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 “You are grounded, Lt. Dixit.  You will be given a desk job..!” Col. Gomez said dismissively and she got up to her feet in defiance.  No frontier mission? That was end of her life...! 

“No!” She blurted, still clueless ... !

“Retribution to desk job..!” he ordered throwing her file on the table.

“Desk job? She was floored..Grounded…!” she looked up hurt.  “Desk job? No!” That meant she would rot doing corrections in the designs, in Autocad…No frontier missions… No Border duty..! she would die…! 

“DRDO or Academy… what would be your choice?’ he asked sternly.

“Academy, Sir!” she said in attention and then looked at him confused.  Soldiers have no choice, they only obey orders…! She was given a choice! What was that?  She remembered that she had already put down her papers.. This has no meaning..! This is mockery of her condition. Anger shot up…! 

 “You may go!” he suddenly got up giving her another shock.

“Where?” stupid question was bound to get a reprimand...! 

“We will meet after Three hours..!” he said moving out of his chamber.

“Three hours? What will I do for three hours? Wait for him outside?” she had no clue what was going on.

She sat on the bench waiting for the next round.  

“Can I continue with my duties under this condition? Are they reconsidering?” She sat numb waiting for her relieving order. 

“Humm... So finally you reached here...!” Vicky’s husky deep hoarse voice ringed and she looked up shocked.  Vinit stood before her with a grim face and Vicky was sitting by her side.

“What are you doing here?” She got up at once.

“What you YOU doing here?” Vicky asked pulling her down on the bench again.  This time Vinit took the other side.  She stared at the wall ahead without a word.  

“Rini... I want to talk to you!” Vinit said and Rini got up.

“There is nothing left, Major Vinit Sir!” she sait saluting, following the protocol and turning her back marched through the corridor.  Vicky caught up with her...

“Dharini... Listen to him...!” he urged.  She shook her head.  “Why is he here? To rub salt on my wound?”  Pain surged through her heart.  She looked away. 

“Please.. Listen to him.  He has accepted your decision...! But just listen to his parting words..!”

“No!” she wouldn’t bear this.  She would die thousand deaths before saying him final goodbye.  Better not to talk to him at all.

“Look! He will talk to you anyway.  Remember? What he did in the Tank?” he reminded her those glorious, romantic days with Vinit.  She hesitated.  “Not what extreme measure is he going to take?” he looked at his sitting stiff posture.  

“Ok! I have two hours time, before my next round..” she said sighing and Vicky turned to Vinit.  Without a word, vinit walked past her into the bandstand and she followed.  Vicky watched them going with bated breath.

******* 

 “You are stuck up...!” He said sitting by her side on the bench.

“Haan?” she looked at him.

“Here.. with me!” he continued.

“umm.. No!” she said wearily.

“You ok?” he asked touching her shoulder.  She just nodded.  He sighed and got up.  

“I may have to go early tomorrow...!” he said and she nodded without a word.

The case had come up for trial and he was supposed to be present for his testimony.  Sayajirao had insisted to take her along when he was leaving for Lincoln, Nebraska.  They had landed in the afternoon and checked in into Hilton Garden Inn.  He was not sure what she would do when he got busy with his lawyers and deposition.  Knowing her anxiety problem, he wouldn’t ask her to come along in such a public place.  He was worried, more than his court case, about her! He regretted having brought her along. They came to a restaurant for dinner and then had a long walk along the lake.  She sat on the bench breathing heavily.  The winter was setting in. Cool winter was hitting badly.  There was no snowfall yet but the weather was soggy. Perfect for a newlywed couple.  Ravi looked at her.  She again was staring somewhere else.  .   .  

“You can go shopping...” he said.  She refrained from responding.

“I may be busy for the whole day...!” he said to himself but she nodded.

“Ok!” she said getting up.  He walked with her without a word.  He knew she would freshen up and pull the blanket over her head saying goodnight.  

“Dhatri...!” he gripped her arm lightly.

“Haan?” she slowed down. He swallowed with apprehension.

“Were you been kissed before?” he asked with bated breath trying to talk to her about their relationship.  Her eyes held him for a second and then she nodded affirmative..!

“What? Who?” he asked in a shocked surprise.  She just pointed at him...!

 “In the party...!” He exhaled and then chuckled. She freed herself.  

“Don’t tell me, you hadn’t had a boyfriend...!” he blurted not knowing how to talk to her about taking their relationship further.  She just walked away leaving him behind.  He leapt to catch up with her. She had already reached the parking lot.  He swiped the card and they drove out silently.  

***  ***   ****

She had changed into her night dress and was unfolding the duvet.  He had opened his laptop.  

“Good night...!” he said turning to his laptop.  “Humm... she would draw her blanket over her head and sleep like a log only to get up in the morning...” He sighed putting his head in the work ahead.  Early morning he would meet his lawyer, the trial would come up at eleven... It would be evening for him to come back to the room.  He was sure, what Dhatri would do! She would remain in the room the whole day, watching some movies or cartoon programs or play games on her cell...! He was worried about her food.  She wouldn’t order on her own.  He decided to order for her in the morning and instruct the Hotel staff to serve her enough food. 

Late in the night he shut down his laptop and turned to his bed.

“What? Dhatri?” He blurted in surprise.  She was sitting on the bed, resting her back on the headrest watching him work.  He looked at the time.  Three hours into the night she was sitting silently and watching him.  He sat by her side.  

“Goodnight!” she said heavily.  “Why didn’t you sleep?” he asked bewildered.

“Waiting for you...!” she said pulling the duvet up.  He pulled her up to hug her tightly.  

“Its already late... Goodnight!” she pushed him lightly drawing the blanket over her head.  He smiled, sliding himself under her blanket.

“What?” her muffled voice trailed under his clasp on her mouth.  He pulled her into his arms and whispered.

“Goodnight Dhaa... So jao...!” Closing his eyes he felt her steady breath...! 

When she opened her eyes in the morning, he was already ready to go.  She sat up.  He came up and kissed her on her cheek.  

“I will have breakfast on my way. You have Coffee and breakfast and lunch will be served in the room.  I will try to be as early as possible..!” she just nodded and he closed the door behind him.  She sat on the bed, not knowing what to do, pouring herself a mugful of coffee.  Watching TV was the better option...! 

**********    ********

He saw her sitting at the back and for a moment lost the track of where he was and what was going on.  The plaintiff’s lawyer was cross examining him and he was giving evidence and process of what he has done while installing the cameras.  She walked in and sat at the back.  He gaped speechless.  She gave a faint smile and he sighed with his spirits lifted.  

“How did she come here?” he blurted and the lawyer gave him a questioning look.

“Sorry!” he came back to the situation shifting in his seat in the witness box.  The cross examination continued.  Dhatri sat at the back gazing at her own feet listening to the proceedings, waiting for the proceedings to get over.  

She had turned on the Television and aimlessly  switched between the channels.  She had found nothing interesting.  The breakfast was equally bland and tasteles.  She gulped some more coffee with a few bites of sandwiches.  

 “I should have gone with him... “ she had thought and then making up her mind, got ready.  The moment she kept her foot out of the room, anxiety took over all her senses.  Clutching her vanity bag tightly she walked down the corridor, into the elevator down in the lounge.  

“Goodmorning... How may I help you?” the polite receptionist had greeted her.  She already had lost her voice.  She tried to speak up, but nothing came out except some gurgling sound from her throat.  The receptionist waited patiently.  Dhatri thought of running back to the room.  She clutched the access card.  Took some deep breaths and then kept the card on the reception desk.  Pulling the nearby scribble paper she wrote... 

“I want to go to Lincoln County District Court...!” she slid the paper.

“Oh! Its just 20 miles away...!” The receptionist said smiling...! Dhatri pulled the paper again.

“Can you arrange a taxi?” she asked and the receptionist got her point.

“Oh! Yes, sure...!” she said picking up the intercom.  Dhatri had thanked her, when the vehicle had arrived.  Going upto the entrance, she had ran back again and pulling the paper, had scribbled a thank you and cancelled the lunch service...!” She had sat in the car alone praying her mari mai...! When she arrived at the district court, the towering, looming five storied building gave her jitters.  But her new found method of communication rescued her.  She would write her question on a paper and would get the directions.  A huge LCD panel had displayed the cases on board for the day.  She had found out the sessions court looking into the Axix security and access control systems. LLC Vs The Nebraska Business Condominium . (She had done an academic project with the sponsorship of the company, afterall...!) she had entered the huge court room to find her Gudda in the witness box.  She had sat there waiting to get over...!