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"Don't worry, every first experience of this warlike trauma ends up in resignation ..." Col. Gomez said soothingly seeing both Salil and Nilima in shock.  They didn't know she had resigned. 

"Salil... We will take her home..! I can't see her like this...!" Nilima sobbed and Salil nodded. 
"Yes.. we are taking her back... Please accept her resignation..." Salil pleaded by Col. Gomez shook his head.

"Every person going through war like trauma goes through this condition of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder... All the sixteen members have gone through this.. Those who were experienced in such missions, have recovered already and joined their duty.  This is expected from the first timers.  Special care is being taken for them...! You don't have to worry...!" Assured Col. Gomez.  Salil shook his head dejected.

"No, Sir...! I can't bear her anguish.  I just want to take her home...!" he said with determination.  Col. Gomez smiled.  "It is not her anguish, its just the pain of the scar the trauma and sufferring left behind..." he said confidently and then said...

"The therapy will bring her back to normal soon...She is a strong officer...!" Salil looked away dejected.  Col Gomez was considerate.  He looked at the civilian couple sympathetically.
"Poor souls, can't bear the anguish of their daughter... She is the daughter of the nation first...! They should know, what a Army family goes through...!" he thought gazing at Vinit.  Vinit gave a nod understandingly.

"Be here with her for a couple of days..." he concluded the meeting and Vinit with Rini's parents came out.  They still were oblivious to her HIV report. 
Rini, oblivious to all this, sat on the bed pondering over the incidents, relieved that her parents are with her, no matter what happens to her..!

*******  ********  ******
"Damn this..! What is she doing here?" He gritted his teeth, mutterring under his breath, seeing Sanyogita in the house.

"Son..." she hugged him happily.  He just move away from her after a moment.  Dhatri stepped into the house.  Sanyogita glared at her.

"Something must be wrong with this couple.." She thought glancing at Dhatri disdainfully.  From no angle this Indian girl was a match to her handsome boy. 

"Aiinn Baahoo...!" Mrs. Russel greeted them happily. 
"What is she doing here, Mrs. Russel?" he asked angrily and before Mrs. Russel could open her mouth Sanyogita said cheerfully.

"Oh! Sonny... Saya had to go on his business trip and requested me to stay on... You know.. I couldn't say No...! After all...."
"Enough..." he boomed exploding his pent-up frustration.  She looked taken aback and then collecting herself, said in a calmer voice...

"Oh! Come on....! Saya asked me to stay... But I guess you don't want me here...! Ok! I will book my ticket once he returns..." she said dismissively and moved towards the guest room.  Ravi looked at Mrs. Russel questioningly.  She looked away not knowing what to answer. 

Immediately after Ravi and Dhatri left for Lincoln, Sayajirao planned his business trip to Florida....! Sanyogita voluntarily offerred to stay till his return and as usual he couldn't say No...! She stayed on, making a big favor...! Sayajirao called up Ravi everyday giving him the details of his business trip... Just that he didn't speak a word about Sanyogita for the fear that Ravi would get upset...!

Dhatri sat on Sofa relaxed.  He had not spoken a word in their return journey.  She was used to not talking to anyone for days together.  But Ravi's silence was a big blow to her.  She knew he was upset at her outburst.  But she was helpless...She couldn't get on to his mood.  She felt guilty....!

Guilt was eating him alive...! It was a big setback for him.  He had rushed through and she had thrown him out...! He carried the luggage inside and opening the bags, arranged her things neatly along with his.  Neatness was his big plus point.  His things were always organized.  She was as messy as it could get.  Her sisters always used to get her things sorted out...! She was never used to be organized herself. 
Mrs. Russel brought in tea for her and she looked up at only one mug.  Ravi came out and took out a coke can from the refrigerator.  She looked away awkwardly.  She should have given him the can... she thought.  He sat on the chair away from her.  The distance was visible....!

"Dad is coming tomorrow...!" he said and Mrs. Russel nodded.  Dhatri felt relieved.  Mrs. Russel glanced at the couple saying...
"aaainn... I am going out.." He just nodded.  Dhatri gazed at the design of the carpet. 

"What am I supposed to do?" she didn't know.  She got up and went into the room to be surprised that the things were arranged so neatly. 

"Humm... Ravi...!" she turned the nob of the shower....! "I should also do something for him..." but she didn't know what!! There was a knock on the door.
"Dhatri...!" he tapped and she turned off the shower.
"I am going out.  Will be back by evening...!" he said and she turned on the shower again.
"Humm..." she felt sad....

He was out on his Hurley Davidson... riding aimlessly, cursing himself...! He had hurt her beyond redemption... He had taken her for granted... !
"But She was responding..." his heart cried out... For a long time he kept on riding on the freeway.... as the sunset engulfed darkness he turned...! He must go back to his home... Dhatri was alone...!

She was pacing the room restlessly... Her insecurities haunted her, making her mind venomous....! Her manipulative mind overwhelmed with the possibilities....!

"This girl....!" she clenched her fists... "Must be eliminated...!" She concluded...! Her calculative mindset weighed the pros and cons of her plan... ! Smirk appeared on her face.  she had done it before... many times...! She always managed to get what she wanted....snatching it from the one who had it.  She was a predator, choosy in picking up her pray...! leaving no traces behind only disaster, shattered minds and mourning surroundings...! Smirk changed into smile.. a wicked smile...! She closed her eyes relaxing on the armchair...!

"Maa.... " Kalindi was crying her heart out... ! Maa came in and gauged the scenario...She glanced at Sanyogita...!

"Maa... She.. she ... threw my snowy into the pit..." Kalindi sobbed harder...

"Oh! That piece of shit...! " Sanyogita spat disdainfully throwing up her nose..!
"It was my puppy..." Kalindi protested.

"Shut up... You! Another piece of shit..! Look at you... Ugly duckling...!" Sanyogita punched in her stomach.  Kalindi groaned painfully.  Maa twisted her lip and looked at Kalindi.

"Its ok.  She doesn't like pets... why do you want to irk her?" Kalindi got a reprimand.  She tried to protest...!

"But.. Maa... I had kept it in my room.  She sneaked in and threw it from the window...!"
"Oh! Come on... Go back to your room...And don't you dare bring in that filth in into my house again..." Maa had pulled Sanyogita closer pushing Kalindi away...

"I will throw this filth out and no one will even know I did it..!" she got up to her feet and seeing herself she straightened herself...! She always had done it.  She had manipulated her pray in such a way that even after the disaster, the other person would end up feeling bad... Who was she? No one knew.  Those who saw her through knew that she was not to be trusted and she was a deadly desease which would ruin others life filling it with emptiness...! Walking out of them was the only solution....  Was it possible for everyone?
She smirked....!

*****  *****
"Oh!" Col Gomez answered the phone and Rini waited shifting in the chair opposite.  She still was feeling dizzy but felt more calmer.  Nilima and Salil sat on either side and were gazing at Col. Gomez skeptically.  Maj. Vicky and Vinit had gone back and Salil had insisted that he would take Rini home.  Rini had submitted herself to her parents.  She too wanted to go home and have a peaceful life. 

Lt. General Singh walked in and Col. Gomez stood up, so did others.  A tight salute and Lt. Gen Singh, Southern Command nodded at Rini. 

"High alert .... Valley floods worsened...!" he said ignoring the civilians. 
"Need to send the team now!" he said urgently.  Before Gomez could respond, he went ahead...!
"Team of doctors, lady officers, and jawans..." he said and Rini spoke...

"What are we waiting for?" Col Gomez raised his eyebrows and Rini saluted bracing herself for the next mission... The flood relief.  Salil and Nilima gaped in disbelief.  A day before, she was suffering from PTSD and now she was ready for her next mission...!

Lt. Gen. A.K.Singh turned to Rini.
"Good...! You are heading the first team...! Chopper is ready.  Get ready in ten minutes... medicines and food packets are loaded.  First five members will move in 15 minutes...!

"Yes Sir!" she saluted and before Salil could react was out of the cabin picking up her sack..!
"See...!!?" Col. Gomez turned to shocked Salil and Nilima...!
"Army persons are Army persons, after all...! You cannot tie them down... they spring back for their motherland...!" Col. Gomez boasted proudly. 

********   *******
"Ravi...!" Dhatri got up from sofa seeing him at the door.  He gave a faint smile and went to his room straight.  Dhatri looked on...

Ravi had synced his mails and was working on his laptop as the company had scheduled his next deployment of security cameras and access control systems...! Dhatri walked into the kitchen.  Mrs. Russel was making Macaroni and Cheese banana bread for dinner.  She waited at the table.  Mrs. Russel turned with the dishes. 

"He is busy...!" Dhatri said and Mrs. Russel nodded.
"He takes dinner in his room...!" she said and Dhatri took the plate from her. 

"I will ...!" she turned with the dish and Mrs. Russel nodded smiling broadly.
"Ravi..." she was at the door with the plate.  He glanced up.
"Yeah..!" he said waving at the side table and busied himself again ...  She lingered for a moment. 

"You carry on with your work...!" she said and he looked up surprised.  She had taken a spoonful of Macaroni and held it up to his mouth.  He just opened his mouth as she fed him.  He ate wondering and she smiled flashing her dimples, happily.  She had found out a way to make it up to him...! Her hungry gudda was happy with full belly...!