153

Impatient Afroz hopped out of the car and came...

"Whats the problem?" she asked and Dhatri looked at her with hope.  Suleyman explained.  Afroz gaped not understanding what the problem was.  Ravi looked frustrated. 

"Dhaa.. you go with them... I will manage.." Finally he said and Suleyman objected to that too...
"Dulha Dulhain saath hi jayengey..." he put his foot down.

"Listen... her exam is more important. " Ravi aruged reasonably.  Suleyman shook his head cluckling.  Everyoe had gathered around.  Time was ticking....! Ravi grew restless... Dhaa was helpless.  Afroz fail to understand the deadlock.  She turned to Dhatri. 

"Big sis... you want to come with us?" she asked holding Dhatri's hand and Dhaa glanced at Ravi.  Ravi was still arguing with the elders ... 

"Hey.. wait .. everybody..." Afroz's voice boomed.  Everyone looked at her.

"Let the couple come with us, in than car... I can drive... no problem.. I will take them to Bhopal safely..." She assured. 

"Ladaki ko chalanay nahi denge..." Suleyman had another point.

"What?" Afroz came on agressively. 

"Whats on your mind...?" Ravi understood that these elders had something else.

"Baaraat nikalegi...." Finally Suleyman came to the point.

"What? No!" Ravi retorted.

"Bidai hogi..!" Pandit ji added concurring with Suleyman and nodding happily.

"No way..." Ravi moved away and Dhatri followed.

"Afroz.. you drive... " Ravi took control and Dhatri ran towards the first car.

"Come on.. out! I am driving.." Afroz opened the door and Rahman was shocked.

"No way...!" he protested.  Dhatri had squeezed in herself ignoring the protests and resistance. 
"No... Allah... I can arrange a bigger vehicle.. you all can be accommodated..." he finally let out. 
"After the Bidaai..." he said looking at Suleyman's furious face.  Friends were growing desperate.
"Yeah ok.. make it fast...ok?" Suresh finally gave in and Dhatri protested.  Looking at Ravi she held his hand and Ravi made up his mind.

"Chalo Dhatri..." he said holding her hand and moving towards the car.  Afroz had already ignited the engine.  Rahman had got down... Suresh hopped into front seat... Poorva and Ragini at the back and Ravi opened the door for Dhatri.

"Dhaa..." She heard Salil tapping the window ...

"Papa.. noooo... " Dhatri turned her face.

"Let us Dhatri... just let me walk with you for a few steps... with my dearest daughter... with my..." He stopped wiping his tears.  Dhatri ran into his arms and merged in his embrace.  Swarnima was clutching Nilima's shoulder who was crying uncontrollably. 

Dhatri couldn't stop her tears... Afroz cried out  sniffing loudly shocking everyone.  She gave a suffocating bear hug to Dhatri crying her heart out.

"Shut up, afroz..." Dhatri tried to break free.  Aroz pulled her into embrace tightly. 

"Ok..ok... Dhaa... Baba... come on... " Indroneel was again the peacemaker.  He pushed her gently inside the car.  Afroz hopped in again. They all pushed her car and her journey back to college began with her friends and her HUSBAND...!

******  *********  ********

"Vande Mataram...." someone murmured in her ears and she froze.  Coming back to her senses, Rini ignored completely.  She knew and was taught not to give in for such silly decoys...! She finished her morning prayers and was ready for her first traiing.  A huge map of India was displayed on the screen.  The geological, topographical, demographical information about every part/state of India kept flashing as the map changed from one terrain to another of Interiors of India.  First week was dedicated to knowing the enemy...!

The person had detailed knowledge of every part he was discussing.  The composition of population, the vulnerability, the resistance level, the hostile atmosphere of the western part of India comprising of western Ghats and the adjoining states.  Rini knew the terrain by heart but pretended to be unaware of it.  She had never visited India according to the information she had filled in.  She didn't know to read and write.  Every leaflet was full of pictures and the emphasis was on physical training and brain games.  Rini followed the instructions religiously trying hard to make minimum mistakes. 

The training was kicked off with unarmed fighting.   Rini bled in the nose taking the punches straight on the nose pretending to be weak...! She was shifted to another group where women were trained in simpler exercises.  Rini did well there so was kept in the group. 

*********  *******

"You just can't have more than this..." Khan saab said gravely with his dose of opium.  Vinit looked away disappointed.  The nomads were moving through the valley with the cattle, yaks, sheeps, camels and people.  There were around thirty five in the group of nomads with a dozen of enthusiast tourists who were accompanying them shelling out quite a sum of money for drugs and liquor.  Vinit was one among them, in pain, limping with deep pockets, shelling out money more than anyone else.  He was given special treatment with a camel to ride and his baggage was carried on another yak.  He was given special hukka and special dose of afeem...! This rich tourist was enjoying the trek on camel back and talking to the troop. 

The troop traveled between china border of Pamir river and Afghanistan, Tajikistan, pakistan for trade.  With this they carried drugs to china and brought sofisticated light weight automatic weapons and EADs (Electronically activated devices) activators and detonators...! They had a safe pass through the no mans' land with virtually no check posts barring a couple of security check posts on peaks and valleys in Hindukush mountain ranges.  The kyrgyzs were addicts themselves and were into drug trafficking and arms dealings.  The tourists were just an extra income for them.  They were crazy about the electronic gagetts and mobile phones.  Though there was on network or range from any service provider, every kyrgyz yough kept a mobile phone basically to listen to music and to show off.  Vinit favoured them by downloading Bollywood songs on their mobile phones with hot videos and music.  He carried a huge collection of Hindi and English movies on his external hard drive which he carried with his light weight laptop.  He was the most favored tourist of the troup receiving special attention....!

Both, Vinit and Rini were progressing on their respective missions not knowing what the other person is doing.  But the officer who controlled them in India knew exactly  what these two were doing ....! They both were going through the peak of their Army hardships and their career....!

152

“Last Ritual....” The old pandit declared and both Ravi and Dhatri turned to run away from Sabha Mantap...! 

“No wait...” The pandit tried to call them back.

“No way...” Ravi yelled turning back his head to check whether anyone was following them.  Dhatri was far ahead of him in running out of the temple complex.  She didn’t bother to look back.

“What?” She stopped abruptly causing Ravi to bump on her.

“What?” He asked her looking back to recheck.  No one was following them, but everyone had gathered at the entrance of the Mandir.  

“Gates closed...” she said looking around to find out another way....! 

“I can jump over...” she looked up at eight feet compound wall.  “No..!” he shook his head.  The pandit was approaching...! 

“No... not a single ritual now... Its over.. we are married...” Ravi yelled threatening and Dhatri hit her back on the wall.  

“Food... You should eat Prashad...” pandit said grinning and Dhatri took a sigh.  “Finally...” she had not had anything in last 24 hours expect that Panchaamrit... That too it had not satisfied her hunger, instead, had worked as appetizer.  But she wouldn’t take the risk.  She shook her head.

“No.. we will eat something outside...” Ravi understood her fear.  “What if they start with asking them to cook food for everyone, as a part of ritual?" They were asked to make prashad in the afternoon and everyone else except this newly wed, had the privilege to have it smacking their lips” He wouldn’t let that happen.  He tried to open the huge cast iron gate of the Mandir.  Pandit had reached ...

“No use... Father has the key...” he said grinning and Dhatri tried climbing over the gate..! 

“No use...” Pandit again challenged looking at Dhatri’s lehenga and Chunari and Jaymala ...! But he didn’t know.  He gaped in disbelief.  Dhatri had climbed over the gate with agility using the force of her hands and not bothering about the girth of her lehenga.  

“No stop...!” Pandit yelled.  “Please... its only simple food.  Its already ready and served... Please.. come and have prashad..” he pleaded.  Ravi looked up at Dhatri and suddenly burst out in laughter ....

“What?” Dhatri jumped in front of him angrily.

“Rhesus macaque...” He teased her.  “Shut up...Langur...!” she retorted.  The pandit gaped with dropped jaw.  She had climbed the huge, precarious, gate and had jumped off from more than ten feet with the same agility...! Indroneel came hurriedly.

“Chalo Dhaa... Food is served...” he dragged reluctant Dhatri inside.  Dhatri’s hungry tummy was dragging her forward and her defiant mind was pulling her back resulting in rooting her to the ground.

“Chalo...” Ravi pushed her a bit from back and she moved into the Mandir again.  The engulfing nightfall and the aroma of the food gave goosebumps...! she sat down in front of the plate.

“No... no.. come here... you need to sit here... “ a decorated place with two chairs and a table was arranged...”

“What does it matter? Food is same everywhere...” she muttered angrily.

“Ayyooo...!” She heard Suresh exclaimed in panic....

“What?” she approached forgetting about the other waiting people.

He was talking over the phone with shocked face fidgeting nervously.

“What?” Poorva asked thrmping her hands on her hips...

“Poorva... We have our project exams tomorrow...” he said in a ghostly voice and Poorva lost her balance.

“Oh God..! I completely forgot..! OhGod.. what are we going to do?” she was panic too.

“We haven’t reported and set up the lab.  There was a call from the lab assistant.  We have it at 8:00 in the morning it seems...~ ! he said looking at others.

“What are we going to do? It takes almost twelve hours to travel... Even if we leave now we will reach in the nick of the time...Its already 8:30 here...!” Poorva calculated.  

“We should move...!” Suresh went to talk to Ravi...

“Shit.. I forgot...!” Ravi made a frantic call to his partner who was to evaluate the team and the project.  Suresh and team ran towards the palace to grab their things.  Rahman offered them vehicle.  They didn’t know what to do with Dhatri.  She sure was going to miss the exam.

“Dhatri... I think you should give the exam..!” Ravi said seriously.

“What? Why?” the thought of exam made Dhatri shiver to the core.  What if she missed the exam?

“Yes Dhatri... Its only a project Demo...!” Dr, Salil said and Dhatri turned her face.  

“Marriage rituals were better than that stupid project demo...!” she muttered turning her back and moving out of Mandir.

“Wait... have food and go.  I will arrange the vehicle...” Avadhesh said stopping her in the middle.  She turned again, losing her appetite.  Afroz came over.

“I go and collect your things.. you have food and be ready...” she said glancing at Dhatri’s wedding attire.  Dhatri nodded.  She hurriedly gulped down some morsels and got up. 

"Need to change..!" she whispered in Nilima's ears and Nilima nodded gesturing at a suitcase.  Dhatri dashed to pick up her dress.

“Let us go...” Ravi said.  The vehicles were waiting... Dhatri opened the backseat door and Ragini pushed her out.

“Take the other vehicle..” she said giggling.

“Why?” Dhatri asked shocked looking at all her gang crammed in the vehicle.

“There is no space here...” Poorva said rolling her eyes.

“I can manage.....” Dhatri tried squeezing in.  Ragini pushed her out again.

“Come with him... your husband...” Dhatri gaped at the closed door in shock.

“Husband? Ravi is my husband?” It had never occurred to her.  She turned aghast. 

“I should travel with him... I can’t be with my friends..!” The realization brought tears in her eyes....! 

Another vehicle was waiting.  She grew panic.  "Do I have to travel alone with Ravi?" She looked up to see Suleyman opening the door of the vehicle.  Ravi glanced at Dhatri's face.

"Wait... " he said authoritatively.  
"You may have to revise and discuss for the exam..." he said to Dhaa's relief.  She nodded furiously.  

"Ok...! You go with them..." he said little disappointed and turning to talk to Suleyman.   Dhatri hesitated.

"And you?" she asked.  He gave her a hard look.  "I will come in another car...!" he said calmly.  She lingered.
"Go Dhatri...!" he said.  She shook her head a bit and suddenly said brightly...
"You drive.." he looked at her mulling over the solution.  She grinned.  Driver could be eliminated and Ravi could be accommodated. 

"No way..." Suleyman said loudly.  "Dulhay ko Gadi Nahi Chalanay Dengay...!" he said firmly.  There was a deadlock again.  Dhatri's gang was impatient.  They were all waving at her...!

151

“I mean, look at you...! A limping jack...!” Cho-den measured Vinit from top to bottom and Vinit gave him a smug smile.

“Exactly...! A limping Jack...! Gathering sympathy..!” he said winking.

“Oh! Just shut up..!” Dho-den was in no mood for any kind of humor.  But then Vinit too was in no mood.  

“Look.. I can make it through Badakhshan Autonomous Province...!” Choden shook his head hopelessly.  Vinit understood his concern.

“I have a diplomatic cause .... I need to meet the President Rahmon of Tajikistan...!” Vinit curled up his lip looking at Cho’s face.  “You are impossible...!” Vinit gave a laugh...and said in a serious tone...! 

“Don’t worry, I will be fine...! Ta Do-ran-sha, Time to move...!” he collected the papers and arranged them in the file neatly and handing it over to Cho-den said..! “Kha-leh Phe, Goodbye...!” Cho-den bowed  “Kha-leh shu!” Vinit gave him a light hug. 

“I owe you a favour...” Vinit said shaking hands.  Cho-den nodded brightly.  “I keep a balance sheet of our favors to each other...!” he said smiling. 

 Time to move indeed....! The route was already fixed in his mind.  He would leave Doilungdeqen, Lhasa, Tibet, enter Bhutan, through Nepal, meeting his friend there and then fly to Tajikistan to meet President Emomalii Rahmon on official duty.  Crossing Afghan border was not an issue.  The Wakhjir pass was closed permanently for regular traffic.  The china border was sealed.  There was virtually no road, the terrain was extremely rugged at almost 14000 feet high in Hindukush mountain ranges...! 

“I am an enthusiast tourist after all...! traveling with Kyrgyzs, the nomads...” he said smiling to himself.  He would stay with the nomadic tribes....! 

********  ******** *********

The tightly enclosed vehicle moved on the rough terrain.  Rini tried to peep out for some direction.  The guard would bang his stick on the enclosure to silence the murmur.    Rini was biding for time.  She didn’t know where they were taking the group.  Suddenly the vehicle stopped and the shutter creaked open.  Rini was blinded with the bright torch light.  “Night time?” she tried to calculate the travel time.... ! 

“Security check...” Rini had a know in her stomach.  She waited for her turn.  She was asked to get down.  She tried to jump faking fright.  A man lifted her.  Others laughed.  She pulled her burkha...! The man took her aside under the pretext of security check trying to touch her private parts.  She remained frozen feeling disgusted.  

“Ok!” she was cleared.  The man again lifted her to keep her in the vehicle... The transportation got clearance.  Everyone took a sigh of relief.  They moved.  

“Where are they taking us?” she asked in a whisper.  “Lahore... and then to the training camp...” someone answered and Rini’s eyes flashed.  She had a chance...! She sat there in the crowd.  Someone nudged her.  She turned to see no one. The vehicle stopped and the murmur grew.  The driver got down and the women at the back tried to peep out.

“Look... Our factory... completely burnt down...Destroyed...” someone said and Rini elbowed her way to the hole.  The factory was brought to ground with loud explosions of chemicals and short circuits did the rest of the things.  Rini pulled the burkha over her head smiling ear to ear....! One down... how many to go? She didn’t know but she was ready....! 

..............  ......

The rituals were never ending.  Dhatri was starving.  Ravi tried to talk to the Pandit.  He refused ...  “You cannot... !” he said sternly.  Ravi repented.  Why did they come here in this ancient family temple? “Destiny...” The old pandit had read Ravi’s mind.  

“Chalo chalo... “ Suddenly the bustle erupted.  Ravi looked on.  Someone pulled up Dhatri who was sitting at the corner, exhausted, tired, hungry...! 

“What? Why?” Ravi could ask.  “Hull Jotana hain...! It starts with ploughing. ... “ Avadhesh pulled Ravi.  He looked at Dhatri helplessly.  She went with the crowd.  

“Carry the plough on your shoulder...Let her sow the seeds...” the old pandit ordered and Ravi gaped at the huge plough.  They moved at the back of the temple.  Ravi gaped at the huge expanse of the plane land.  “Its only symbolic...” The old pandit chuckled looking at Ravi’s ghostly face.  Dhatri somehow had regained her energy and was all enthusiastic about ploughing and sowing...!

“You need to experiment and experience every trade, the people do...” The ceremony went on for hours.  They had to do carpentry, smithy, even had to carry the excreta on their heads...! The Old Pandit kept repeating that it was only symbolic but made them toil like hell ...! Finally they both were asked to take bath in the nearby lake.  By the way, they were asked to do fishing too...! The evening, setting son was mocking at them. Ravi wiped his sweat and Dhatri sat on the floor after her cold water bath.  The wife of Pandit gestured to Kranti and Dhatri was given new fitting wedding lehenga to wear....! 

“Final... Jaymala..” Pandit declared and Ravi and Dhatri exploded.

“Jaymala is over .... in the morning..” They both yelled and the crowd erupted in laughter. 

“Not in the sanctum... Devi Maa will bless the couple...” Old pandit moved into the sanctum... arranging the flowers...! Pin drop silence prevailed.  Most of them didn’t know what was going on.  The couple was made to sit before the idol.  Everyone waited eagerly.  The sanctum filled with the booming sound of the old Pandit chanting mantras.  Dhatri and Ravi’s body blossomed with goosebumps.  They looked at each other and then at the fierce looking idol.  Everyone waiting outside the sanctum with eyes fixed on the idol.  The chanting never stopped.  Almost an hour passed and the flower from the right hand of the idol fell down.... The crowd erupted happily. 

“Boy...! Definitely a boy...!” they all fought to enter into the sanctum.  Ravi gave a blank stare at the Old pandit.  He grinned.  Devi maa has given a go ahead ... you will be blessed with a baby boy soon... he said among the clapping. Ravi’s ears grew red.  He stole a glance at Dhatri.. She was gaping with dropped jaw, like an idiot, stunned, shocked.  

"Jaymala peheno... "Garlands were given.  They garlanded each other mechanically

“Ok..Ok...Humm... have this...” The Pandit brought two glasses of Panchaamrut... made up of Milk, Honey, Sugar, Curd, and ghee...! They both gulped it in no time.

“Finished...?” Dhatri suddenly found her voice booming.  Everyone looked at her.  The old pandit nodded. She got up with a jerk... Ravi ensued.  

“Now you can have food...!” Indroneel said raising his voice and Dhatri turned furiously towards him.  Indroneel ducked and Salil shielded him.

“Dhaa... you must be hungry..” he said chuckling and Dhatri exploded...

“No.  Not at all... I am filled to the full belly... I am burping with satisfaction...” she snapped and burped loudly.

“See? I told you.. she has a good sense of humor..” Salil turned to the crowd and Nilima wiped her eyes happily.  Her daughter was entering a new life with all these people blessing the couple.  

150

Dhatri opened her eyes with a start.  The chaos outside was getting louder.  She looked around ... The wail too was getting louder.... Someone was calling out for help... She jumped to her feet taking a look around.... The groan and the painful growl had intensified... She turned and came out of the sanctum...!

“Where are you?” she looked around at the gala gathering... the pain, the cry for help was muffled in that noise... she walked past everyone like a sleep walker...

“Hey.. big sis... where are you going?” Afroz ran behind her but Dhatri was out of earshot...!

“I must reach there... before he catches up....!” Dhatri’s insides stirred painfully, her body temperature shooting up...! She had seen him lurking... anytime he would strike and snatch away the breath... "No..!" she broke into a sprint lifting her over sized wedding lehenga.  A huge orange ball was rising from behind the mountains...! 

“Where is she going?” Afroz had no time to think... she ran after her big sister...!

“Hey... Where are you?” Dhatri had vanished in thin air...!  Afroz, thinking quick turned back and ...

“Hey... Big sister...” She huffed ... “What?” Poorva asked suspiciously.  Afroz just waved at the direction.  

“Where is she?” Poorva asked again... “Went that way....” Afroz said and the cluster moved out or the Mandir in the direction where Dhatri had vanished....!

“Oh... Mari mai... Mari mai....” Dhatri knelt down touching the abscess... The pains grew... the swollen udder, swell to the limit.... Dhatri’s hands moved over the floundering body.... The udder burst out, oozing dirt and blood.... Dhatri’s hands moved on the belly... 

“Come... come out....” her hands moved faster pushing the belly downwards.... The cow mooed an unbearable pain... Dhatri had gone beyond hearing....! Her hands moved faster... the bleeding of the udder had stopped... the fluids gushed out, with reddish tinge... The cow gave the last push with a loud wail.... and the calf dropped on the ground in a heap....

“What...? Hey Mayya....” The man with a bucket of hot water came rushing in...!  Dhatri had passed out... the calf was floundering... the cow was licking Dhatri’s face... The man darted to take care of the calf... He removed the afterbirth, the placenta and fetal membranes from the calf... and within no time the calf was on its legs jumping uncontrollably... The cow still in pain and bleeding, was trying to reach up to unconscious Dhatri.  The man dashed to her help.  He sprinkled water on Dhatri’s face...!

“Who are you...?” He kept looking at her like he was seeing some goddess in the Red wedding lehenga...! Dhatri refused to look at him patting gently the cow and the calf...! He once looked at the, now normal looking udder of the cow with a deep wound mark...! 

“How did you do it? She was struggling for days... We had given up hopes... The calf was drying inside with the fluids gushing out and the septic on her udder... ! “ Dhatri tried to get up...

“No wait... who are you?” he asked getting up.  Dhatri tried to avoid him...

“I should go...” she finally uttered ... The cow mooed loudly... She fondly gripped her horns and kissed her nose...! The calf jumped trying to synchronize its hind and front legs and losing its balance and slipping on the floor, nose down...! Dhatri giggled and lifted the calf ... The man smiled happily.  

“Who are you?” He asked her again... She shook her head and moved out of the byre. 

“Wait... please...” the man tied the calf hurriedly and ran behind her pleading... but she was not to be stopped... she was already feeling dizzy and uneasy...!

 ......  ..

“Big sis...?” Afroz yelled from the other side of the pathway and the man stopped.  Dhatri went ahead and her gang joined soon asking her numerous questions.  The man followed from a distance...!

“What did you do to her...” Afroz had gripped his throat and had lifted his lean body.  He chocked.

“Drop him..” Suresh yelled and Afroz let go of him....

“She saved my cow... and the calf...” he said stuttering and joining his hands kneeling down on the ground.  Suresh glanced at Dhatri’s condition and Poorva took over.

“Chal.. Dhaa...!” she and Afroz supported Dhatri.  

“Wait... please... “The man ran behind them.  “Please ... have some milk atleast... My house ...” He gestured at a small hut...! 

“No thank you..!” Poorva raised her hand.  She must take Dhatri back, before anyone noticed Dhaa’s disappearance.  Dhatri was in no condition to talk.  She just walked with her friends...!

“Don’t tell this to anyone, ok!” Dhatri said and everyone nodded.

“How did you know, the cow was sick?” Suresh asked the pertinent question and Dhatri shook her head hopelessly...!

“I don’t know.. I felt the pull....Someone needed help...” she said and suresh’s face turned ghostly...! 

“She can sense Animal illness too?” he thought gravely.  She had never mentioned that... and looking at the distance between the temple and the byre... he was astonished...! 

“She can tele-sense!!” his mouth went dry.  He had seen Dhatri curing Swarnima, and Vinit ... but that was when she was in vicinity... This time, she had sensed the illness of an animal...!

“Oh God...!” He prayed hard....! “Save her..give her strength..!” he looked at his friends and realized Poorva had the same thoughts...! 

“If she can sense the illness from such a distance, how can one keep her away from illness?” He thought gravely, resolving to give the hint to Ravi.

“Dhatri...! Where were you?” Ravi was out of the Temple and was searching ....!

“What happened ?” he asked and looking at Dhatri’s pale face, her swollen fingers, her sweating forehead, he understood.

“You ok?” he asked her concerned.  She just nodded and then holding his hand said..

“That cow was in pain....” he looked surprised.  “Cow?” he knew she healed humans... but animals? This was the first time ...!

“That was the first time, even for her....!” she had not sensed animal pains before..! A plethora of possibilities had opened up....! Her pains and suffering would increase...! Ravi had a knot in his stomach.  He gripped her arm...

“Dhaa...” he swallowed hard.  She just looked up at him blankly.  He felt the burden on his shoulders... He must protect her all the more... keep her away from the malady...!

“I am fine... “ she murmured breaking away from him.  The poor man had followed them to the temple and as she entered the temple, he ran towards his hut... crying and slapping himself....!  For him, goddess Vyaghreshwari herself had appeared in the byre to save his cattle...! And he had sent her empty handed without any offerings....! 

...............  ......

They all had gathered in two groups... men and women...! It was time for the namaz...prayer and a Moulavi appeared from a vehicle.  

“Sermon time...” Rini thought gravely.  “Anytime the hate speech would start and she had to nod against her wishes to the venom spat against her motherland...! Rini clenched her fists touching the ground  with her forehead....! The nagging speech lasted for an hour finally appealing the crowd to lift the weapons against the enemies and a challenge was thrown to join the group to be trained in combat and infiltration ....! This time Rini was ready.  She raised her hand too with quite a few other women.  

“No...!” the team lead tried to pull her hand down.  Rini ignored.  She was enrolled in a different list soon and the team-lead dropped her shoulders hopelessly.  

“What have you done...! Are you going to fight against them? They were once a part of us.. We were a part of them...!.” the team lead said gravely and Rini looked up surprised.

“What the politicians, the government and the military had done to these people...!” she wondered gravely.  “The brethren still exist...” She remembered Vinit saying when a Paki had helped them in the rescue operation for Dhaa. 

“ These authorities have nothing to do with people... They just want to keep the issues burning for their ulterior motives, for power, for control...! “ Rini thought gravely.  She had never sensed hatred towards India, among people of Pakistan but the clergy men, and the officials were doing their best to brainwash them against India.  Rini’s heart sank with the possibilities.  But she had to take it up.  This was her last chance to get into the league  of militants...! A all new women battalion was coming up...! She was enrolled...! 

“You know what? The factory was burnt down, yesterday night, it seems...!” the Team-lead whispered and Rini looked shocked and surprised.  

“What?” she exclaimed and the Team lead pressed her hand on Rini’s mouth.  

“That animal... that supervisor was burnt alive... They found a few bodies under the debris, it seems...!” she said loathing.  Rini turned her face smiling inwardly.

“Humm... “ she sighed.  

“See if you can withdraw your name and come with us on construction site...” Team lead urged.  Rini shook her head... then apologizing to her motherland inwardly, she started off her hate speech...

“I want to free Kashmir... our Kashmir.. now under their control... I want to help my people in Kashmir, oppressed under their regime...” Every time feeling stabbed with every word against her motherland, India...!

“Shuu... stop it..!” the team lead tried to stop her.  But Rini was pulled apart and was placed in another group.  She was to be transported elsewhere for training under the watchful eye of militant groups...!

................  ....

“See these....” a bunch of photos were thrown on the table.  Vinit looked up.  CHO-den was furious.  “Can’t you see? This ... Wakhan corridor... the so called nature refuge...? they are transporting unnoticed...! Do you know the magnitude of road construction taking place there?” Cho was out in rage.  Vinit gaped at the photographs for the first time realizing the grave danger caused by keeping the corridor unfenced.  Faith and reliance on Afghanistan would create problems if measures were not taken.  He collected the photographs...!

“I want the transport record... not these beautiful landscapes...” he said looking at Cho-deng. 

“You will get them too...!” he said grimacing...! Vinit had a faint smile on his face. 

“Time for lunch... “ he said getting up and thumping on Cho-deng’s shoulder, sending him off balance....! 

“I am helping you, only because we are friends...” Cho muttered and Vinit wrapped the arm around his shoulder...!

“We should visit... Wakhan Corridor, these days...!” he said winking.

“Are you crazy?” Chodeng broke apart shocked.  But Vinit was serious, planning ahead to rope in some of his other resources...! 

“The MI comes in handy in this...” he said smiling and Chodeng dashed into the lunch room.