136

Poorva watched Dhatri eating the food like a starved person for ages...! Ragini kept stroking on her head.  Dhatri looked up at Poorva with full belly.  Poorva sighed.

“What was that, Dhaa?” Poorva asked worriedly.  Dhatri didn’t answer.  She drew the blanket and turned her back on her friends.  Both Ragini and Poorva looked at each other, worriedly.  Dhatri was becoming more difficult now a days.  

Next day Dhatri woke up with her phone ringing.... Nilima had called to ask her to come home for a day as it was very urgent.  Dhatri’s heart skipped a beat.  Nilima assured her that everything was fine and they just wanted to discuss some urgent matter with her.

 “Dhaa.. please... just for a day...!” Nilima pleaded and Dhatri shook her head. 

“Mamma... Please.... I don’t have time... my project exam is on Monday and I need to prepare...” Dhatri said irritably.  

“Dhaa... I know.. but please... just for a day...please...” Salil took phone from Nilima.  Dhatri disconnected frustrated.  

She picked up her bag and came out.  Poorva and Ragini were returning after their breakfast.

“What? Where are you going?” asked Ragini bewildered seeing Dhatri all set to go.

“Home... For a day! Mamma had called up...” Dhatri blurted and ran out of the gates to board the bus.

****  ****  ****

“What’s so important, Mamma? I have my project evaluation on Monday and that ABCD is already breathing on our neck with the code review....!” Dhatri barked when Nilima opened the door.

“Shuu.... Dhaa stop it...!” she said in a hushed voice.  Dhatri looked around.  She saw those familiar faces of Swarnima, Virender, Salil, Laxumbai, Dayal Kaka.... And Salil moved away.... Dhatri saw her with gaping mouth.  She was sitting on the sofe fanning herself with the news paper in the presence of full blow of the cooler, Salil had dragged in front of her.  She stopped and looked behind at Nilima.

“Now what...?” Dhatri asked raising her eyebrows and Nilima ushered her inside.  

*********  **********

“Yeah... I understand...! Its  over...” Dhatri said stepping out of the house holding Nilima’s hand.  Nilima couldn’t stop her tears...!

“Dhaa... I am sorry...!” she said sadly and Dhatri nodded understandingly.  “I understand Mamma...” she said looking beyond Nilima at her father leaning against the wall for support and she saw a smile on HER face....! 

“We all are concerned about you...!” She came forward and hugged Dhatri lightly and Dhatri moved away with a jolt.  

“I am going...!” she said not looking at anyone and turned her back on the house full of people.  As she turned away from her house, her anger shot up...! She dialled the number frantically...

“Didi... pick up the phone... please.. Rini Didi, pick up the phone...!” she yelled in frustration....

********  ********

“Dhatri, are you ok?” she heard the voice and lost her control.

“Where were you? I was trying to contact you since when...!” she barked and the passanger next to her in the bus, looked at her startled.  She ignored.

“I am in Mumbai, Dhatri...!” came his soothing voice and she calmed down a bit.

“meet me...!” she ordered.

“Ok. I will come as soon as possible...” he said.

“I am going back to the collage...” she said giving him the hint that he should meet her on the campus.

“Ok. I will be there...!” he said and she disconnected.

***********  *********

“Sir!” he saluted and Lt. Gen. AK Singh, Southern Command rose from his seat.

“Maj. Vinit... My Boy!” he shook hands with Vinit gesturing him to draw the chair...

“You seem to be in pain...” he said aghast.  Vinit folded his arms on his chest in defiance. 

“What made you come here, my boy?” asked Lt. Gen. AK Singh and Vinit glared at him.

“You are not declared fit as yet, Maj. Vinit, to join the duty...” Vinit refrained from answering. 

“Where is she?” he demanded and AK Singh swallowed hard.

“Don’t worry... We won’t give up on her...!” he said seriously and Vinit searched into his eyes suspiciously.

“Where is she?” he asked again.

“We do not know!” was the answer.

“Fine..!” Vinit clenched his fists.  “I will find out!” he was determined.

“We could trace upto Kutt...!” Vinit heard the same stale answer. He got up from his seat, heavily leaning on his walking stick.  

“Not possible...!” he was confident.  To reach Kut.. one had to cross Iranian borders twice which was almost impossible.. or one has to travel through Turkmenistan, Caspian sea Azerbaijan,  Turkey, Syria... And then move down south without notice was another impossibility.

“Not in Iraq...!” Vinit said confidently and Singh shook his head.  

“I know...!” he said... Vinit turned to leave...

“Wait...” Lt. Gen. AK Singh tried to stop him.

“I will find out...!” Vinit turned and Singh shook his head. 

“The chances of their survival are bleak, my boy...!” he blurted in pain.  His three top warriers had gone missing on an unknown mission.  Vinit waited for further information, though he knew, nothing much was going to be disclosed.  

“They crossed Pakistan Borders...!” Vinit concluded...

“Maj. Vinit, we are doing our best... The team was officially assigned the rescue of the Indian medical workers stranded in Iraq... ! You know such undercover operations to aid diplomatic channels...!” Vinit listened.  

“You know the terrain! In that hostile weather, their vehicle went missing after they could rescue 34...! They were to reach Kabul in three days...! The team couldn’t make it...! The convoy will return anytime in next week and if we don’t trace our men, we have to....!”

“No..! She was not a part of that so called rescue mission, Sir!” Vinit raised his finger threateningly which otherwise would cause insubordination.  Lt. Gen. Singh sighed. Vinit continued...

“I want my discharge papers...!” Vinit demanded.

“What? You are here, without your discharge papers?” Lt. Gen. Singh asked in disbelief.  Vinit glared at him. “No one should know about it..!” he knew the consequences.... Vinit opened the door to move out....

“If you need logistics and support....” Singh’s voice trailed off as Vinit walked away...

“Sir...!” he again had walked in to startle Lt. Gen. Singh.  He looked up...

“BSF..?” he asked with some hope but Singh shook his head.

“No...!” he said and Vinit left his office....

**********   *********

Next morning Dhatri waited anxiously ... 

“Dhatri...!” Ravi had reached the campus.  She darted to meet him...

“Dhatri.. you ok?” he asked concerned.  

“No. I am not...!” she said as if in a hurry.

“What is it, Dhaa?” he asked trying to hold her hand.  She moved away.

“You agreed to... No past discussed, no money involved, no rituals...!” she asked raising her finger angrily.

“Yes...!” he said firmly.... She gaped in disbelief... If he agreed to her conditions, then why are these people fussing ....? She failed to understand.

“Fine...!” She said making up her mind and took a step ahead holding Ravi’s hand.  He was dragged behind, bewildered. 

“Chalo mere Saath...!” she said determined.

“Where?” he asked thoroughly confused.  She turned to gauge him, not sure what she was doing at that moment....!