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“Look.. I am going... to bless them...” Swarnima got up with a jerk holding Nilima’s hand, looking at Virender angrily.

“Swarni.... Please... I mean...How can we.... I mean ... Salil...” Virender started off weakly.  Swarnima snapped.... “You wait for his permission.... I am going !” She turned to Nilima.  Nilima hung her head.  She wanted to join Swarnima but was worried about Salil.  She wouldn’t leave him in distress... She was torn between her husband and her daughter...! She looked miserable.  The things were getting out of control.  Disha had complicated the issues.  Nilima knew Salil.... He would break down under these conflicting, mixed, tormenting feelings.   Ravi, no doubt was the only one for their daughter Dhatri... but the situation was so presented that any parents wouldn’t willingly go ahead with the alliance. 

“Nilima... please.... we are all here... our children are getting married... we must be there to bless them.... “ Kalindi too tried to convince Nilima....! Nilima just waited for her husband...! She wouldn’t leave him alone...  If he says no, it was a no for her too... No matter what she thinks...! She looked pleadingly at Kalindi.  Swarnima had left the hall followed by Virender...! Nilima waited with bated breath for her husband....!

.............  ..........

“Ravi... No...!” Dhatri held Ravi’s hand.  He turned to her... “Let me handle this, Dhaa...” he urged and Dhatri looked away.  “Same again... everyone wants to handle it their own way... no body is bothered about me...” she thought bitterly...! 

“Panditji... I want to get it over as early as possible... else the simplest way is... We declare ourselves husband and wife... and we have witnesses too...! Thats allowed, right?” he threatened.

“No.. Ravi!” Avadhesh interrupted and Ravi turned to him.

“Just the minimum... please let me talk to panditji...” Avadhesh urged and Dhatri smiled inwardly...!

“Ravi too is no different... Everyone is handling it for him... he doesn’t have any control... We don’t have any control... We are just puppets... These people will do what they want to...I must run away from this place...” she fidgeted for a moment and left Ravi’s hand, turned on her heels and took a step towards the Mandir Entrance...! Indroneel grabbed her hand...!

“Don’t you even think about it...! I know you well Dhaa...!” he threatened and she panicked more...! Her lower lip pouted and tears welled up her eyes... Indroneel pulled her closer in a hug....!

“Baba... Dhaa... don’t worry... Everything will be fine... I am here, your friends are here... Just have courage.. your Ravi is here... your prince charming...!” He flicked her nose fondly and she exploded...

“He is not my prince charming...” she retorted and he grinned...! “Yeah right... who is he then?” he asked gazing intently with a glint of mischief.  Dhatri looked away embarrassed...! She didn’t know who he was...! For her, he was the only person who would marry her and he was doing exactly the same.  She should wait patiently to get this over...! 

“Don’t worry, beta... I just told you about the traditional wedding ceremonies... We will do it with minimum rituals... “ The old pandit said calmly and Ravi looked at Dhatri.  He would agree only if Dhaa agreed.  She hesitated...!

“How much time?” she murmured a question only Ravi could hear.  “How much time?” he asked loudly and Pandit fell silent... He had a plan of starting the rituals hurriedly and slowly drive the couple into the tradition and rituals....! 

“Umm.... few hours...” he said tentatively.

“No way... Ravi pulled Dhatri into the sanctum... and picked up Sindoor in a pinch...!

“No wait...” the old pandit ran behind them...! 

“Ok.... Let the marriage happen in a few minutes and then promise me that you will not renounce the title...” he bowled googly...! Ravi again looked at Dhatri, confused.  She was out of this world, all set to run out of the Mandir....!

“Ok...!” said Ravi hopelessly and a broad smile appeared on everyone’s face.  The happend at a jet speed then.... Finally he filled her maan with sindoor and the pandit declared her marriage....!

“Dhaa... “ Nilima ran forward and Dhatri turned...

“Mamma....” she trembled holding Ravi’s hand.  Ravi came forward with Dhatri and touched her feet.  Nilima hugged them both crying her heart out.

“S...sorry...” Dhaa said holding her ears and she was pulled into a tight embrass by Salil, who had come running into the sanctum...! 

“Papa...” Dhatri hugged her papa.  He let out a loud breath and kissed her forehead...Ravi came forward..

“Sorry...” he apologized and Salil pulled him in a hug... “We are sorry beta... we are really really sorry... please...” he couldn’t stop his tears.  Ravi looked at them with moist eyes.  Everyone had tears... Salil and Nilima had missed the wedding by a few minutes and would repent for life...! Ravi missed his Dad....! He swallowed hard...

"Ravi..." Virender placed his hand on Ravi's shoulder and Swarnima fed him sweet.  The newly wed couple was blessed.  Dhatri missed her Rini and Free Vini.... !  Virender looked away hiding his tears...! Rini and Vinit would have handled this well... He thought, missing both of them badly.  No one knew where they were.  Virender only knew, that Vinit was discharged, had joined his duty and was on mission again....! That was the typical style of Vinit.  Let out minimum information and just disappear for months...! Rini too, it seemed, had picked up the same style... and vanished... God knew Where...! Both the families had learned to live with it...!

“Ravi...” Kalindi Pulled him.  He looked at her Blankly.... 

“Wait...” she held out the laptop... Ravi’s eyes flashed.  “Why didn’t I think of it before...?” he slapped himself, logging in....! 

“Ravi...Dhaa...!” Saya’s image flashed on the screen and salil dashed forward.

“Mr. Deo... Umm... Sayajirao... “ He said brightly but Sayajirao’s eyes were searching for his son and daughter in law.  Finally Ravi had a chance to squeeze himself into the frame and pulled Dhatri...! Looking at the screen full of faces of family and friends, Sayajirao gazed at them all to his heart’s content and let out a sigh.  “Congratulations.....!” he could speak.

“Dad...” Ravi was overwhelmed.  Saya shook his head.  “Love you, my son...” he couldn’t continue with his throat chocking....! 

“Dhatri.... Jaldi ghar Aa Jao, Beta...!” he said wiping his eyes.

“Son...Congratulations...!” Saya was pushed aside and Mrs. Russel took over, squeaking excitedly...!  Indroneel had a broad smile on his face....! Dhaa’s friends were huddled up in a corner gazing mesmerized at the family reunion...! 

“Poorva...!” Poorva turned with a start.  “Dhaa...?! What are you doing here?” they circled Dhatri.  Dhatri looked all lost...! 

“I don’t know...!” she said miserably and Poorva let out a sigh. 

“Dhaa... Everything will be alright...!” she said hugging her friend.  Dhatri still was all lost...! And then turning to Ragini... she dragged her aside...

“What is it, Dhaa?” Ragini whispered worriedly.  “Umm... hungry..!” Dhaa said and Ragini burst out in laughter.  Dhatri turned away embarrassed.  

“Ayyooo... Dhaa... look at you...!” Suresh had managed to stop Dhatri...! she looked at him surprised.

“You were the last one to talk about boyfriends and now you are the first one to get married to your boyfriend....” He teased her.  She gripped his wrist angrily... 

"He is not my boyfriend, ok!" she snapped.

"Ayyoo... look at her...!" He exclaimed... and turning to the elder crowd, called out loudly...

"Ravi... Mr. Ray... Hello... here... here" he waved his hands 

“Shut up...!” she spat and he turned to others...! Dhatri vanished and found some peace in the sanctum of Vyaghreshwari Devi...! There was no one around.  She sat there wrapping her arms around her knees... The day’s tension... the arguments... the rituals... the fights... everything came crashing on her.  She was getting beheaded under the pressure... People were talking, discussing animatedly outside in the sabha mantap and Dhatri fell fast asleep in that chaos..!

“Where is Dhatri?” someone asked after sometime.  Everyone looked at each other.  No one knew....Not even Ravi.....!

...........  .............

Rini was eager to go to the factory and got ready at the break of dawn...! Others were getting ready lazily.  She wiped her wounds... had bath... sipped Tea and took out the toy gun... ! “You are going to be the hero...!” she caressed the gun and hid it under her burka...!

All the workers waited for the transport vehicles to arrive.... instead, a huge truck pulled over and a tall man hopped out.  

“Vacate the camp....We are moving to another place..” he declared and a wave of murmur rose through the crowd.  Rini’s heart sank...! She badly wanted to go back to the factory to see the disaster she had caused...!  The glycerine and the potassium permanganate must have caused the right effect... slowly turning into thick white smoke and erupting into flames....! She badly craved to see her creative work... The factory must have caught fire...! She was disappointed.  The other workers were returning to their tents and grab their things and pack...! 

“Why are we not going to the factory?” she asked innocently to the Team-Lead.  

“They are shifting us to a new place... A construction site, I believe...” The lady said to Rini’s dismay.  Rini nodded and turned to grab her things...!