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“What? No...!” she clenched her fists.  “What is he doing here...?” She stomped throwing her glass...! 

“I won’t let this happen....!” hatred surged... her blue eyes darkened...! Dialing Disha’s number she waited for Disha to pick up the phone.

“Pick up the phone.... ...!” she frowned... and ... “Hello...” Disha’s voice echoed in her head. 

...........  ..........

“Dhaa....Don’t worry.... !” Indroneel kept patting on her back.  The things had slipped out of her control now.  Ravi had taken over, dialing a few numbers.

“Dhaa...” he stood before her.  She looked up with pale face.  Her brave mask was wearing off.  Afroz appeared next to her.  Poorva came over...!

“Poorva, .. Mamma papa...” Dhatri was losing her courage.  She badly wanted to go back to her mamma....! 

“What am I doing?” she sat on the chair ....

“Hey.. don’t worry... We will manage...” AFroz said solemnly putting her arm around Dhatri....!

“Poorva... They won’t agree....!” Dhatri was on the verge of breaking down.  Poorva was serious too.

“You mean your parents... I go and bring them....” Afroz declared placing her hand on her hip pocket.

“Shut up!” poorva snapped.  “Dhaa... You wait here... Ragini be with her...Afroz and Suresh you two come with me..!” Poorva took over.  Afroz got up obediently....!

They again had a round of discussion....! Indroneel approached and Dhatri got up...!

“Uncle...” she said wiping her sweat.  He smiled faintly.

“Dhaa... look... I know I am asking again, but.... Do you really want to do it this way?” he asked to dhaa’s dismay.

“I don’t know....” she missed her Rini didi.... “Rini Didi...” she hid her face in her palm... Indroneel felt her desperation....

“Baba... Dhaa...Don’t worry.... My child...” He couldn’t stop pulling her into a tight hug.  She sobbed with her dry, hurting throat.  Breaking away from her, he said...

“Dhaa... Ravi will take you with him.... I am going back to meet Salil... We will co-ordinate... Let us see...” He had no idea what was he into.  

“I can be with her...” Afroz’s overenthusiasm irked Indroneel...! He looked at her heafty figure and said sarcastically

“Yeah.. you be her bodyguard... just in case....” Afroz jumped at the opportunity...

“Yeah... I will make sure no one touches her.... Over my dead body.. man... “ she said raising her hand and in that tense situation, Dhaa’s face brightened up with her dimples...! 

“Look... Mr. .. I mean uncle... If you want protection... I can arrange... My GP is an arms dealer....” she said and Indroneel shook his head....! 

“I am fine... Don’t bother..” he dismissed her.  Afroz had a big duty now to protect her big sister...as if someone was going to attack her....! 

“Ok... done...!” Poorva came back with others.

“Dhaa... “ She tried to grab her attention but Dhaa was looking at Ravi.

“”Dhatri...We are going to Kanker... Rehman uncle is coming ... Dr. Ghosh is going back to Vidisha to talk to your parents...” Before he could finish, Dhatri got up in horror... 

“No.. Ravi...” but Ravi placed his hands on both her shoulders assuring her that he would take care of everything.  Indroneel merely nodded.

“Rehman uncle will be there with him...” Dhatri looked more confused.  

“Don’t bother... Dhaa... I will go and meet Salil...” Indroneel tried to clear her confusion.  “You go with your friends... Its a long journey... Take care...I will update you...” he said waving good bye, seeing Rehman entering the canteen. Dhatri waited with bated breath for her friends to gather their things along with hers...! Rehman took over ...! Dhatri gaped all lost.  And next thing she found out that she was in a SUV with Afroz on one side and Ravi on the other.  Ragini, poorva and Suresh at the back and Suleyman and the Driver in the front.

“Where are we going?” she asked swallowing hard after what seemed to be an hour or so.

“We are going to get married....” Ravi said leaning towards her and she shuddered. 

“Ravi...” she held his hand for support and Afroz pulled into her arms... 

“Don;t worry... big sister...No one can touch you...” She was super excited.

“Shut up...” Poorva snapped and Ravi pulled Dhatri closer.

“Dhatri... Don’t worry... I will make sure.... Your parents bless us...” he said in a bare whisper and Dhatri closed her eyes crumpling down under pressure...! She couldn’t take it anymore...! She curled up resting her head on his shoulder and he too closed his eyes.  

“So Sweet....” Afroz raised her eyebrows looking at them and winked at Poorva.  Poorva turned her face hiding her tears and Afroz sniffed noisily letting out her sob....! Dhatri woke up startled and moved away from Ravi...! 

“Ravi... only two stops... Betul and Dongarghar ...” Suleyman turned his head to look at Ravi and Ravi merely nodded.  

“Mamma-Papa... they will be devastated...What am I doing?” Dhatri shuddered.  Ravi was lost in his thoughts.  His father was away.... but he had no choice... If Dhatri wanted it...He must do it...!

“Poorva... I want to go back...! Mamma...” Dhatri suddenly got up in the moving car, banging her head on the upholstery...!

“Whoa... Dhaa...Careful...!” Ravi pressed her head.  She pushed him away...

“I messed up again... a big time..” she said turning back to poorva.

“Its ok. Dhaa...” Poorva tried to console her.  Dhatri shook her head completely dejected.  “What has she done? What was she doing? Why?” She had no answers.  She was shivering... tips of her fingers were frozen...! The icy cold feeling was ghostly...! She felt demented... She held on to Afroz....!

“Hey... switch off the AC” Afroz yelled feeling Dhatri’s cold ...! 

“Uncle...” Ravi called out in despair and Suleyman gestured the driver to pull over. 

**********  ******** ********

“What is all this?” She opened her eyes and looked around.  She was on the top of a huge garbage piled up...! When she looked around she found herself in a junkyard...! Soon her eyes were accustomed to the engulfing darkness.  She should move out of this before the nightfall.  Her compass dial gave her the direction and she moved towards north east....! The map was itched in her brain... The terrane was unknown... but she knew the distance and Direction...! She could see the dim lights at a far distance... She must reach...! 

Rini moved faster on that unknown soil focusing on the lights ahead..... ! She was a lost tourist.....!!  As she approached... to her dismay... it wasn’t a village, but an industrial establishment...! She stopped... ! 

********  **********

“But why was she sent?” Vinit looked straight into the eyes of the person, the Chief of MI.. Lt. General Singhroor..! He pulled out a paper from a file lying before him and gave it to Vinit...

“A what?” Vinit was shocked.

The interception report clearly said that there is a contingent of women militants ready to infiltrate anytime from across the border...! 

“Yes... And we needed to be sure... If its going to be in high winter... we must be prepared.. We need a first hand information.... And she was highly recommended ....” Lt. Gen. Singh gestured him to sit looking at his physical condition and pale face.  

“They have raised a full battalion... “ he added and Vinit dropped the paper on the table...!

“Backend support?” Vinit asked ... “Virtually none..!” Chief was serious.. Vinit had nothing to say... 

“Ok. Sir!” he stood up saluting...!

“You have a different mission, Maj. Vinit...!” Vinit waited for further orders...! Thoughts of Rini were immediately pushed back.... His motherland was his priority...! Chief narrated the situation and Vinit’s eyes flashed ...! 

“Only three with no support...!” Vinit turned to leave ... This time Vicky was a team...!

********  ******  *********

“Salil...” Indroneel held his hand.  Salil just looked up dejected.

“Hum Dushman nahi hain uske...! We are not enemies...!” he blurted and Indroneel gave a grave nod.

“Yes... But this is going to happen anyway... so why can’t you just keep aside everything and join us to bless them...” Indroneel had spent almost an hour in convincing Salil ... Nilima just wanted her daughter to be happy and safe...! But Salil couldn’t forget what Sanyogita had described.

How can he knowingly push her daughter into the pit of hell, marrying her in such a family? He was determined to stop this wedding...!

“But why were Indroneel with them? Salil had narrated what Sanyogita had told them... But Indroneel was unmoved saying... “I stayed with them ... during the worst time of my life... when Dhaa was hospitalized... Salil... I didn’t find anything wrong with the family... I can connect to him... I lost my wife when I was in my early thirties.... and I can very well identify a person who she described as pervert... Salil... if you trust me... you should come with me.... to bless our Dhaa and Ravi...” Indroneel had uttered these words umpteen number of times... Salil still had doubts... !

It was time for Swarnima and Virender to be the anchors...looking at indecisiveness of Salil and Nilima.

“I think he is right... We must be a part of...” His voice trailed as he saw Salil getting up with a jerk.

“Disha... I must call Disha...” He tried dialing the number.

“Are you crazy?” Indroneel snatched the phone.  Calling Disha was as good as calling Sanyogita to ruin everything...! 

“We must hurry up... Salil.. It will take us at least 12 hours to reach Kanker...!” Indroneel was losing his patience.  Rehman was waiting outside with the vehicle.  Swarnima took the lead.... beckoning Nilima inside to pack the minimum and asking Laxmibai and Dayal Kaka to be ready...!

“We must go there... Let us see ... Let us reach there... We will think what to do next.. once we see Dhatri..” she blurted and Indroneel nodded understandingly. 

“Kalindiji?” Nilima suddenly remembered.

“They are on their way... She left with Avadhesh...” Indroneel said in a hurry...!

In next half an hour... all of them were on their way to Kanker for the wedding of their youngest daughter Dhatri, in the absence of their pillars Rini and Vini...!