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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....!