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“Oh!” Ravi moved his gaze from top to bottom and then shrugging, said..

“Ready? Fine...!” He turned and went away. 

“Ready?” Dhatri stood confused.  “Is he ok with this dress? Good!” she smiled and went in another direction. 

“Ravi... get ready....!” Sayajirao bustled in and Ravi came out of his room...!

“Yeah! Ready!” he said smiling broadly and Sayajirao looked at him shocked.  Dhatri too had turned and was shocked looking at her husband.  Sayajirao’s phone buzzed and he turned away waving at Ravi...!

“Ok, then...!” Ravi picked up Dhatri’s words to wind up and winked at her chuckling.  She gaped in disbelief. 

“You are wearing this for the party?” she surveyed him from top to bottom coming back to him....

“Yeah...!” he said placing his hand on her shoulder.  Dhatri gaped with dropped jaw.  A bright white Jersey and Khaki Capri Pant with a lot of pockets..! She looked at herself again.  A perfect match! For jeans and blue top... A Jersey and Capri pant.  She sighed, sheepishly stealing a glance at him, realizing and went into the room again to change into some kind of decent attire.  Ravi’s eyes traveled behind her and a smile appeared on his face, twinkling the blue tinge of his eyes. 

“Dhaa...!” Disha barged in the room to help Dhatri and Bhanu winked at Ravi. 

 

“Wear this...!” Disha had picked up a deep purple, deep neck, deep slit thigh revealing party gown.  Dhatri swallowed hard panic struck and then suddenly remembered that Ravi would wear ‘something Indian’  She smiled sweetly.

“Yeah... Ok! But Didi, Ravi is wearing an Indian traditional dress... Something like kurta... So naturally I need something matching...” Disha looked lost ... Dhatri smiles.. and pulling a brand new dress from her suitcase she looked at Disha triumphantly.

“This? Anarkali suit! How about this? Ragini had sent it from Delhi.. Brand new!” Dhatri furled the dress and looked at herself in the mirror holding it to her chest.  Disha looked at that shocking pink Anarkali Suit with a lot of kundan work.  Dhatri didn’t wait for Disha’s permission.  Thanking Ravi for his choice to wear 'something Indian',, she dashed inside the bathroom...!

****  *****  *****

Wohaa...” Bhanu whistled winking at Dhatri and her pink cheeks became red.  Disha had done a beautiful job on Dhaa making her look better, and brighter with pink Anarkali suit..and golden sandles with glittering dangling earrings and bangles.  Her kirtimukh well hidden inside her dress.  Ravi came out with light saffron Shervani... 

“Hehe...” Bhanu gave him a hug and Dhatri gaped at him with dropped jaw.  When be locked his gaze on her, she hurriedly looked away turning pink.

“Look at him...Dhaa..how....” Disha whispered in her ear and before she could complete Dhatri snapped...

“I know how handsome he looks... “ She turned her face angrily and Disha hugged her fondly. 

“You too look beautiful, Dhaa...!” She kissed her cheek and Dhaa pushed her away pursing her lips.  Disha gave her her golden clutch and Dhaa was all set for the party, with her heart beating faster, her pulse throbbing with apprehension and her knees giving way in nervousness.  She sat on the sofa with a thud and found Ravi sitting beside.  She stole a glance at him and met his blue eyes beaming at her.  She smiled shyly and looking up raised her eyebrows.

“Beautiful..” His lips spoke and she turned her gaze down, blushing...! “JL...!” he smirked and she looked up angrily. 

“Be ready for the dance, SL...? he teased her and she clutched her stomach nervously.

“People dance with the bride...” he made another torturous statement and she looked at him frightened to the core...! That meant more people would talk to her,  touch her...!

“I am not a bride... I am your wife...!” she raised her finger angrily and he inched closer sliding his hand around her waist.  “My Wife!” he whispered.... “And about the kiss...!” she pushed him away in an instant...!

“Ok. ..!” she got up angrily and went to open the door....

“Jim...?” she squeaked... and Jim pushed her inside... “Am I too early?” he asked looking around..!

“Hey.. Dhatri..! You look beautiful...” he hugged her and Ravi came to greet him...! The invitees started filing in slowly and the house was full of fun and festivity with special section for kids ....  Mrs. Russel had no time even to look at the couple.  She was bustling around in her blue floral skirt and a glittering golden shirt...!

“Awe....!” A collective sigh resonated as she glided down gracefully with a Black party gown, revealing her left thigh, high... All eyes glued to her sexy, slender but curvy body... some hungrily craving and some enviously...! Disha went breathless, sucking in her breath, completely stunned with her beauty... Sanyogita was all set to steal the show....!

*****  *****  ****  *****

Vinit went into his room followed by Sandy and Goldy wagging nervously.  He was not in his elements at all.  He didn’t even patted them.  They both sensed something was terribly wrong with their Master.  Even the loving guest Rini had not shown the love she always did...! They both sat at his feet looking up at him with some hope.  He stared unfocused at the crumpled papers in his hand.

“Rini? ...” He still couldn’t believe.  There must be something wrong... Something very very wrong... Was she setting up a drama? Was she taking revenge? His fists clenched... “I won’t spare her, if she has done it on purpose...” he stared at those recent reports...

“Ok..! Ok..!” he calmed himself down breathing steadily and deeply  “Let me investigate...!” he said to himself.

“What if its true?” his mind thought otherwise, twisting his heart....hoping against the hope that it was only a drama.

“But what if, its true?” his brain asked.  The next few hours he buried himself in his room and when came out, was calm and determined.

“Amma... I still want to marry her...!” he said and swarnima turned ghostly.

“No..!” She clutched her hand on her mouth suppressing a scream.

“Yes.. Amma... Abba...” I will still marry her.  There are methods to keep safe... There are methods even to have babies... I want to marry her...!” he said looking at his father for support.  He had turned stony.

“His son... His only surviving son wanted to marry a HIV positive girl...! How could he..?” The thunderbolt destroyed his life...! He took the papers from Vinit...!

“Abba... listen to me..! This can be done...! Imagine... If I were a positive after our marriage... What would have happened?” he asked solemnly. And Swarnima let out a houl...!

“Vinit...!” she sobbed uncontrollably.  He held her hand patting on her back.

“Amma... Please try and understand... Please... This can be done... We just have to accept it and take safety measures... as we do for other contegeous diseases.. ! Amma... there are precautions...! We both can have a normal married life... Only thing is we must take due care.....!” He sighed recollecting his condition when doctors had warned him about his declining spirm count and had raised doubts about the capability of his reproductive organs...!

“But Vinit...!” Virender found his voice.

“What if she was your daughter, Abba? What you would have done, if someone proposed her, knowing her condition?” he asked poignantly and Virender fell silent.  His selfish mind said, he would have happily said yes but his good senses said he would have said no..! He shook his head miserably...

“No... Beta... I wouldn’t have ruined someone’s life..!” Vinit shook his head hopelessly.

“No life is ruined Abba... You know... HIV is manageable... We can have a good life...!” he held both his parents in one tight embrace. 

“Huh... huh... I will talk to her, Abba...!” he said cuddling his mother.  She sobbed harder.  Virender looked on enviously... Women can cry it out... but what about him? He must put up a brave face.  Must salute a martyre in the coffin, bravely... Even his son...! He crumpled the chit in his hand and then tried to smooth it out, swallowing hard sending back his tears....!

“Wait a minute...! Which is this path lab?” he tried reading masthead of the report, again with his blurr vision...!