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“What are you planning to wear, Dhaa?” Disha asked knowing her sister’s sense of dressing very well. 

“Clothes...!” came a snap and Disha burst ...

“I am talking about shopping..... We will go for shopping ....!” Disha offered and Dhatri looked at her...

“I have enough dresses... New ones also..! I will wear one of them...” Dhatri hated shopping...!

“You need to look best, Dhaa...!” Disha said earnestly and Dhatri snapped irritably...

“Stop besting, Didi... I am ok..And this is only a family dinner.. I know... Umm.. Uncle told me..!” she fumbled a bit not knowing how to address Sayajirao...!  Ravi was watching the hushed conversation between the sisters....

“Even then... you should look beautiful... Look at him, Dhaa...Such a well dressed, handsome boy...” her voice faltered as she saw Ravi approaching them...!

“I know..!” Dhatri said angrily and stopped abruptly,,, Ravi was staring at her critically. 

“I am going...!” Dhatri turned and vanished in the room.  Disha looked at Ravi...!

“Son...!” Ravi turned and Sanyogita spoke gravely...!

“Mr. Walker had called...!” Ravi muscles flexed hearing her voice. 

“I know...!” he stopped her.  She came around to hold his hand.  He stood still...

“I can help...Mr. Redington....” He raised his hand....

“No ...!” he turned away.  Sanyogita clenched her fists.  “How dare he...!” she turned her back on him...!

“Whats going on?” Disha gaped in confusion...! Ravi walked into his room and Sanyogita sighed a grief.  Disha moved ahead curiously.  Sanyogita created the air of suspense...!

“I know.. I can fix it...!” She said sitting on the armchair dejectedly. Disha merely gaped.  The study room opened and Bhanu walked out striding...

“Bhanu...!” Both Disha and Sanyogita got up.  He ignored Disha and turned towards his Maasi...!

“Did you meet Mr. Abbey...?” he asked and she turned pale....!

“How does he know?” she swallowed and closed her eyes for a moment gathering herself...

“Yes I did...!” she said firmly.  He dropped his jaw in shock....  Sanyogita gauged  his reaction and went ahead...

“Yes, I did...! Because that was the only thing I could do at that time...I ran out of funds and Ravi’s bail would be rejected...!” she faltered as Bhanu raised his hand.

“That’s enough Maasi... Ravi was not to be released on bail... All the charges against him are dropped....Do you understand?” he shouted guilt laden for being her nephew.  His mother's guilt had carried on to him... and Ravi opened the door of his room hearing raised voices.  Sanyogita’s anger saw no boundary...!

“Watch your tongue Bhanu... Don’t you dare talk to me like that...! I did what was appropriate...” She said gritting, a pulse throbbing on her temple...! Bhanu gaped at his Maasi... she looked murderous...! Disha clutched her hand on her mouth. 

“Whats going on...?” Ravi approached and Bhanu suddenly turned protectively toning down...

“Nothing...Ravi... Just was asking her... “ he waved at Sanyogita who was still fuming...!

“How did he know? Did Mr. Abbey inform Saya? Saya Knows? What will he do now? Throw me out? Naa... He can’t ... He loves me... He still loves me...!” Sanyogita’s furious face changed expressions from fury into a wikced smile.  She still can manage Saya... But she must find out... How these guys knew about Abbey...! She turned her back on them and moved upstairs...! Bhanu watched with gaping shock...!

“Ok. Then.. Ethan... Thanks for chipping in...! And...” Sayajirao said smiling broadly...

“You are invited for a dinner party in the evening here...!” Ethan nodded smiling, shaking hands with Sayajirao...

“And bring on the kids and your lovely wife Martha...” he extended the invitation and a broad smile appeared on Ethan’s face.  “Kids would love it... Dinner with Sayajirao was a treat ... The kids would enjoy...”

Ethan was Saya’s accounts guy.  He ran a small independent, one girl and two cabins office in a very old business house.  His clients include consultants like Sayajirao and small manufacturing units who couldn’t afford to maintain accounting staff...!  Ethan also managed Sayajiroa’s investment plans..! Martha, his wife and their three kids were the world for him.  His wife worked for a daycare center in the mornings and evenings took care of his home...! In all Drawing 23k a year was not an easy life.... Struggling to meet the ends, he hardly had time for his family and for any kind of entertainment.

 

“Kids would love it...” he smiled inwardly coming out of the study.. Sayajirao led him to the door and invited him again. 

Ravi had a mischievous smile on his face... “His family dinner party...” Bhanu burst out in laughter and Disha looked surprised.

“What?” she asked and Bhanu shook his head sidelining her question and grinning at Ravi.  Dhatri thumped her hands on her hips glaring at Ravi.

“Why are they laughing? Is he making fun of me?” Dhatri’s anger rose to the roof.  Ravi and Bhanu were laughing at Sayajirao who just had entered.

“So, all set for this small family dinner?” Bhanu asked winking at Ravi and Sayajirao looked at them sheepishly.

“Umm... I mean... he .. he has adorable kids... and his wife would love it...” he said avoiding their gazes.

“Yeah... Right... All kids are adorable... ! Who is next, Dad?” Ravi asked turning to his Dad.  Sayajirao went into the study hastily and Ravi turned to his room sniggering...!  Dhatri was sure to follow ....  

“Why were you sneering...?” she asked angrily.  Ravi gave her a mysterious look and said seriously...!

“You better get ready for the evening... You are playing the hostess... you see...!?” He again tried to hide his smirk...!

“What? No..! This is only a family dinner... No party...!” She looked at him with her panic button pushed... He again sneered...!

“Yeah... Right...!” he said slumping on the sofa, locking his fingers behind his head.  She narrowed her eyes glaring at him... ! “Yeah..!” he said relaxing...!

“Dad’s family party... He already invited his accountant... the other associates would soon follow... then their adorable families... and friends... And some Indians for a company...!” he gave a grim list...

She came nearer panic struck...! He looked more serious and pointing at her and himself...

“This is for us, Dhatri... Get ready...!” he added fuel .. Dhatri sat beside with a thud..! He leaned towards her and asked in a bare whisper...!

“You know... these parties...Dad throws such parties at the drop of a hat...!” he was serious to Dhatri’s horror. 

 “You know what happens in these American parties...?” he asked her giving her pangs of terror..! She looked up at him with beady eyes full of fear...!

“People Eat, Drink, Chat, gossip, play some romantic music.... And....” he stopped in suspense...

“And?” she asked petrified....!

“And... the...!” he leaned forward and picked up a water bottle.

“And?” she was impatient, holding his hand, stopping him from drinking water...!

“And... the newly wed couple dances and kisses each other and others clap and raise a toast and drink...” With every word she felt doomed...!

“No..! I can’t dance...” she was ghostly.  His eyes twinkled..

“Yes... Dhatri...I attended my friends’ wedding parties.....” he said holding her numb hand...!

“No...!” she blurted horrified..! Strangers gave her jitters and crowd drained her life out..!

“Yes...!” he whispered...

She looked away... he continued...!

“You better be prepared for the dance and the kiss... Dhaa... Lets have a rehearsal...” she forgot to push him away when he wrapped her in his embrace...! She stilled in his embrace and then turning to him in his arms ...

“You wouldn’t do that? Would you?” she asked lifelessly...!

“I will have to, Dhaa... Everyone would expect me to...!” he said cupping her face...! She looked ghostly, color draining out.

“We need practice... Dhaa...!” he said seriously and she looked into his eyes...  For a fleeting second, his mask of seriousness slipped and Dhatri caught him...!

Pushing him away, she stood up...!

“You are not doing that...!” She warned him raising her finger and he raised his arms surrendering...! She went up to the door... and remembered ... people misbehave when they are drunk...! Turning back she asked walking towards him...

“You drink?”

“Yes..!” he raised the water bottle...!

“No.. I mean.. Alcohol?” she asked apprehensively...!  He shook his head smiling...

“No alcohol for me...!” she took a sigh of relief...!

“How about you, Dhaa?” he asked her seeing her turning... She again faced him shaking her head a bit.

“Good!” he said looking at her lost expression....

“What? He asked after a few moments.

“Ma... I mean... Mahua... is it alcohol?” she asked with bated breath...! He hid his smile and nodding seriously...

“Yes.. Dhaa..! It is alcohol.. a strong one... So may be you can have one here...” he held his breath controlling his laughter..! She again looked horrified...!

“One of us must drink, Dhaa...!” he said ... “Its a ritual... we must follow..” he couldn’t carry on...

She looked at him suspiciously and jabbing at his chest said furiously...

“Dekh lungi tumhay....! Ravindra Pratap Deo...!” she banged the door behind her angrily...! Ravi again locked his fingers behind his head grinning, turning on the music...!

“Kiss toh main kar lunga jaroor..! I will kiss you, Dhaa... tonight..!”