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Dhatri failed to understand why the elders were fussing so much on the crap the lady, who was not to be trusted, spat...! She just gaped at everyone’s face and then looked at Ravi.  “Why is he doing this? He is in pain... He should be stopped...” She tried getting up but Ravi raised his hand. 

“I want to get it over, Dhatri...!” She was immediately quietened.  

“Ravi... I can... I mean... we will talk...” Kalindi started off trying to release Ravi’s burden but Ravi was determined.

“No.. Maasi... It has to be me or Daddy... And It is me...!” he said since his daddy was not present.  Salil looked at them sceptically.  

“Ravindra Pratap ...please do not misunderstand us.... But...” Salil spoke gravely glancing at his wife.  

“She is our daughter.. and as father.. I feel its my duty to make sure she is safe and happy...” He looked at Dhatri’s blank face.

“My safety? I was the unwanted child... Nothing works well in my case...I have always put them in trouble... I am trying to save them from all the trouble... and these people... What do they want from me? “ she looked away.

“Please.. Dhaa... listen to me...! I am not your enemy.. I want you to be happy... and the things I heard from his mother, does not allow me to go ahead with this relation...!”  He looked at Ravi and Ravi looked down for a moment and then said gravely.

“I understand your concern... I request you to listen to me..” he looked at Kalindi who had hung her head feeling ashamed ...! 

“I am not justifying.... I just want to put forth the facts... without any emotional attachment... Then it is up to you to decide...” Ravi looked at Salil and he nodded...! 

It must have been a good decision to migrate permanently to US where single parenting was not a big issue.  I grew up with my other friends with single parents... The difference was, most of them stayed with their mothers and I did with my father...” He said. 

“I don’t remember asking him about my mother again when once he told me about their breakup.... I took it as normal... “ 

“I was around ten when I saw her first ... She had come with a man.  Mrs. Russel took me inside.  I heard raised voices and arguments... She was yelling at my Daddy and I couldn’t stop myself ... I ran out to help my devastated Dad. He spent sleepless nights after that.

“Dad...” he ran towards his daddy.  Saya turned and shocked to see Ravi behind him.  He picked him up and held him tightly to his heart.  

“Daddy... who is she?” Ravi asked.  Sayajirao gestured at her and said... “She is your mother, son...”

“Wow... Dad... you are getting married? With her...? When is the wedding? ” Ravi was surprised. remarriage was also normal for him..!

“No.. Son... umm.. I mean... Um... She is your biological mother...” he said still holding Ravi to his heart...!

“What is that?” Ravi was confused.

“That is.. I am your mother... and he is your father...” Sanyogita had moved ahead to touch him....

“No... I have only Daddu... not mother...” Ravi repelled instantaneously.... and she took a step back.

“What did you tell him, Saya? That I was a bad mother?” she yelled again...!

“Stop yelling...” Ravi ran aggressively towards her raising his hand.  Saya caught him from behind....

“Mrs. Russel... please take him to the park...” Saya requested and Ravi had to leave with Mrs. Russel...! 

Ravi swallowed hard....!

The next I saw her was when I was about sixteen.  By that time I had visited India alone, several times and had heard a few things about my mother.  I knew what a biological mother meant...! But Daddy never told me anything about her... “ He continued.  

"They again had some argument and she demanded money, ignoring me completely...! I stepped in and asked her to move out of the house...! 

“Dad.. You don’t have to give her anything... She has already squeezed you...!” Sayajirao looked up at his son, surprised.

“I know everything, Dad... I am not a kid now... I talked to Rehman Uncle...” Ravi said holding his hand and he slumped back on the chair dejected... Ravi sat with him without a word for a long time.  He had seen all the files and read all the papers... He knew, by now that Snayogita had already taken away everything Sayajirao had earned ...  ! Everytime a new aligation and Sayajiroa parted with a big chunk of money...! 

"She was always on the Money sucking drive...!"  He said looking at Kalindi and she looked down with guilt..!

“My great-grandfather did the damage control when my father lost my grand father... he succumbed to the mental pressure and agony when my mother filed a complaint against him of molestation and sexual harassment ...!” he said with dry throat.  Nilima felt her throat hurting.  Salil looked alarmed...! 

“My father again parted with his earnings to settle the matter...!” he again looked at Kalindi who nodded sighing...! 

My great-grand-father then ninety, bequeathed everything he inherited including the Maharaja Title to me... i.e. unborn child of Yuvraj Sayajirao Deo. She got a minimum maintenance”

“It was my father’s turn then, to face the wrath... when she came to know about the trust and his will......” 

There was an array of police complaints alleging physical and sexual torture...! Every time demanding more for out of Court settlement.  All the complaints and the outcomes are filed here...!” He looked at Rehman and he placed a file on the table.  No one had any intention to read the contents.  But Indroneel picked it up and giving it to Salil, said...

“I think you should read it.... Or may be he can give you a copy of this...” Salil gaped at Indroneel’s sarcasm...! “No..!” he pushed the file away....! 

“I feel so awkward to narrate... It gives me pain ... I had left everything behind... but when I heard about this poor girl.. I felt it was my duty to warn you people...!” Sanyogita had started, with tears gushing out ...! Salil had felt pathetic....! 

“.... When that torture was unbearable ... I had to take a decision to move out... They wanted only the child... And I was thrown out ruthlessly...” She had broken down, crying her heart out...!

“You can’t imagine... leaving a month old child, it stabled me million times... But I couldn’t do anything... They wouldn’t allow me even to see my child.... I was no body...! Just a surrogate mother...! I had seen him in bed with other women... but had no power to voice it...!” Sanyogita had said between her uncontrollable sobs...! 

Salil didn’t know whom to believe...! 

“I came here all the way to warn you.... Please don’t push your innocent daughter into that monstrous pit...! I... I don’t know... in what condition you will find her next...” she had urged joining her hands and Salil had decided to break the alliance..! 

His Dhaa had already been through hell since her childhool.  The slightest likelyhood of such things for his Dhaa had pulled him back.  He wouldn’t let this happen... Dhaa’s happiness was his only priority...! 

He shifted nervously...! Indroneel was looking at him intently.  He gestured Ravi to continue...! 

"The things were clear when I came across that article.. And I knew what to do.. But I had to make sure... join the dots... " Ravi said gravely and Dhatri looked up at him.... 

"He doesn't have to.... I don't care... what danger they are talking about... he is in pain... He doesn't have to.... I can't see him in pain..." Dhatri got up struggling and Ravi looked at her startled... 

"You don't have to do this... The answer is still yes..." she said stuttering, but Salil asked...

"Which article...?"   

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NOTE  : Whom would you believe if you were Salil  A father of a girl who went through hell throughout her life......?"