161

“Five minutes debriefing... five minutes planning...” The commander took out the map and weaponry...! They all nodded gathering in the middle of the river...! 

“Fifty minutes to take positions...” Vinit blurted and the others gave a nod.  

“No casualty so far... all sixteen on their respective positions... Four are in Karachi.... You will join them in two days... Third Day.. Operation Macchali..!” Commander handed over a batton and

“Yes Sir..” Rini saluted getting ready to jump out.  

“Careful..!” Someone held her shoulder and she turned with the familiar touch...!

The girlish hand gripped her arm.

“You..?” Rini tried to focus..1

Vinit saluted and Rini gaped with dropped jaw.

“Col.  Avasthi... MI.” The girlish voice said sweetly.

“What?” Rini was horror struck.  Col Awasthi... Ati Vishish Seva Medal, Posthumous, 2005.. was standing before her in that tiny dingi, issuing instructions and others were taking her orders...!

“Stop worrying.. Do as I say..!” Col awasthi ordered and Rini came back from the ghostly world.

“She didn’t die? Then who died in her place?” she was shocked.  Col Awasthi’s battered and mutilated body was found during the clean up after the encounter with the terrorists..! She had killed seven of them single handedly and had laid down her body for the nation...! And now she was standing there in thick of the events, planning and executing... Being with Rini like a shadow, keeping a vigilant eye on her... reporting, planning, changing the route.. leading the team...being an insider...! Rini’s eyes filled with pride...! Col Awasthi’s small figure loomed tall over the horizon, engulfing Rini completely, her role model..! 

“Vicky...?!! “ Rinit said ghostly...! Vinit looked at her shocked...!

 “Yes.. Vicky.. he is with those fishermen...” Rinit stepped out of that dingi into the waters..!

“No.. wait..!” Col Awasthi held her hand..! .

“Mission not accomplished, yet..!” Awasthi handed over the gun and Rini turned her back on them and walked away through the thinly flowing river water.  Vinit looked at the vanishing figure and sighed...! He too had his mission incomplete... He needed to find out the other camps... !! 

Rini walked out of the River and stood on the bank for a brief while thinking hard...!

“Rini...!” Vinit stood next to her.  She was shocked to see him...!

“Why are you here?” she hissed..! A shrill whistle echoed ....! He made some weird whistling sounds .... A silhuiet of camel appeared on the horizon.  Rini gaped... and soon the scatterred herd was back... loaded with ammunitions and portable rocket launchers...! 

“Take these...!” he said holding her at arms length...!

“There has to be some fight! Right?” she grinned and wrestled strangling him...! He hit her with the butt of his gun and she fell on the ground... he removed his chopper and she graoned in pain taking the chopper slash on her arm...! Vinit vanished in no time... Rini got up with efforts... looked around ... the coast was clear... there was no one barring a couple of camels, and  yaks.. with some warfare weaponry on their backs..! Rini held the rein of the camel and moved limping badly...! 

She saw Awasthi jumping off the dingi and crossing the river ...! She smiled saluting her hero...! 

***********   *********  **********

 “Beta...!” Salil didn’t know from where to start.  Dhaa stared blankly at him.

“Umm... I mean... May be.. Ravi is busy... or in some problem... I mean...if we couldn’t meet him...” he fumbled for words.  Dhaa merely nodded...! 

“I mean... Disha...!” Dhaa looked up at once sceptically.  Salil shook his head..!

“No... I mean.. we are going to Ravi’s house... but you know... just in case... I mean...if.. we,,!” Dhaa looked away.  She had anticipated this issue.  She nodded a bit.

“Ok. Papa..! Let us see...! And of course Disha didi is always there...!” she tried to smile... Salil couldn’t see her face with tears in his eyes...! 

“Kaisa naseeb leke aai hain yeh ladaki? Her destiny was taking twists and turns, one wouldn’t bear in one lifetime..!” he looked away wiping his eyes.  Dhaa wrapped silence turning her head...! 

******  ********  ********

“Yes, Mr. Rahman... Yes.. Oh!.. Yes Yes... I will do it..! Yes Ok..! Yes...!” Mrs. Russel ran into the kitchen while Sanyogita watched her ruefully.

“Poor Lady... She doesn’t know... what my dear son is into..!” she sipped relaxed.  Mrs. Russel came out with her car keys...!

“Will be back soon...!” she said and went out hurriedly.  Sanyogita ignored for a moment and her eyes flashed...! This was her chance.. .. chance to search for the keys...! She got up with agility and dashed to Sayajirao’s bedroom first...! Her desperate search started....!

“Damn...You Saya...!” Sanyogita threw a file on the floor.  The papers scattered....! She picked them up scanning them connivingly...! 

“Ok...! This should do...Let me see...!” she picked up her keys... closed the door behind her and raced away, with the file...! 

********  ******  *****

“A what?” Disha almost screamed....! 

“Yes... Disha...That's true...Finally....!” Banu said pressing his hand on his chest.  Disha had already started praying, closing her eyes... Bhanu drove on happily.  Disha burst out in tears..!

“Oh! Dhaa... my Baby sister...!” her heart filled with happiness with the possibility of meeting her sister and father...! 

“Oh! Bhanu...!” She kissed him hard and he smiled happily. 

“I am so happy...!” Disha said hugging Bhanu...! 

“You know, what, Disha? Sometimes I fail to understand you...!” Disha raised her eyebrows questioningly...!

“You were the one to oppose their wedding... You were the one who raised questions about uncle and Ravi’s character... You were the one ....!” Bhanu couldn’t continue as Disha interrupted him.

“I know... I did all I could to stop the wedding... I was the one who was disappointed with Dhaa’s behavior... But now that she is married... I must help her to make it a success... To be happy in her married life... to spend her life with her life partner... I am an Indian, after all...!” she said proudly.  Bhanu turned to Disha and pouted a kiss...! 

“My Indian wife...!” he winked and Disha rested her head on his shoulder...! Bhanu pulled over at the parking lot of the Airport..! 

160

There was a week’s  time to release the fishermen from both the sides.  But Instead another fleet was captured and 34 wandering Fishermen were captured again from Jamnagar… !  They were brought to Karachi.  

A new warfare training had started.  She was doing well in handling weapons and assembling them from the knock down conditions.  

“You will cross the border under our protection, as tourists…! You will meet the other members on their land.  Everything should be precisely done…! We will keep a watch on you.  A wrong step and you will be punished for your life…! “Finish off before the winter sets in…” The gangman warned and a group of Ten militants including three women nodded adjusting their back packs.  A person came in and started collecting the back packs.  .  Rini hesitated for a fraction of second.  She took the material and a docket  with shaky hands. They were to travel from Lahore to Hafizabad, to Rawalpindi to Islamabad to . Abbottabad, their final destination.  The ‘Material will be handed over and they were to come back to Lahore and then En route Karachi the group will be merged with the captive Fishermen…!  She looked around in her new attire and a small bony hand gripped her shoulder.  She turned and a broad smile appeared on her face for a fleeing second.

“Finally…” a girlish voice murmured and she nodded walking away from the group.  Another set of gunmen came in.  They hand picked five member including Rini.  

“Make no mistake… Check every item… check the list…” One man handed over a bag and everyone nodded.  Rini turned and went out winking at a person,  “Happy Diwali…” .  Her lips curled up.  Happy Diwali…!

********  ******  ******

Rahman arranged for everything in next few weeks ....

There was a big debate on the issue.... Salil and Nilima were heartbroken when she declared that she was going to her rightful place.  Nilima and Salil tried to desuade her but she was firm on her decision.  Afroz was all set to accompany her to US.

“I am going… Mamma… !” Dhatri had declared and Nilima’s heart doomed.

“How do I tell her… Her Ravi is in deep trouble…! Is it wise to send her there, now? There is no communication from anyone of them…! Everything is unsure…! What if they blame Dhatri for this?  What if they call her bad omen…! What if Disha hurt Dhatri again…?” Nilima’s bloodpressure shot up.  

“Aunty.. Don’t worry… I will go with her…! I will protect her..!” Afroz was overconfident.  She was ready to miss her college.  This was a new thrill in her life…! Dhatri ignored her.  Salil, Nilima, Indroneel were deep in thoughts…! 

“Look Mamma… you kept saying I should be there in my rightful place… till last week and now that I am going… you people are not ready to send me..” Dhatri said in frustration.

“Yeah… but there is no communication..” Salil presented a weak argument.

“So what, Papa? Communication or no communication.. That’s my rightful place after the wedding.  Isn’t it?” she asked sarcastically.  Nilima hid her face sobbing.  Dhatri patter on her back.  

“Mamma.. don’t worry! I had been there before.. and I can manage on my own…” Dhatri said with fake confidence.  Indroneel blew his top hearing this.

“Oii  Baba… yeah!! .. Salil… Baba… Dhatri was so co-operative… she turned herself into a baggage and jumped on the trolly… I literally carried this cry baby out of the Airport…” Smile appeared on Nilima’s face.  Dhatri puffed her cheeks.  

“That was my first time, uncle… I will manage now.. Don’t worry..!” she said angrily. 

“No… We can’t send you alone…You are going to your ‘sasuraal’  first time..!” Salil said protesting.  Dhatri thumped her hands on her hips in frustration..! 

“Why don’t you go with her?” Indroneel suggested and Salil fell silent.  Tickets for two people, at that time was beyond his budget…! 

“No!” Dhatri objected.  “No! I will go alone… Why buy two tickets and waste money?” she asked plainly.  Salil felt a stab …! 

“Its not the question of buying two tickets, beta…!” he said looking at his wife.  She turned her face wiping her eyes.

“I feel Ravi will come and then we will happily send you to your rightful place with him..” Salil said smiling faintly.

“And what if he doesn’t turnup at all?” Dhatri asked turning to him and he gaped at her shocked. 

“Ok.  Ok.  Wait.. wait…” Indroneel had a plan.  He dialled Rahman’s number.  Rahman took over the control sidelining everyone…! 

 Indroneel  suggested that Salil go with her....! He agreed reluctantly when their VISA stamping was done, eight days down the line.  Rahman arranged for the tickets saying it’s the grooms responsibility to take the dulhan home..!  Afroz cried loudly on the airport to see her big sister off. 

Dhatri was still not sure what she was going to do there...! She thought she should go and there she was sitting with her stomach churning when the plane took off from Delhi airport with Salil holding her hand.   

**********   ******

Eight days down the line… there was a time for transfer in the wee hours of the freezing cold night in Abbottabad.  Ten people were ready with two vehicles and weapons.  The light blinked the morse code, turning on and off the torch light.  All was well… the herd yaks and camels from the other side crossed the thinly flowing river and the vehicles flashed high beams.  The group of Five people were ready with the list in their hands. The other five were ready with guns to strike anytime…! The list was read out in torchlight and the material was checked.  Rini’s head numbed seeing those portable sophisticated distructive material.  She checked every consignment with the packing list.  The currency exchanged and suddenly the torch light went off.

“Whaaaww” a muffled scream lift Rini’s mouth as someone clasped his hand on her mouth… !

“Rini…!” Someone whispered in her ear and her knees gave way… She lost her control in the dark starless night and he carried her away in his arms..! 

“What..?” she was blinded with the bright torch light focused on her face.  She sat up with a jerk not ready to believe what she had heard.  A rough strong hand pulled her in embrace and she felt his thudding heart.

“Vinit…?” her lips screamed  soundlessly. 

“chup…” he warned her pushing her a little away…! The torchlights flashed again…!

“Time to celebrate Diwali…! Lets enjoy some fireworks…!” he turned his back on her and she took out a gun…! 

A loud explosion shook the entire area…! The Tremors reached several kilometres… the explosives caught fire..! There was mayhem everywhere…! The vehicles exploded… the herd dispursed everywhere…! A group of few people ran upto the river and jumpted into the waiting canoe…! 

159

“Bolo beti...!” Rahman took his chair...! Dhatri gazed at her feet.  Afroz stared at Rahman to gauge him.  Dhatri sat there in silence.  Rahman watched her, waiting for her to speak up.

“Is she the one?” He wondered... “Ravi is in love with..! What is so special about her?.” He stared at her ordinary looking figure... She had never looked up...! Her curly, frizzy, thick, dark brown hair tied up in a tight braid, the drops of sweat springing on her forehead; soaking her symmetrical eyebrows sticking her curly hair strands on her forehead.... he could see her thick, long curved eyelashes.  

 She could have been passed easily as a fair girl per Indian Standards.  There was no trace of make-up!  with a simple grey salwar-suite, her face was shadowed  with nervousness; she was biting her lips fidgeting with her fingers.  He could make out her dilemma...!

She looked up gathering her courage and Rahman couldn’t take his eyes off.  The bright brown eyes bored into his for a fleeting second and they again disappeared under her eyelashes...!  He gazed....! I should introduce her to Rehaanaa...! His daughter, a very bold, talkative girl, a bit older than Dhatri, now married to a builder in Bhopal believed, ‘only the make up highlights the beauty...!’  His eyes twinkled with the thought of Dhatri meeting his daughter...! 

“Big Sis.. say something...” Afroz nudged Dhatri.  Dhatri wrapped silence.  Afroz lost her patience.

“Ok.  We came here to know the status of her VISA...” she started off.  Rahman was in dilemma...! “Does she know the situation in US ?” he didn’t know.

“Oh! It will be done soon.  Other documents are ready, only the marriage certificate and her educational transcripts ....” he looked at Afroz.  

Afroz took out a file.  Dhatri’s mark-sheets... Final result not declared yet..” she threw the file on the table and Rahman nodded, still unsure about Dhatri...! Dhatri wiped her sweat and taking some time to open up... said...!

“I know...!” Dhatri looked up again and Rahman gaped.

“You know?!!” he couldn’t stop himself.  Dhatri nodded and Afroz burst out...

“Yes.. we know about Ravi... and she needs to go there, be with him, Damn it!” she thumped on the table forcefully.  Rahman looked at Dhatri aghast...! “Does she really want to go there?” he still was not sure.

“Un...Uncle... I wa... wa.. want to go!” Dhatri opened her mouth stuttering..! 

“Look... My GP can help... He is a very influencial man in Bhopal...” Afroz spat rudely... throwing a Challenge to Rahman’s social status in the city...! Dhatri was scared...! Raised voices always gave her shivers....! 

“No need!” Rahman spat back, picking up the file.

“Here... free slots ...!” afroz forwarded a handwritten slip...! Rahman gazed at the dates and time slots available for VISA...! “This means she really wants to go... I must talk to her parents...” he looked around and gestured the beara to clear the table.  Dhatri waited with bated breath.

“Ok.  I will do it at the earliest.  I will meet your parents...” he was cut off...

“No... please.. d..d...don’t tell them anything about Ravi... “ Dhatri pleaded for the first time looking into his eyes for a longer period of time.  He just nodded.  “What was going on? She knows and her parents do not know about Ravi’s problem?”  He looked at Afroz for some explanation...

“Look Mr. Rahman... They do not know anything about the problem with Ravi.  We don’t want to tell them anything...” she started off...!

“Th... they will be devastated...” Dhatri said at once and Rahman nodded.  

“I promise.. I won’t tell them anything... but I will have to meet them once the VISA interview date is fixed...” he said reasonably.

“Promise?” Dhatri asked extending her hand, with beady eyes like a small girl asking for a promise to get chocolate...and Rahman nodded smiling... Smile of relief appeared on Dhatri’s face and He gaped.

Her dimples and bright brown eyes were so captivating...”No wonder Ravi fell flat for her..! Her simplicity touched his heart...! Lucky man!!” he concluded.  

“Ghar jao beti... And I will manage everything...!” He placed his hand on her head.

Afroz gave a slip... “Call me, if you need anything...” she said confidently.  He merely gave a nod.  Afroz turned holding Dhatri’s arm and Rahman looked at the note.

“Oh! Bandukwalas... !” He smiled knowingly.  No wonder she was so arrogant..! Bandukwalas were the big name in Bhopal in business community... One of the richest families, Rahman knew Mr. Pirooj Bandukwala well enough to know his influence.

“How does dulhan know this girl?” he wondered.  He didn’t know the bond between Afroz and Dhatri....!

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

Rini/Mehrunnissa bidding her time... was undergoing the torture and rigourous imprisonment in Lahore..!

The tiffin and the cloth had reached safe hands...!

“Another nine days...” she was fixing the membrane key pad on the IEDs as a part of her duty...! A trained militant.. she was given the assembly work.  Soon she will be given new responsibility.

....................  ...

“Its like digging the tunnel from both the ends, with precision planning... one single, slight mistake and we end up digging two parallel tunnels...!” Vinit thought gravely looking around at the herd of Yaks and Camels loaded with the ‘material’.  

“Look.. These five will come with you..  The transfer should be done carefully... We will be ready to strike anytime... One single mistake and you all will be dead in no time..with our bullets...!” Khan baba warned flounting his AK 47 and Vinit nodded takeing out his oxgyne mask and handing over the cylinder...! They were on the tapering terrain on the borders... There was no need for the supporting oxgyne now..! Vinit, a trained soldier in high altitude terrain, never needed such extra support..But sometimes he faked breathlessness to gather sympathy!  He emptied his money bag infront of Khan baba.  Kahn’s eyes widened, seeing bundles of green dollar notes..! He could have killed this lone traveller anytime for this kind of money...! But he had a bigger motive.  Vinit had promised him to get in touch with an Indian who would pay double the amount plus the chemical drugs, Khan was getting now for the Chinese Combat tools...! The deal was tempting enough to keep Vinit alive...! 

Vinit watched Khan’t hungry eyes and played his card..! “If anything goes wrong... Next time, I am going to try the other troop...” he warned Khan baba.  Khan touched his ears...

“Naa Naa...!” he wouldn’t leave this ‘murgi...’ He grinned from ear to ear and Vinit turned his back on the troop with the five member team....a herd of 25 yaks and 18 camels..! hey were entering the hostile territory where Afghan-Pak borders meet...! 

*********  ********  *********

“Dad... “ Ravi ran his fingers through his unruly hair sitting on the chair.  Sayajirao patted on his back, swallowing hard.  He had seen his son after it seemed like ages.  Ravi looked up at the officer requesting for some privacy.  He was on the other side of the bars and Sayajirao’s heart ached for his son.  Ravi’s company was trying hard for the bail of three of his employees, Ravi included...! Sayajirao had appointed one of the best lawyers in the region shelling out moeny like anything...! The so called sex scandle had spread all over ... like a conflagration....! Ravi’s remand for judicial custody was extended by another fifteen days.  He was interrogated several times a day by different people...!

“Go home, Dad...” he said holding Sayajirao’s hand and Saya shook his head.  “Not without you...”  His phone buzzed.  Mrs. Russel... spoke to him for a long time getting his monosyllable responses.

“Ok!” he said flipping his phone.  It seemed like Sanyogita was asking for the Library keys and Mrs. Russle had said politely that she has no access to his private rooms... his study and Library...! Sanyogita fumed, frustrated... She couldn’t lay her hands on anything big...! Mrs. Russel was a through and through Saya’s person, not letting anything at all.  She just was there to guard the fort for her Masters...! Sayajirao had given in, in the condition of distress but Mrs. Russel had not given up yet.  She was waiting for some miracle to happen, praying day and night ...!

“I need those damn keys...right now..! Sanyogita yelled and Mrs. Russel was unmoved. 

Can’t you see? I got a call and Ravi needs money for his bail, damn it!” Sanyogita spat anger...

Mrs. Russel looked at her blankly.  “I don’t have the keys... Mr. Deo has them...” she said staggering backwards...! Sanyogita stared for a while and clenching her fists... said

“Fine.. I will let Saya know about this...” she looked at Mrs. Russel threateningly.  Mrs. Russel clutched her hands at the back not giving in...!

Her phone buzzed and she lept up to grab it before Sanyogita could lay her hands on. 

“Yes... Yes... Yes... Ok.  Ok! Yes... I go...! Don’t worry....!” she was unusually agile to her age.  She clutched her palms praying... crying... wiping her eyes.... and surprisingly lighting a lamp in pooja ghar....! Sanyogita gaped in disbelief.

“What happened?” she asked shocked.  Mrs. Russel shook her head saying...”Nothing much... Case will come up for hearing this Monday...!” she said moving out of the room...! Sanyogita stood like a statue and then sighing... came out to fix herself a drink...!