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“Papa... I want to go back..!” Dhatri had not had enough talking on phone.  She wanted to meet her Rini Didi in person.  Cursing herself for coming over, she whispered in her papa’s ear.

“Shuu... Dhaa... you know! That’s not possible...” he rolled his eyes looking at her morose face. 

“This is your rightful place...” he raised his finger like her Mamma.  Smile appeared on her face without her permission.  

“That is my bag...!” she exclaimed when she saw Mrs. Russel wheeling out her bag. 

“Yeah... I know.  She is keeping it at its rightful place..” Salil flicked her nose winking.  Her face changed color.  Mrs. Russel vanished in Ravi’s room.  Dhatri got a knot in her stomach.

“Am I supposed to spend the night with this... this Gudda?” she flashed an angry glance in his direction to find him staring at her.  She looked away avoiding his gaze.  

“All Set...!” Mrs. Russel came out grinning.  Saya got up excitedly.

“Yeah... Let us all have some sleep...” he said holding Salil’s hand.  The elaborate sleeping arrangements were done by Mrs. Russel.  Dhatri sat on sofa fidgeting nervously.  

Salil looked at her lost face and felt a knot.  His insides squirmed.  “Hope Nilima enlightened Dhaa about her married life ahead...” he looked tensed.  “What if Dhaa has not listened? What is Nilima had not told her? How do I tell Ravi not to rush through? Hope Dhaa... knows about....intimacy....”
his thoughts faltered seeing Ravi entering his room.  Dhaa had not moved an inch.  Disha stared at her suspiciously.  She came and sat beside Dhatri.

“Dhaa, you are a married girl now.  Behave like a matured girl..” Disha started her sermon in a low tone.  Dhatri looked up startled then the nervousness was replaced with defiance.

“I know...” she said looking down.  

“Then go..!” Disha pulled her hand and Dhatri got up at once.  She moved straight to the kitchen..!

“What? Dhaa? Where are you going?” Disha asked bewildered. Dhatri turned.

“Am I allowed to have a glass of water, before I go to sleep, in this US of A?” she asked dramatically and Bhanu burst out in laughter.  

“Your sense of humour is the deadliest when you are nervous, Dhaa..” Disha teased and Dhatri exploded.

“I am not nervous.  It’s just that I am being thirsty...” she said disappearing into the kitchen with intention to kill time inside, as much as possible.  Salil looked at Saya applogitacally and went into the kitchen to talk to Dhatri.  Dhatri was leaning against the kitchen counter, lost in thoughts...! Salil felt a stab.  His daughter, the youngest one was about to enter a new era of her life.  He suddenly felt older by ten years losing his strength.  

“Hope.. she gets all that she deserves... “ he prayed locking his fingers.  

“She is not Dhatri Salil Dixit... She is Dhatri Ravindra Pra...” he tried swallow the lump formed in his throat.  Dhatri turned and saw her father at the door.  Looking down she said... “Yeah.. Going..! Goodnight Papa...” she walked past his statue-like posture...! 

“Good night Didi, Good night Bhanu Bhaiyya,  Good night....” she stopped not knowing how to address Sayajirao...! 

“Goodnight, Beti...” Sayajirao said pleasantly.  “Goodnight...” she looked at Mrs. Russel..!

“Good night, Baahoo...” she reciprocated with a happy smile..! Dhatri turned to Ravi’s room heavily.  

“Saya.....!” they heard Sanyogita who had flung open the door barging in..! Dhatri turned abruptly.  She had forgotten that one more member was there.  Sanyogita turned her gaze on Dhatri who was at the threshold of Ravi’s room, now their room...!

“Are these people staying over?” Sanyogita asked loudly and for the first time, Sayajirao found his true voice.

“Yes...!” he said glancing at Bhanu. Dhatri had stopped with a hope of miracle. 

“Dhatri...” Disha gestured her to go inside and Dhatri turned reluctantly.  

“Wedding is entering into slavery...” she muttered angrily, entering! She stopped seeing Ravi waiting for her.  She turned her back on him bending over and pulling her bag.

“You can keep your things, in here!” he opened the now emptied portion of his wardrobe.

“No thank you!” she spat back.  He gazed.

“Whats wrong?” he asked confused. She didn’t answer first, but then straightening herself up with her night cloths said in a small voice...!

“I want to go back...” he stared at her, shocked. She had turned again and was moving towards the bathroom.

“Why?” came a question from him and she turned, not knowing what to answer...

“Why? Umm... Rini... Didi...” her voice faltered seeing the expressions on his face.  Then realizing the reality she gathered herself and mocking courage, said...

“Yeah.. I know... I cannot...” she again turned fallen face and tearful eyes. 

When she came back after changing, he was with his laptop and was smiling, his headphones on, typing something with lightening speed.  She tried to peep in.  He turned his back on her. She tried her best not to show any interest but when she heard him bursting out in laughter, she couldn’t control herself.  Peeping over his shoulder she screamed excitedly... “Rini Didi”  He looked back with his face inches away from hers... she was out of bound seeing her Rini Didi’s face.  

“Didi...” she said clasping around his neck and leaning over. He had a broad smile on his face.  She could talk to her Rini didi.. see her anytime she wanted...” Rini’s heart filled with content seeing those happily smiling faces of Ravi and her Dhaa.