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“Dhaa...!” Disha called from behind and Dhatri and Saya’s morning troll broke its rhythm.  

 Somewhere in the night it had drizzled.  The lawn had dew drops shining in the morning sunlight.  The pearly green lawn with the neatly kempt hedge was picture perfect.  

“Didi...” Dhatri turned towards Disha.  Disha held her hand. 

“How are you?” she squeaked and lowering her voice, whispered in Dhatri’s ear..

“How was it?” Dhatri looked at her elder sister, stunned.

“How was it? How was what?” Dhatri’s head was all riot, confused.  She was wise enough to not to wreak the issue.

“Good!” she said tentatively.  Disha had a broad smile...

“Good?.... Good!” she sighed.  Dhatri gaped at her bright face.  

“You know, Dhaa... I was so worried... I couldn’t sleep the whole night..” she turned her little sister and moved inside, ignoring Sayajirao completely.  Sayajirao had glanced at the duo and had continued with his morning walk.  Dhatri just walked with her didi.  

“Where is Ravi?” Disha asked ...

“Some office work...!” Dhatri had heard it... Sanyogita walked in.  And Ignoring the two girls ordered Mrs Russle to make a strong coffee for her dialing a number...! Disha glanced at her and smiling, greeted.. “Good morning...” 

“Good Morning Disha...!” Sanyogita waited for someone to pick up the phone.

“Oh! Hello Mr. Walker...!” she spoke glancing at the duo.  Dhatri was gazing at the table, not knowing what to do next.  Disha was sipping her coffee...! Dhatri got up and walked out feeling uneasy.  Disha ensued.

“Dhaa?” Disha held her hand.

“Umm... I...I” Dhaa couldn’t find words to explain the feeling...! Mrs. Russel came across...

“Coffee?” she asked.  Disha nodded.. “Yeah, will do!” she pulled Dhatri along inside.  

“Hope... he is not turned in again...!” Sanyogita blurted gravely and Disha turned to her, shocked.

“Who?” she asked panicking...!

“My Son... Ray Dave...” Sanyogita had created enough heavy air by that time...!

“What do you mean?” Disha asked squinting at Dhatri who was staring through Sanyogita as if she was transparent...!

“He is in deep shit...!” Sanyogita said with a serious tone.  Disha dropped her shoulders feeling nervous.

 

“I am trying to get him out... But any time the cops will turn up!” she said and the doorbell rang...!

Disha got up startled and ran to open the door....!

A stranger was waiting at the door...!

****  *****  ****

“Mamma... Just for another week and I will be on my due vacation for a month...!” Rini had hugged Nilima tightly and Afroz had again broken into loud cry... Nilima had pushed Rini away a bit and had pulled Afroz closer patting on her back, consoling her...!

“Shuuu... Afroz... Stop... stop crying...Shuuu...!” Rini looked at the duo in bewilderment...!

“Kya hain yeh ladaki...” She thought in astonishment... ! According to her, for the time being.. Afroz had come clean after the due probing...! But Rini needed to be sure looking at the closeness she had with her mamma.  Her mamma was going to be alone and this Afroz....Her thoughts faltered as Nilima pulled Afroz down and kissed her cheek...!

“I will stay with you....!” Afroz offered and Nilima shook her head...!

“No, Aforz... you have college to attend...!” Afroz threw her hands in the air..!

“Who cares!! I can manage... I have a vehicle..” she said looking at Rini for support...!

“No... Afroz... stay in the hostel...” Nilima protested weakly but Afroz was determined to stay with mother.... Rini had boarded the train that night...!

Rini was sitting in the meeting room after reaching Delhi waiting for everyone to arrive.... She saw Vinit and Vikram Singh walking in. 

She got up to her feet to follow the protocol, saluting...!

“Hey..!” Vicky was in jovial mood but Vinit looked serious.  She ignored him completely.

“Rini...!” Vinit took the next chair and leaning towards her said gravely..!

“Captain Dharini Dixit, Sir...!” she corrected him.  He tried to held her hand.  She turned ignoring him..! Vicky rubbed his palms gleefully...!

“Yeah..! Captain... Promoted from Lt. To Captain...! Yeah.. Right...!” Vicky winked at Rini.  Lt. Gen. A. K. Singh with General Trivikram Singh walked in briskly and the trio fell silent.. rising to their feet and saluting...! Few more officers walked in, with their team members in the mission...

The reporting session started with tribute to the only casualty.. Martyre Maj. Pragnyan Raina...with the countour map on the table and marking with coding and detailing..! Rini being the junior most had no role in decision making.  She needed to report with the maps itched in her head...!

“Rini...!” Vinit whispered at the lunch table in the officers’ mess...! She ignored completely.

:”Rini...!” he held her hand...!

“Maj. Vinit Pandit...” She got up with mounting rage..glaring at Vinit...! She walked away out of the hall not even looking back...! Vinit’s heart sank...! Vicky glared at him contemptuously...!

“You deserve this...!” he said pointedly.  Vinit dropped his shoulders feeling doomed.  He had refused to sign on the registered marriage form for not wanting to put her in more trouble.  The bullets had badly hit him and the Doctors had said... his reproductive organs may not function properly...! Marrying Rini, or anyone for that matter was out of question at that time and Rini had insisted ... that they get married at the earliest..! He had to make the decision and had refused to sign on the form saying.. he didn’t want to marry her...! Rini had turned cold and had disappeared ...  They were on the joint mission without the knowledge of the other to join the dots...! The big infiltration plan was busted by the sixteen strong warriors of Indian Army, Rini and Vini 

included...with the help of Maj. Awasthi... now employed by the enemy for training of infiltrators...! 

Now it was action time for the internal security with the information from Intelligence Agency on the places and timings for the blasts and disasters... ! The scattered militants would be nabbed soon..! Rini and Vinit had no time for their personal interests and griefs..! The work had to be 24X7, with short breaks for lunch and dinner...! Vinit had a herculean task to enlighten the group on activities of other neighbours like Afghanistan and China who were instrumental in supplying the weapons to militant groups...! 

“Rini...! For God sake ... listen to me..!” Vinit had caught up with her.  She turned her face ...!

“Sorry Sir... I am getting late..!” She moved away.  Vinit gritted holding her hand...!

:”Major Sir... You threatened me to take me to the other side of the fence...! I did... on my own..! I don’t need anyone now..!” She turned on her heels and moved away from him...! Vinit had no place in her heart now...! Her mission was everything to her...!  Vinit foundered ...! She had moved on...!

****  ****  *****

“Mr. Deo...?” Disha gaped at the stranger.  A person in his thirties, bright eyed, red headed, lean was waiting for Mr. Deo... Disha turned to see Mrs. Russel welcoming the person...!

“Ah.. Ethan..” Sayajirao walked in and greeted brightly seeing Ethan waiting for him with his bag.

“Mr. Deo..” he shook hands with Saya...!

“Yeah.. let us go...!” they both went into Sayajirao’s study and the door was closed.  Sanyogita gazed at this stranger leaning against the mantle..! 

Disha looked at Mrs. Russel..! “Mr. Deo’s business associate...!” She informed and Sanyogita’s eyes flashed...! “Saya works alone... He is in consultancy mode...” she knew.  “Then who is this Ethan...?” She must find out.  

“Hey everyone...!” Bhanu came in.  Disha smiled at his brightness and hugged him.  He kissed her and looking at Dhatri winked...!

“Dhaa...!” he pulled her braided hair fondly.  She moved away pursing her lips..! “It hurts..!” she mumbled.  Mrs. Russel came up with Coffee.  Study door opened.

“Bhanu...” Sayajirao called

“Ji...!” Bhanu dashed clutching the coffee mug...! Sanyogita gaped puzzled...! What does Bhanu have to do with Saya’s business associate...? She must find out..! 

Doorbell rang again ... and Ravi walked in.  Sanyogita got up brightly but Ravi paid no attention to her...!

“Ra..Ravi..” Dhaa stuttered.... Ravi stopped...

“Co...Coffee?” Dhatri found out a sensible reason to talk to him...!

“Humm..” he nodded and went into his room.  Dhatri picked up her coffee mug and ran behind...!

“Where had you been?” she asked angrily.  He turned to her raising his eyebrows...

“Coffee...!” she saw anger in his eyes...reminding her of the last night...! She turned..

“Thank you!” Ravi said picking up the mug.  She turned again smiling...!

“Woh,, there is a party in the evening...” she said.

“I know..!” he came near... A bright smile spread over her face flashing her dimples... Ravi stopped himself from kissing her...She pointed at his kirthimukh...! He touched it....!

“Good...!” she said.  “You...Your p..p..protection is on...!”  and he grinned back at her...

“Yes..!” he said and pulled her into a tight embrace.  She struggled, wriggled and when his grip around her tightened, pulled his thick, streaked hair...

“Awaa... Dhaa..!” he groaned in pain.  She freed herself from his grip and sticking out her tongue ran out of the room.  He smiled inwardly...! Kiddo...JL..! he pressed his finger on his lips and came out with his coffee mug..!