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“Do you really believe what she said?” Swarnima blurted the question after almost a day after mulling over the fall of events... Apparently all of them seemed to have bought the story.  None of them had met Sayajirao before...! Salil shook his head.

“But we can’t afford to take chances.... Its over.... let us drop the matter...!” he said gravely. 

“Wish I could talk to Rini...!” Nilima blurted, still not wanting to believe...!

“Yeah... But she is on that Joint Military Exercise...!” Blurted Salil in despair.  

“I think, you should talk to Indroneel Bhaisaab...!” Nilima suggested...

“But why, Nilima? We have already decided... “ Salil said confused.  Nilima didn’t answer but decided to call Indroneel herself.  She had seen Ravi taking care of Dhatri, getting worried about her.  Rini had told her how much he cared for Dhaa.  She never mentioned anything ill about his father.  Rini would have told Nilima if she had sensed something weird....! On the contrary, Rini had all the praises for Sayajirao...! Except for Disha and now Sanyogita, all the family members loved Sayajirao... Even Kalindi was on his side.  Nilima couldn’t digest what was told to her by Sanyogita...! 

“If a man can take care of an infant child and turn him into such a good human being, how can he himself be so cruel and pervert...?” She failed to understand.  She glanced at Swarnima who was staring at her intently.  

“We should have insisted on meeting Ravi’s father, before calling the marriage off...!” Swarnima reflected Nilima’s thoughts.  

“There’s no smoke without fire... “ Virender spoke gravely. 

“But this is so hard to believe...!” swarnima protested weakly.  

“Why can’t we just call him up and ask the truth...?” Nilima asked agitated..

“We just did that.. We called him up to say NO!” Salil said trying to put an end to the discussion. 

"But we didn't ask him the truth.. We just conveyed our decision...!" Swarnima said.

"What do you think, we should have asked, Swarni? That what was the reason for divorce? Is it true, what we heard? That you are a pervert, Torturing your wife, Giving her physical pain, making her sign on the divorce papers, throwing her out, snatching away a month old child?" Virender shot up frustrated.  Nilima felt a know in her stomach.  Ravi’s face flashed before her eyes.  “He will be heartbroken...” she turned her face.

“And what about Dhaa?” Swarnima asked pulling all of them out of their thoughts and bringing them to the common factor.  

“What about her? We will talk to her, convince her.. I am sure, she will understand..” said Virender and Swarnima shook her head hopelessly.  “You do not know, what she is made up of... “ Nilima thought ... Dhatri never accepted anyone changing her decision and she would go to any extent to prove her point...!

“But then, why didn’t Rini told us anything about it? In fact, she was very happy when we broke the news about Dhaa and Ravi’s wedding...” Nilima asked.

“How would she know? Man’s social life and personal life, are two different things, Nilima... you wouldn’t know how a person behaves with his wife in the bed.. I mean in their private life...” Salil said little ambarrassed.   Nilima looked away awkwardly...! 

“Thank god! Dhatri has her exams... We will think about it later... Let her give her exams first...” Salil said running his fingers through his hair.  

*********  ******

She went ahead a few meters and turned ... He was still standing there shocked to the core.  She understood, her face contorted with rage.. “Fine..!” She came back, stood before him glaring at him and then said.

“Its over... Goodbye..!” she walked past him and he held her hand pulling her aside.

“No, Dhaa... wait...!”   he pleaded.  She turned her face away from him. 

“Dhatri.. listen to me... just for once..!” he urged she was unmoved.

“Dhatri.. please...!” she turned her face. A bitter smile appeared on her face.  “Its ok Mr. Ray Dave.. I understand...Its easier said than done...!” she said contemptuously.  He shook his head hopelessly.  He knew... she wouldn’t listen to any argument, nothing will change her mind.  He placed his hands on her shoulder looking into her defiant eyes.  

“Ok.  Let us get married... Now!” he said and she turned to walk with him.

“Which temple?” he asked.  She pouted her lower lip and shrugged.. “Don’t know!”

“Ok!” he said looking around for a temple, thinking hard.  He needed to give her some time to cool down, then only he would be able to convince her.

“Do we need any preparation?” he asked glancing at her.  “Don’t know..!”

“We need a priest, Dhatri..!” he was sure about this and she looked lost.  

“And a few witnesses...!” he said and she stopped.  That meant they would be informing others about their marriage... She was not ready for that.  She wanted to get that over ASAP.

“Witnesses? Why?” she asked.  Clearly, she didn’t know anything about formalities of a legal marriage which she had agreed to. 

“How would others believe us, then?” he asked reasonably and she fell silent, slowing down considerably.  Disha Didi’s wedding rituals flashed before her eyes and she winced. 

“We will go in for Registered Marriage...!” she had an alternative.  

“That requires a notice period..!” he said gravely looking sad.  She stared at her toes for a while.  They had reached the cross roads and he saw the temple across the road.  

“Temple... Look!” he stopped Dhatri and she looked at him.  He seemed to be taking initiative now.  She felt better. She looked up.

“Shivji Temple...!” her mood brightened up.  She looked up smiling broadly and he drowned himself in her dimples.  He gave in... surrendered to her wish, ready to get married....! 

“Let’s go...!” she left him behind in excitement and crossed the road without bothering about the oncoming traffic.  His heart skipped a beat hearing the screeching breaks and yelled swearing...! “Careful..” he raised his hand.  She had already reached the stairs of the temple and then had realized that she had left him behind.  He still was across the road trying to weed through the heavy traffic...!  She frowned.

“Iss ko toh haath pakadkar laana padega...I have to help him cross the road and bring him to this side...” she turned and stopped abruptly.  A scooter had stopped inches away from him.  Dhatri saw her remove her helmet, shake hand with Ravi.  Her frown deepened... ! Afroz was talking to Ravi grinning broadly, holding Ravi’s hand.  Ravi too was giving her his captivating, special smile.  She decided otherwise and stopped folding her arms on her chest... apparently very patiently.  

 Ravi had the opportunity to buy some more time talking to Afroz....! He glanced across the road to find Dhatri waiting for him... !!

“Fine... if she is that important, I will go ahead alone.. “ she muttered angrily and turned to climb the stairs of the Mandir. 

 “Lagata hain, ab mujhe khud hi se shaadi karani padegi...How am I going to get married alone?” she banged her forehead.  She thought of waiting for him to show up, but then he was busy having a little  jovial chat with Afroz... Dhatri’s rage shot up.... “Its never, now Mr. ABCD..” She went inside ringing the huge bell hung, reverberating inside her head like a warning gong....!!