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“What the hell is this?” Rini couldn’t believe...! Nuclear Reactor? In vicinity of civilization?  She was flabbergasted... The Kohat nuclear reactor loomed out ...! “What are they planning? World destruction?” She gaped in shock...  They were on the periphery and she couldn’t view much...! The third nuclear Reactor was commissioned under the pretext of power generation.  “Sure, this government is catching up with us ...” she thought gravely.  China was the main player in providing the nuclear power plants to Pakistan which was a thing to worry...! 

Surprisingly the common people seemed to be oblivious to these developments.  They all wanted peace and prosperity... The overpowering Military had nothing to do with the welbing of common people...! Rini was surprised to receive the warm welcome by the localites wherever she moved.  Afterall she was a tourist .. Mehrunissa .. with US nationality....! 

..... ..... ....

“Bhen.. I am taking you to Waziristan tribal zone... “ Dilsher said and she nodded.  She would be on her own after that point.... The tribals .. the unskilled workers were transported to the reactor and were dropped in the night.. She was to be one of them...! 

“Rubb Rakha...” Dilsher blurted the blessing before hitting hard on her head.  The unconscious body of Mehrunissa was thrown in the valley with her baggage ...!

******** **********

“Poorva...!” Dhatri clutched her arm desperately and Poorva looked at her alarmed.  Dhatri got up restlessly and Poorva followed.

“Dhaa... are you ok?” she asked, once they were out of canteen and heading towards library, leaving behind all the friends.  

.................. 

“Dhaa... for god sake... don’t do this...!” Poorva had lost her words listening to Dhatri’s plans. 

“I have to...!” Dhatri said seriously.  Poorva gaped with dropped jaw at her friend.  Dhatri was not in this world at all.  She had made up her mind and had confided only with Poorva.  

“Why, Dhaa? Ask yourself... there must be some solid reason to turn down his proposal... “ Poorva said reasonably.

“It was my decision in the first place... no one has any right to turn it down...” Dhatri spat back.  She was upset with everyone around, involved ...! Her parents had conveyed the decision to Ravi and his father...! That lady had spoiled everything...! She clenched her fists having a bad taste in her mouth.  The lady was not to be trusted... Dhatri had her inner voice raising the red flag.  Her parents wouldn’t agree...! Her Rini Didi was out somewhere, unreachable, on the joint military war exercise... Vinit was still in rehab center... Elders were of no use... her friends.... She only banked on her friends...! 

“Dhaa...”Poorva opened her mouth and Dhatri raised her hand stopping her.

“Tell me! Are you with me?” she asked finally.  Poorva just nodded.  She needed time... Time to think over... Time to assimilate the things happening around.  Ravi was here.  He seemed to be falling for Dhaa’s decision.  But wedding without elders’ blessings... was beyond Poorva’s comprehension.  She too had faught with her family over her boyfriend and finally successed in convincing her family, setting right everything.  But Dhatri? 

Dhatri was never involved in any boy in the college or anywhere else.  Even Ravi.... Poorva had not sensed that craving in Dhatri’s eves for Ravi.  But yes she had felt softness in Dhatri’s eyes for Ravi.  But that couldn’t be the reason to take such a step.  Poorva knew, that Ravi had proposed... but she was not sure about Dhatri.  Wearing a rign was different and marrying him mindlessly was altogether different.  To make the situation worse, Rini was unreachable..! Vinit,  She didn’t know much about him.  The only person who had head over the shoulder, was she herself.  She should take control.  She looked at desperate Dhatri....!

“Dhaa... Tell me what happened...!” she asked sternly.  Dhatri swallowed hard.  “Nothing... They said, they called it off!” she said vaguely.  She wouldn’t tell anything about Ravi’s mother...!  Poorva shook her head.  “There must be some reason...! I will talk to uncle-aunty...!” she said taking out her phone.

“No... no use...! They have decided...” Dhatri snatched back the phone.  Poorva must talk to Ravi.

“Chal, Dhaa!” she had made up her mind.  She dragged Dhatri alone.  Friends needed to be summoned. 

................  ...........

Ravi’s phone buzzed.  Indroneel had reached Bhopal...! It took him two hours to reach.  Ravi got up hurriedly.  Suresh looked at him with growing worry.  “What’s wrong with him? He seems to be upset...!” Suresh didn’t know the turmoil, Ravi was going through.  

.......... ........

“Ok. I am happy, but I don’t understand.... Why did they cancelled and why is Dhaa so desperate...!” Indroneel was seriously thinking, while they both were traveling back to Dhatri’s college, in Ravi’s Rented car.  Ravi fell silent as well.  He wanted to marry Dhatri, for all good reasons, with the blessings of the elders, with the families uniting making it a big undivided family...... ! But if he were to choose.. between parents decision and Dhatri’s, he would choose Dhatri....!  

“Should I call Salil?” Indroneel thought over for a moment and decided otherwise.  He wouldn’t do anything unless he talked to Dhaa first....! “What made her so desperate? Going against parents was not Dhatri’s nature...!” He must find out.  The care entered the campus.

...........  ..........

“What....do we do now?” everyone in the group was thinking rising above the initial shock when Poorva narrated Dhatri’s condition and conveyed her decision.  

“This Rini didi... Where has she vanished? We need her badly...” Suresh got up in frustration...!

“Vinit... I must call him...!” He dialled Vinit’s number...”Switched off?” he sat on the chair with a thud.  

“Disha Didi? Should we call her?” Ragini blurted the option and Suresh pounced on her.  “Are you mad? You know Disha and Dhaa are always at loggerheads...!” Suresh slapped on her head.  Ragini kept quiet.  Poorva;s mind was at work....! She needed to know the reason for their NO... either from Dhatri or from them...! Dhatri didn’t tell... but her parents? Poorva’s fingers itched to dial Dhaa’s home.  She saw Ravi entering with Indroneel.  Dhaa got up with a jerk.

“Ooii Baba... dhaaa....!” Indroneel hugged her.  She looked at Ravi and he nodded.  ‘Yeah I told him...!” he said and they gathered around the table.  

“Hey.. whats cooking..?” Afroz was to break the serious discussion and Dhatri lost her temper...

“Dhansaak.... “  She spat back.  Afroz was not to be affected at all.

“Wow... Thats our recepie... Dhansaak... I just love it...! You mind me joining...?” she pulled the nearby chair grinning broadly, winking at Ravi.

“Just get lost... Afroz...!” Dhatri stood up raising her hand....

“Chill... Big sister...! I am your little sister, remember?” Afroz pulled Dhatri back.  And then looked at everyone’s grim faces.

“Is there a problem? Can I be of some help?” she asked seriously and they looked at each other, hopelessly.  Porva shook her head a bit and then said... “Just don’t open your big mouth, Ok!”  Afroz nodded accepting the condition and they continued.

“Dhaa... come with me...!” Indroneel needed to take her away to know the real reason.... Dhatri obeyed.  Ravi looked on dejected.  His head was all riot.  Why were they fussing over... he didn’t understand.  “She wants to get married... I am ready... whats the problem now?” he thought....!

...........  ......

“Dhaa...!” Dhatri understood the unasked question.

“Nothing uncle... They don’t want me to marry him..!” she said swallowing hard.  

“You want me to talk to Salil?” he asked.  “No use!” she replied.  

“Had it not been for that lady....!” Dhatri blurted fidgeting nervously.

“Lady? Lady, who?” asked Indroneel clasping her hand.

“That... she said she is his mother....!” Dhatri was vague.

“Whose mother, Dhaa?” Indroneel was losing his patience.

“Ravi’s...she said some things...” Dhatri continued incoherently.  Indroneel fell silent... The one who left the infant ....! Hopelessness creeped in....! No wonder they called off the wedding....! Indroneel pressed his hand on his chest.  Poor Dhaa... going through ordeal again... this time little stronger about her stance.  He would help her... come what may...! He would ensure her happiness.  If she was happy with Ravi... be it! He will help them both...! 

“Ok...! Come...!” he held her hand.   They came back and Ravi rose from his seat.

“Ravi...” Indroneel said gravely...! “Your mother visited...” he said and Ravi looked aghast.  Dhatri looked away.  She didn’t want him to know... didn’t want to put him in pain...! 

“You heard her?” he asked and just nodded.

“Still want to marry me?” he asked.  She again nodded.

“Ok. Dhatri... I am ready... I will marry you right now...right here...!” he held her hand and all the arguments died out.  Now he was determined to marry her with or without the permission and blessings of the elders....! 

“Really? Wow..! Just Wow, big sister...!” Afroz got up thrilled.  “Shut up...!” Poorva brought down her excitement.  Ravi was dialing .....

“Uncle... I want to meet you....!” He had a strange authority in his voice....! The snowball had picked up momentum....!!