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“Saya…!” Sanyogita said helplessly holding his hand.  He looked at her but Bhanu spoke.

“Where had you been, maasi? At this hour of night…?” She turned to Bhanu…!

“Bhanu… I got a call from the cops…I didn’t want to distrube the happiness around, so went to meet the detective alone…” then turning to Saya said in a grave tone..!

“Saya… he could be involved in a greater conspiracy… A murder is unearthed in that same building around same time…Cops are investigating…” she said sitting on the sofa with a thud, hopelessly.  Sayajirao gaped in disbelief, his face overshadowed with grief and worry he looked at Bhanu for support.  Disha clutched her mouth with her palm losing her strength.

“Ok.  Maasi! You don’t have to worry about it…! We can sort it out…!” Bhanu guided her to her room and coming back to Sayajirao said…

“Uncle.. Let us wait and watch..! And let Ravi’s lawyer handle it..!” Sayajirao nodded and fixed a drink for Bhanu and himself with shaky hands…Praying for his son…!

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

“Ok… Dhaa… Go to sleep now..” Rini on the verge of signing off after fifteen minutes into the skype call, with Nilima by her side, got a shocked expression from the other side.

“Sleep ? Now?” Dhatri exclaimed and Rini grinned…

“No? What do you want to do Dhaa?” she arched her eyebrows mischieviously… and winked at Ravi.  Dhatri suddenly left Ravi’s shoulders and truned away from him.  Ravi glanced at her stance and turning to Rini said…

“Yeah! What sleep?!! She has a jet lag…!” Rini laughed.

“No..! No jet lag… I slept well in the flight, Ok!!” she snapped and Ravi grinned at Rini again, teasing Dhatri again.  Dhatri lost her temper and abruptly turning, said… “Good night Rini Didi, Mamma..” she shut his laptop and thumping her hands on her hips snapped at Ravi..

“Good night, Put off the lights and go to sleep now…” she turned her back on him opening and spreading her duvet.  Ravi gaped at his wife, switching off the lights…A blue night lamp glowed!

“She removed something from  around her neck and kept it under her pillow…!” Ravi couldn’t stop his curiosity.

“What is that?” he had pulled it out from under her pillow.  She jabbed his shoulders snatching it angrily.  He switched on the light and looked at the hanging thing.

“It’s nothing to do with you… “ she tried to hide it.  He overpowered her gripping her wrist and snatching it again.  

“Give it back… It’s my gift…” she threatened and he grinned.

“Oh! Yeah?” he hopped out of the bed and rummaging through the check drawer, pulled out something…! She gaped in disbelief….! She looked at it with beady eyes… the intricately carved, silver and ruby studded, red sandalwood replica of Kirtimukh hanged out of his closed fist in a thick silver chain.  It was far more superior than hers, plain, crudely carved kirtimukh.  Her eyes spat anger…

“Who gave you this?” she asked angrily and he grinned ear to ear…!

“First tell me, who gave you yours?” he asked back.  She fumbled a bit.

“Papu mari…Wh…When I was with them….” She said missing those days trying to recollect every moment of her stay with her good boy.  He again grinned wickedly.

“Nanu…!” he said smugly rubbing his thumb on the intricate design.  Dhatri blew her top in jealousy.

“What? How mean!! You always end up getting the best…! She never gave me anything…. Except for scoldings and beatings…!” She said pouting, flaring up her nose.

“Yeah… I always end up getting the best, JL..!” he teased her again and then pointing at her kirtimukh said softly…!

“We can exchange our gifts…” her eyes flashed in excitement but then staring at her kirtimukh she said shaking her head….!

“Papu mari gave me this…. Her love…!” she again looked at his studded kirtimukh enviously…!

“And that one, Nanu gave you… her love for her hungry gudda…” she teased him back and then taking it from his hand, ordered…!

“Turn…” he turned obediently.  She tied it around his neck and said…

“This is its rightful place… And not that drawer… Samajhey?”  

“Ok..!” he turned to her again pointing her kirtimukh.  She fumbled, embarrassed. 

“Umm… I only remove it at night… !” she again hid it under it pillow.  He turned to put off the lights.  

“You can also remove it in the night…!” she suggested and he turned with wicked smile.

“What if I want to put it on, only in the night?” he asked and she gaped with dropped jaw.

“Are you crazy? This is protection Talisman…Budhhu..!” she said jabing her fingers at his forehead.  He grinned…!

“I need protection in the night, …” she looked surprised and he continued chuckling…!

“When I am alone with my wife…” 

“Hawww…” she lost her temper again.  Getting down from the bed, at once she said…

“Ok. Fine…! I am going to Papa…!” but before she could step away from the bed, he grabbed her, pulled her on the bed “Oh No! You are not going anywhere, my JL..” and kissed her…taking away her breath…” Shiver ran through her spine…Darkness surrounded… engulfing her ...!  She pushed him away

“Don’t touch me …!” she said fuming.  He was shocked…! 

“But.. why?” he tried to hold her.  She was not herself… “Goodnight..!” she said in a hollow, ghostly tone… He gaped at her changed expression and Turning away from her, said raising his hands..

“Yeah.., Ok..! Goodnight…!”  She had already turned her back and disappeared under her duvet.  He turned heaving a sigh.  

For Dhatri, the fun was over.  She was nervous, scared of this Hungry Gudda…! Folding her arms around her chest she turned her back praying “Mari mai…Mari mai…!”

Ravi was awake with wide open eyes for a long time …. !