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“Dhatri...!” he rang the bell and joining his hands sat beside her on the floor.  She refrained from looking at him.  He held her hand when she got up and walked with her to the sanctum.... ! The pandit had just finished his pooja and Aarti.  The sanctum was lip up with lamps and while flowers shimmering all over....! He gazed mesmerized at the shivling.  Dhatri had closed her eyes.  His heart filled with the divinity.  He glanced at her once and turned leaving her behind.  He came out and sat on the stairs waiting for her.  She didn’t come out for a long time.  He waited patiently using his time mulling over the situation. Dhatri seemed to be desperate.  He needed to know the reasons.  Reason for the rejection and her desperation too!  Dhatri wouldn’t tell him anything, he knew!  He decided to go her way...! He felt her presence beside and turned his face towards her.  She still was not looking at him but spoke gravely.

“So, what have you decided?” she asked staring unfocused somewhere at a distance.

“About what Dhatri?” he asked softly.  She turned to face him.

“About the wedding...! You agreed to no questions...!” she warned.  He nodded.

“Yes...!” he said holding her hand in his.  She withdrew.  “Then?” she asked looking straight at him.  He swallowed.  

“Then what, Dhatri? We have come here to get married, right?” he questioned back.  She fell silent, losing herself in thoughts.  He watched her intently.  She sat there speechless.

“Come, let us ask the priest...!” he got up pulling her up.  She fidgeted nervously.  He already had gone inside and was waiting for her.  She stayed behind.  He was talking to the pandit and she was trying to clear the riot in her head.  He came back after a while.  She breathed relief.  

“Dhatri... he gave this list... And we need witnesses..!” he said stressing on the word.  She looked up nervously.  

“How about your friends?” he asked gauging her.  She swallowed.  The least resistance path was to run away from that place.  She thought of that and then decided otherwise.  

“Damn this joint exercise...!” she muttered angrily looking away.  He understood.

“How about calling Vinit?” he asked hiding his smile.  She looked lost.  She wanted to get it over ASAP.  She shook her head.

“He is still recovering...” she murmured.  He nodded understandingly.  They both fell silent for a brief period of time and he spoke...

“Dr. Ghosh?” he asked and her face brightened up slightly.  That was a good option.  She  didn’t answer but he dialed Indroneel’s number.

..........  ....

 

“Hey.. big sister...!” she saw Afroz in front of her and shuddered.  Afroz was eyeing Ravi curiously.  

“What are you doing here?” asked Dhatri angrily.  Afroz sat on the stairs thumping her bums.

“Humm... What am I doing here? Obviously, came to see what my big sister is up to...!” she grinned and Dhatri blew her top.

“Your big sister is getting married here, got it?” she spat and Afroz was thrilled.

“Oh! Great! My big sister is getting married and I am not invited?” she mocked shock.  Dhatri looked away in frustration.  Ravi had come back.

“He is coming...” he said seriously.  It will be atleast two hours. Dhatri!” he said looking at the list in his hand.

“We got to get these things...” he glanced at Afroz who was dying with curiosity.

“Need my help?” she asked excitedly and Dhatri spat back.  “No! My friends are coming..!” Ravi had a smile.

“Yeah!” he said.  “Hey, big sister... include me in your friends’ list..!” she pestered and Dhatri looked away. 

“Thank you!” Afroz hugged repelling Dhatri . 

“Now tell me... how can I help you?” she asked sitting between the two.

“Just disappear from this place...!” Dhatri snapped and Afroz sniggered.  “Thats not possible...! You two are getting married and I am not there... Thats impossible...!” she said leaning on Ravi.  

“And what is this you are wearing? Jeans? Are you getting married like this?” Afroz snatched the list from Ravi’s hand.  Dhatri looked at her dress.  

“Shut up Afroz... !” she snatched back the list.  Aftoz rolled her eyes taking everything lightly.  Dhatri was losing her heart... She looked at Ravi.  Now it was his turn to cover up. 

Chalo Dhatri... Let’s have breakfast...!” words rolled out from his mouth and she got up.  “Coming?” she asked Afroz as a formality. And to her dismay,  Afroz agreed.  This big sister affair was becoming a big headache for Dhatri.  . 

“You know what? If you two are really getting married, I am ready to help you..!” Afroz gave a wicked grin and Dhatri pushed her away. 

“Are you mad?” She asked flaring up.  Ravi left the place dialing a number and Dhatri came on to Afroz. 

“Just leave me alone, ok?” she threatened.  Afroz looked at Ravi.

“You mean I should take him away? To leave you alone? Well I am ready... “ Afroz nudged Dhatri ...

“Oh! Shut up Afroz...!” Dhatri didn’t know how to get rid of Afroz.  

“Dhatri...” Ravi had come back.  Dhatri got up with a jerk and walked briskly with Ravi... Afroz ran behind to catch up with them.  The three of them walked back to the campus.  Dhatri’s nervousness grew....! Ravi sensed it and putting his arm around her shoulder... said in a bare whisper... “Don’t worry....” She nodded nervously.  Afroz dragged her bike with them, chirping nonstop.  When they reached canteen, Poorva was waiting ...

“Dhaa... where were you?” she asked angrily when Dhatri walked in leaving Afroz and Ravi behind.  “Poorva...!” Dhatri held her hand and Poorva saw Afroz and Ravi.

“What is she doing with him?” Poorva inadvertently looked at Dhatri’s ring finger.  The diamond ring was still on. 

“Hello Mr. Ray... We are ready with the Demo...” She said something to distract and Ravi turned to a table. 

“I will call others...” she said and Afroz had to leave them ... Soon all of them engrossed in the discussion of their image processing discussion.  Ravi kept glancing at silent Dhatri.  Nothing from the discussion was going into her head.  The face of that woman who had said she was Ravi’s mother, floated before her eyes ... She had not paid much attention to the things she had said.  She had sensed negative vibes when she had entered her house where Sanyogita was sitting on the sofa.  Dhatri had closed her mind... nothing could enter ....! She just kept nodding to what this so called Ravi’s mother was saying... but as she went on... Dhatri’s determination got cemented and when Sanyogita had finished her story, looking expectantly at Dhatri, Dhatri had made up her mind to marry Ravi, but she wouldn’t tell anyone what really transpired between them...!  

“Dear... I really want my son to be happy but I can’t think of putting any girl at such a risk... You know, what I mean...!” Sanyogita had tears in her eyes.  Dhatri stared at her tears...

“I wished he moved out when he finished his education... but he didn’t! That was strange...! My son chose to stay with his father, like any Indian boy does...!” Sanyogita said and Dhatri looked confused.

“I just wanted my son to be out of the clutches of this man.. his father...!” Sanyogita broke into tears again... A fresh flow of tears gushed out of her eyes.  Dhatri gazed her toes...! 

“Dear...” Santogita inadvertently tried to hold Dhatri’s hand and struggled to take it back when she looked at Dhatri’s eyes, remembering the scene in Kalindi’s house.  Dhatri would bring her down again and she would strangle Dhatri to death.  Dhatri stared at her boaring eyes and grew restless.  She felt resistance.... a severe resistance to her healing powers... This lady couldn’t be cured... she didn’t want to be cured.. The evil was overpowering...! Dhatri had felt weak... disarmed...losing the battle.... the negativity filled the air... Dhaa suffocated... Sanyogita won...! Dhatri came out panting and fell in her mamma’s arms ... dejected... defeated...! Everyone had thought her to be shocked and they had called off the relation....! 

As Dhatri moved away from Sanyogita... she was all the more determined to marry Ravi...! Where everyone else had bought the story, Dhatri had seen Sanyogita through...! Her animal instinct warned her not to trust...! She should move away ... far away.. out of reach...! She decided to go back to college ....! 

“Dhatri...” Ravi glared at her.  She wouldn’t tell him anything... That so called mother was not worth discussing... ! Dhatri shook her head a bit and tried to smile at him.  

“You ok?” he asked and she smiled nodding.  His gaze locked on her ring finger... She hid her hand nervously.  The relationship was still on... she had not pulled it off...! He smiled happily.  No matter what, he would marry her...in jeans and T shirt or in wedding gown...! He waited eagerly for Indroneel.....

********  ********

“Mohtarmaa ko jald hi hosh aa jayega....” She heard the click of the door and waited for some time.  When she heard no movement, she opened her eyes... her shoulder pained but she swallowed her pain.  Looking around, she found herself in a makeshift hospital room....! She closed her eyes waiting for someone to enter...! 

When she was informed about the change in the plan she had to brace herself for the new responsibility...! She was shocked to know... She was made a part of the contingent... Crossing the borders of Afghanistan  into Pakistan....! Khoqyani through Kurram Valley  into Chapri forest And the disaster after the bomb blast at Parachinar, devastated them all...! The team dispersed and she was picked up by a local lady, in a badly injured condition...! “Lady?” Rini wondered...! She was brought into a big house and then moved to the small hospital, unconscious...! That's what the lady thought.  Rini waited with bated breath...! No one turned up.  She opened her eyes again and looked around... The open window gave her the sky view... She sat up eying on the door and looked through.  She could see “Lady Reading Hospital” Board .. 

“A what?” she wondered... “So they got me to Peshawar...” she concluded...! She slid back into the bed and groaned painfully.  Someone entered and touched her cheek.  She opened her eyes.

“Aap Thik Ho?” an elderly, kind looking lady asked her.  

“Where am I?” Rini asked groaning...

“We found you in the blast...! Wahe guru di kirpa...!” The lady prayed and Rini sat up at once... !

“Indian?” she asked shocked.

“Naa Naa.. Pakistani Punjabi...” the lady said in hushed voice.  Rini slumped back on the bed.  A young tall man walked in and took the lady out.  Dhatri looked at her off white burkha.. gown and sat up covering her face.  The man walked in.

“Mehrunnisa...” he whispered and she nodded.  He slid the documents and identity proof in her hand and moved out immediately.  She waited for the next move...! The small packet contained her identity card of the Peshawar University, her fake passport and a GPRS tracking device.  She smiled faintly.  Half of her work was done.  She needed to move down south towards Kohat and Lahore...!