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The oven beeped and they broke apart.  Sayajirao took out the tray.

“I am making that spicy curry for her...” he declared and Ravi grinned.

“You know, beti? He is a fine cook..” Dhatri looked at Ravi wide eyed full of admiration. 

“Yeah... !...” he said proudly and asked her casually.

‘How about you?” Dhatri hesitated a bit but then thought of telling the truth...

“Actually I was in hostel for my engineering... Before that Rini Didi and Mamma used to do everything.... And after that......”  She said sheepishly and Ravi turned winking at his father...!

“Actually... mamma wanted me to learn .... but then I got married and ...  “ She gulped some air to gather courage...

“Then I thought, I may not get opportunity to indulge into .. my mama’s wonderful cooking..!” she said looking away shyly...

“So... ended up learning nothing....!” Ravi completed her long explanation with the zist that she didn’t know cooking...! 

Sayajirao grinned and said happily...

“No worries.... We are here...! We both love cooking...” he declared and Mrs. Russel chipped in...

“Yeahn.... they both are just too good...! That Spicy Indian meal....! And Ray bakes exquisite cakes...!” she said laying the plates on the table.  “Roti and Lamb curry...” Dhatri took in the aroma to her hearts content lifting the lid and kept it back feeling embarrassed.  She suddenly felt hungry.  

“Oh! Wait a minute.... She likes Kheer...!” Ravi said excitedly. 

“Chawal ki kheer....” Dhatri shamelessly specified and he grinned.

“Yeah... I know... chaval ki kheer with cashew nuts and saffron sprinkled...” he gave her more details and she nodded happily.

“So give me ten minutes... Dad please soak the chaval...!” Ravi dashed out with dragging his bag to freshen-up and prepare kheer for Dhatri.  Dhatri sat at the table waiting for that exquisite dinner.  

****  ****  ****  

“But why did you have to go out?” Ravi asked Dhatri. Sayajirao looked up.  They had a full dinner and were relaxing with the TV news on. 

“Yeah... That too for more than five hours....!” By now they all knew she didn’t go for shopping and had not carried anything with her.  Dhatri drew pattern on the carpet with her toes feeling embarrassed.  She just shook her head a bit stealing a glance at Sanyogita, who seemed to be forgotten by everyone else.  Her presence was not worth taking notice.  Sanyogita shifted little apprehensively.  But Dhatri had her own apprehensions... She didn’t want to tell anyone that she was scared....! 

“But where did you go?” Sayajirao asked her curiously.  She looked little hesitant ... and then said...

“Some children part 37 street... up the hill...” Ravi gaped in disbelief.  

“A what? How did you reach there?” he asked.  She looked up confused.

“What does he mean how? Of course on my feet...!” She looked pitying her husband.

“Its seven miles from this place, Dhatri...!” Ravi clarified.  She had ran up the hill and returned...! 

“Oh!.... You must be tired.... You should take rest...” Sayajirao said with concern.  She looked down.... 

“Thats impossible... She must have hid somewhere nearby...Cheap attention seeking tactics...” She thought disdainfully.  Dhatri fidgeted little nervously.  “Why are these people so shocked...?” She didn’t know.  That wasn’t a big deal for her....! Running for an hour and coming back...! 

“And you found your way back...!” Exclaimed Ravi and she nodded smiling a bit...!

“Yes... I don’t get disoriented normally...” she spoke matter-of-factly.  Sayajirao gaped.

“You know... 37 – R- Down – R – R – L – R – L – L – R – 7 – 4 – 23....  Haa... And I am back home...!” She said brightly.

“What is that?” Sayajirao asked sitting upright trying to crack the puzzle.

“Counting the landmarks.... like came out of the park..took right turn... down the hill.. then right again right... like that....!  I had counted while running up to the park....” she said simply and Sayajirao joined his hands...!

“You are just unbelievable....” He looked at Ravi for his reaction, but he seemed to have known her ways...!” He just grinned at his father...! And then remembering something asked loudly, so that everyone got alerted.

“Dad... did you request her to stay here till your return?” Sayajirao was startled by this weird question but Sanyogita got the hind.  For a fleeting second she comprehended and before Sayajirao spoke anything....

“You don’t owe him the answer Saya... Its between you and me.... I agreed to stay and that's it..!” she said firmly and Sayajirao was more confused.

“What are you asking....?” He didn’t know what his son was really asking.

“You talk to me, Sonny... And you don’t have to bother.... I have already booked my ticket... now that Saya has returned, my duty to look after this house is over, I believe....” she said with her head held high and Ravi got up aggressively to confront her.  She held up her hand and stopped him.

“Its between us.... Sonny...!” She waved at Saya and he gaped with dropped jaw.

“Us? What is between us?” Finally he could utter...!

“Oh! Saya... You don’t bother....!” She flashed an angry look at Ravi, wrapping her arm around Saya.  Sayajirao moved away...! 

“Whats between us?” He asked thoroughly confused.  In a hurry of damage control, she said...

“Its between us... that you are my first love and will always be...” she said chocking with emotions and Ravi gazed in disbelief.  Sayajirao looked at his son...! Sanyogita suddenly turned aggressive, noticing the slipping ground....!

“Fine... you don’t want me here. In my husband’s house.... That's understood....! But remember Sonny, you are staying here... in our house...!” she came on to him aggressively.  But before she could utter anything, Dhatri had got up shielding Ravi. Sayajirao couldn’t assimilate anything... The conversation was so vague....he just couldn’t stop any one of them...!  

“Whats going on?” he asked loudly, sensing the tension.  “Saya...” Sanyogita turned to him but he stopped her raising his hand.

“Please stop this....! Ravi... I hadn’t asked her to stay... She stayed on her own... And Its my weakness, that I couldn’t say NO!” Sayajirao confessed....! 

“You don’t have to be so scared of him, Saya...! And Sonny... I told you, I am going...!” Dhatri clutched Ravi’s wrist.  The happy evening was spoilt... ! Sayajirao came forward and taking Ravi’s hand in his, said...”I want to talk to you ,,,!” Ravi nodded gesturing at the library.  Dhatri turned to her room, tensed up...! 

***   ***  ***

“Have you lost it? What do you mean quitting...?” Disha yelled shaking Bhanu holding him by his shoulder.  He just looked at the blankly.

“Quitting? And what will you do, Bhanu? Who’s going to pay half the bills?” she was more worried about the loans and credit cards...! Bhanu pulled her hands down...!

“Don’t worry, Disha... I won’t run away... I will pay all my dues...!” he said bitterly and Disha sat with a thud.

“Bhanu... I didn’t mean to hurt you... !” she said softly glancing at his furious face.

“I am just worried about you...!” she held his hand gently.  

“Oh! Come on... Don’t show your fake concern..!” he spat back with hatred.

“Bhanu... Please... I didn’t mean it...” she was in tears...! It was a big blow to her, when he declared that he had quit his job.  The job market was volatile... the auto companies were closing down... he had some how managed to retain his job... it was a suicidal move to quit the job at this point of time, according to her...! They both have already incurred huge expenses on big house in elite society and expensive cars....! 

Disha hid her face in her palms sobbing. 

“Oh! Come on... Disha... !” he threw his hands in the air frustrated...!

“I quit the job, doesn’t mean I won’t earn...!” he said disdainfully, looking at the state of panicky.  

“What will you do, Bhanu?” she asked hopefully that her husband might have some plan.

“I am talking to a few people...!” he said vaguely not wanting to give her any details...

 “What?” she jumped up on her feet, shocked.  

“You don’t even have a new job in hand?” she asked with utter shock. 

“God!! What are we going to do?” She banged her head and turning to him asked hurt...

“You don’t even discuss your plans with me...!” He looked away.  There was no point discussing anything with her.  She wouldn’t understand that he too wanted to plunge into different waters... explore new horizons...take some risk and hope to be successful...! She wouldn’t understand his aspirations...! She would be happy only if he brought in a lot of money....!! 

“How are we going to survive, Bhanu? Look at our monthly expenses....!” she said hopelessly, calculating the burden on her....! They had already decided to divide the expenses equally... If he didn’t pay.....Her thoughts stopped in horror. 

“How are we ...” Bhanu stopped....!

“Disha... I will pay my share... Don’t worry...!” he said firmly...! He had saved some and was hoping to earn in a few months time...! 

“But Bhanu... Why didn’t you tell me before quitting?” she asked aghast...! She thought she had a chance to dissuade him from quitting....! This was disastrous...! 

“Ok.... I need some rest now...” Bhanu tried to escape but Disha was not to leave him so easily... The argument continued culminating in a bitter fight....! 

“You just don’t care about me...aren’t you...!” she sobbed harder.  He just sat there folding his arms on his chest, wanting to ask her when was the last time she cared for him...!

“Look, Disha... your worry is only about my share in the payments, right? I assure you, your requirements will be met...every month,... without fail...! Is this ok? Can I go and have some sleep?” he asked getting up, little sternly.  Disha just gaped with a ghost like face...

“And yes...I have deposited my share in our joint account for next six months...!” he said coldly.  She looked at him thoroughly hurt.

“You think, I am worried about only money?” she asked sadly.  He glared at him...

“That is what you were emphasizing all the time, Disha... You didn’t even ask about my plans...!” he snapped bitterly and Disha hung her head.  Bhanu felt bad for her tactlessness...! Sighing... he went to his study to spend the night on his recliner...! Disha collapsed on the sofa losing her strength...What was she going to do...?

****   ****

“Ravi...” she got up from the bed when he came inside.  He looked at her apprehension and then turned to the table, taking out his laptop.  She sat silently waiting for him...

“I need to finish the work...!” he said turning to her.  She merely nodded...

“And you are coming with me...!” he said.  He wouldn’t take any chances with her now.

For a moment she felt better, but then she thought she would be a hindrance, so said considerately...

“No... You go! Finish your work and come back...!”

“Bu...” he opened his mouth... but she said hastily...

“I promise, I will not go out... I will stay at home...” and looking at his grave face, said

“And stay safe... I promise...!” he sighed and turned.  He seemed to have bought her promise.  

“Now you work and I will....” she said feeling relieved...

“And? What will you count Dhatri? Hair on my head?” he said arching his eyebrow and she gave him a silly grin...

“not a bad idea... “ she hopped out of the bed, stood behind his chair... 

“Ok... Start... 1..2..3..4...”Her fingers ran through his hair, pressing his head to her heart....!