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“Tiger….!” She said looking down shyly.  Ravi gaped and others just looked puzzled and confused.   Maria had a hearty laugh and then Koite and Jim realized.

“Tiger…?!!...DHATRI….!! You turned Tiger?” Ravi asked in disbelief.  That meant she already consumed two shots….! Dhatri turned on her heels to disappear but Jim had caught her.

“Oh! That will give you courage… Come on… Dance with me…!” he teased her and she just disappeared….!

“Ray…..!” Dr, Koite said stealing a glance at Maria.  She just nodded turning pink. 

“Congratulations….!” Ravi grinned happily congratulating both.

“Finally….!” Dr. Koite said glancing at Maria.  They both had decided to get married.. Dr. Kote was on his two years sabbatical and she had decided to quit. 

“They came closer during Dhatri’s search operation…!” Jim said laughing and Ravi looked around for Dhatri. "Another credit attributed to Dhatri...! She brought them closer...!"  She was nowhere to be seen. 

“Hope she doesn’t become hog….!” He blurted and went in search for her. 

“Where is your wife?” Sanyogita asked disdainfully.  She knew Ravi wouldn’t retort harshly in the presence of guests. 

“I am here…!” Dhatri was behind and Sanyogita recoiled …! Ravi turned holding Dhatri’s hand.

“What did you do to her…?” he asked.  Dhatri looked up at him sheepishly…!

“I behaved like a cornered cat…!” she said turning her reddening face.  Ravi gaped and then pulling her along…

“Cornered cat becoming a tiger?” Dhatri smiled shyly.  And then said….

“She…!” then suddenly stopped.  There was no point telling Ravi what Sanyogita tried to do….!

“You won’t succeed…!” Sanyogita span in anger trying to break free from Dhatri.  Dhatri had held her wrists tightly.  She couldn’t talk but knew Sanyogita was all set to harm her.  Her animal instinct prompted her to run… run away from danger…! But then she felt cornered.  Sanyogita would break free anytime in that secluded dark place and no one would know what actually happened to Dhatri….!

“I will kill you….!” Sanyogita hissed and Dhatri tightened her grip. 

“You need help…!” she blurted rolling up her eyes in some kind of trance….! Snayogita was not well but Dhatri couldn’t find out what that illness was… She didn’t know what was wrong with her…! Was she losing her powers or was Sanyogita more powerful than her….! She felt the tussle inside her…!

“I don’t need any help… Do you understand?” Sanyogita hissed again trying to push away Dhatri….! Dhatri looked confused… She had sensed unwell… but ….What was that?

“Don’t you dare touch me again…!” Sanyogita had overpowered Dhatri and was strangulating her pressing her thumbs on her throat…! Dhatri chocked and then had freed herself by force and had held Sanyogita’s shoulders…!

“You need help….!” Dhatri’s hands moved downwards towards her elbows…! Sanyogita winced and turning on her heels vanished in the crowd…!

Sanyogita fumed.  This girl… An evil… must be eliminated…! She would ruin all the plans…! Sanyogita looked at Sayajirao who was talking with the guests at the far end.  If she needed to stay with him….She must eliminate both Ravi and the girl…! She clenched her fists…!

“This outright evil must be eradicated…! Saya alone cannot resist but this damn son… Just like that old man…!” She gulped the drink….! This was her last chance to turn the tables…! She had never failed before… and she would never fail in future…! She always managed to get what she wanted…snatching, fighting, conniving, lieing, cheating… she had done everything possible to get what she wanted…And done it successfully…! People had fallen for her, She would have make them ride on the waves of passion and before they could realize what they were into she would have left them high and dry…floundering in repentance and guilt, for hurting their own people…! Resentment, Jealousy and vengeance were the feelings she always carried devoid of sympathy and remorse… but she was charming, smart, witty and intelligent to mask her  true, ugly face under her beauty….!

She was a conniving predator, very choosy about her pray and once trapped, would squeeze him to death both mentally and financially…! Sayajirao was lucky to have his grandfather alive at that time who saw her through…. ! Ravi seemed to have seen her through as well.  And this damn wife of his… That dumb, stupid, moron, evil girl was incapable of any sensible thing… But Ravi had fallen for her!

Sanyogita jerked her head, brushing aside all the thoughts about that girl.  “You will be eliminated soon…!” Sanyogita smirked raising her glass in the air for no one…!

The lights flickered dangerously emitting a spooky shadow play and the kids screemed in fright.  Everyone stopped and the defeanning sound of thunder bolt filled the air…!

“Close your eyes Dhaa…!” Ravi held her close to his heart and she closed her eyes…

“Puff… the lights went off and everyone let out a scream… A moment later… the pool side illuminated with bright lights and thunderous music and Dhatri tried to breakfree from his lip lock. 

“Umm  umm… she struggled in vain going breathless.  Ravi broke apart amongst clapping and jeering…! Dhatri’s heart pounding… she tried to turn on her heels losing her balance and Ravi held her again in his strong arms.  She pushed him away and Disha came running.  Hugging Dhatri with teary eyes she grinned happily.

“Dhaa…!” she kissed on her cheek and Dhatri steadied her breath… fuming with rage… Ravi had broken his promise.  But then when did Ravi promised that he won’t kiss her? She vanished from the scene morose with everyone….! The lip gloss taste still lingered on Ravi’s lips..!

Santogita gazed with hateful eyes seeing Dhatri run inside the house…! She soon followed…!

*********  ******

“Rini?” Nilima opened the door in the afternoon surprised to see Rini at the door?

“Mamma…!” Rini came in.  “Finished reporting?” Nilima asked.  Rini had returned ahead of time.  She was to return next week.  Nilima was surprised…!

“Humm… “ Rini sighed.  “finished the work…!” she said moving into the bathroom.  Nilima hurriedly went into the kitchen to prepare coffee for Rini. 

“Mamma… I… I.. just want to…!” Rini buried her face in Nilima’s laps like a small girl.  Even in her childhood she had never done that.  Nilima gathered her in her arms…!

“Everything is over…!” Rini didn’t hide her tears…!  Nilima didn’t ask anything… kept patting her daughter…!

“Thukk gai hoon mamma….!” Rini closed her eyes and Nilima felt a knot in her chest. 

“Haan… beta…. So jao…!” she gathered her in her arms and cuddled her.  Tears rolling down … Rini’s burnt..…

“If this is an end… be it on my mamma’s laps…” Rini closed her burning eyes letting her tears roll down…!

The reporting had proved more traumatic.  The euphoria of the success of the mission, soon faded away as the reporting started with every minute detail to be recounted and accounted for.  The hell she relived with every passing hour of reporting… The files were returned and every paper was carefully scrutinized…!

Soon the trauma took over.. The brutality, misery, mosterous behaviour, the killings, the rapes… Everything caught up with her like a ghost.   It would haunt her till death… How she was made to please the leaders .. how the young lads were brainwashed, if not then brutely killed chopping the limbs in front of other kids …! How the battlian was raised in the name of Jehad to behead the non believers…! How a salvation was promised… ! The women were used, abused, raped, and then killed for fun…! All this was so overwhelming and finally… her file… her medical reports…

She gaped at the reports… She had never seen the file so keenly… She was prescribed some medicines, she never consumed…! In fact, she didn’t know about the prescriptions.. Her Path Reports…! She couldn’t digest what was happening around.  Commander had taken the file with an expressionless face and had given her, her vacation grant letter, and her railway warrant..!

Did that mean, she was relieved from her duties? She didn’t know.  She had taken a copy of the receipt and had hunted for the Path Lab to get to the truth and then found out… That her medical reports were …! The Path lap had given the same reports to her.  She had lost it.  She had lost the purpose of her life.  She wouldn’t be in the services now…! Before they asked her to leave, she should resign…! Have her last day peacefully spent in her home… with her parents.

Rini had made up her mind.  Had sent her resignation letter to her Command.  Had met Vinit’s parents… didn’t hide anything from them…Requested them to forgive her and forget her…! Wished Vinit all the happiness in his life and had left for her home, without looking back.  There was nothing to look back…. She had lost everything…! Lt. Gen. A. K. Singh had tried to contact her.  Vicky had swollen fingers trying to dial her number… She had switched off her cell…!

Nilima felt her anguish…! She wanted to ask her daughter…! Tell her that her family is always with her…. Give her the strength that no matter what, her mamma will always be there…! Nilima didn’t say anything of that.  That was not the time.  Her rini was in anguish and she should pacify her daughter…! Nilima sent back her tears…! She needed to be strong for her strongest daughter…! Rini’s vulnerability pierced her heart….! The doorbell rang… Rini got up startled ….!