumped out of her skin.  She ran towards WiFi zone to log in.

“Hey, you ok?” he asked her and she started off excitedly...

“Ravi... That Challenge... I mean... That Afroz.. I mean that firsty Girl... Umm... Junior... first year....!” an attempt to clear the confusion was more confusing for Ravi.  He stared at her... Slowly the expressions on her face changed from excitement.. to worry to fear...! She locked her fingers and looked down stopping abruptly...! He waited.  By now, he was accustomed with her inability to maintain eye contact.  She wiped her face nervously.  

“Dhatri...!” he called and she looked up at the screen... A faint smile appeared on her face seeing him staring at her.  

“No... I mean... I am studying for theory papers... Little nervous..!” she confessed.  His eyes twinkled...! 

“All the best, Dhaa...!” he said smiling and she glanced at his bright blue eyes...!

“Humm.. Thank you!” she said with a pink shade on her cheeks.  He chuckled.  

“I called you to inform... Your project Demo is after your practical exams... !” he brought her back on exam floor.  She nodded.  

“Your internal Guide Dr. Dubey has sent the format...!” he said and she nodded again with her breath stabilizing, she looked calmer.  He sighed.

“You.. ar... are you coming?” she stuttered asking.

“I am not sure... My partner will come...!” he said and she nodded again.  

“You want me to come?” he wanted to ask but knew the answer very well.  It was better not to ask difficult questions, for which the answers will be only ‘No’.  

She felt better that he was not coming but suddenly remembering her stupid challenge with that firsty.... she shuddered.  Ravi was watching her expression... “If he could come....” she looked up with beady eyes fixed on his face....

“Why can’t you come?” she asked him raising her finger.  He was taken aback...

“Does she want me to come?” he was not sure....! He had never expected the reaction.

“I will try to...!” he said calmly to cool her down and she did.

“Ok.” She said in a weak tone.  He felt a knot in his stomach, craving to pull her closer...! They both didn’t know what to speak next.

“Ok, then...!” he said and she looked up in despair.  

“Woh... I mean... I think I messed up big time...!” she said at once and his heart skipped a beat.  “What does she mean by that? Is it about the wedding proposal...?” he looked at her nervously with apprehension.  

“Th... That Firsty... That shooting Champ... I .. I accepted her challenge...!” she said incoherently.  He couldn’t make out anything....! He waited.

“I mean.. that girl, Afroz....” she went on narrating, stuttering, shuddering, wincing, fumbling, incoherently.  He tried to decipher... assimilating what she was saying and could only make out that Afroz was a shooting champion and Dhatri had accepted the challenge....! For a moment he was shocked.  She was looking at him with big eyes.  

“Thats good!” he blurted.

“What?” she squeaked.  “I mean... Its good, you accepted... Now show her your skills...” he said confidently. She gaped in disbelief. 

“You think, I can do that?” she asked bewildered.

“Why not? Dhatri you can...! Its just that...” he stopped.  He wanted to tell her to practice, prepare and be ready but knew that she didn’t like to take instructions from anyone...! She would act on her own.  If someone tried to issue orders or instructions, it would have opposite effect on her.  She would do exactly the opposite.  It was best to leave it to her. 

She looked at him with some hope.  He swallowed his words and just gave her an assuring nod.  A reluctant smile appeared on her face.

“Humm...” she sighed ... “Ok then... gu...good day...!” she abruptly disconnected. 

“You made my day, Dhaa...!” he smiled broadly, signing off.  

*******  ******

“Why can’t you understand, Rini?” he asked staring at the marriage registration notice.  He had tried to explain to Vicky in vain.  Rini had disappeared refusing even to pick up the phone.  He knew she wouldn’t talk to him ever again.  Vicky had tried his level best to convince him otherwise but he was firm on his decision.  He wouldn’t marry Rini.  He had refused to give reasons too...! Vicky was frustrated... 

“Damn you Hawk...Hell with you! I am going...!” he said marching out of the rehabilitation building leaving Vinit alone to brood over ....! Rini was on her way to Khemkaran, driving alone madly with red burning eyes, hurting throat and a deadly suffocating congestion in her chest.... 

 

“You can’t have a good life with a broken person like me, Rini... You should have a bright future...” Vinit held the form to his heart wanting to sign on it with all his heart and mind...! 

His body had made a little progress... his broken limbs were still in bad shape... He hardly was able to stand on his feet with the help of crutches...! Wheel chair was his only companion in the physiotherapy ward.  The medicine had made little effect... He still bled in the wounds while doing stretching exercises... his left hand was almost paralyzed.  The shoulder joint was replaced artificially.  His knee still creeked while bending... ! The absorbed lead had not yet shown its true colors.  Doctors were not sure about the fitness of his reproductive organs...! His body was like ruins of an old gigantic fort...! Dhatri had done a marvellous job in healing his internal injuries and external wounds but unfortunately she too had limitations... She couldn’t regrow his bones...! Surgeries were inevitable...! He had undergone fourteen minor orthopaedic surgeries... The bones were fixed but it took toll on his health, both physical and mental.  He was grounded...! That was the biggest blow ..! He would have preferred death...! 

To add fuel to the fire, his parents were at Rini’s Place, Vidisha, dreaming and planning for Dhaa’s marriage.  They had decided to stay back and bring Dhatri to Delhi once her exams were over.  Every time his father called him, all the talks were about Ravi and Dhatri and to end the call he would casually ask about vinit’s health.  They had taken Rini for granted as if Rini and Vinit had been married for years....! Vinit couldn’t spoil the show by disclosing their break-up....! No one would believe him.  And here he was determined to end the relationship considering the complications...! 

The two options he had .... ‘Harakiri’... or convince Rini of which former was easier....!

“Rini.....!” He groaned in pain as he tried to stand on his feet without any help...!

 Rini shuddered suddenly waking up from the trance.  She had stopped the vehicle, at the roadside small Dhaba, overwhelmed with the anguish and fatigue...! She had splashed water on her face and had closed her eyes for a while....!

“Damn you...Vinit...! You will never see my face again....!” she slammed on the accelerator....!