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“Come on... Have something...!” Saya peeped in and Dhaa got up from the bed. Her favourite pass time was sleep...! 

“Yes.. Daddyji...” she said obediently and followed Saya in the kitchen...! Mrs. Russel had already laid the table elaborately.  Sanyogita was waiting, sipping the wine.  Dhatri looked at them sheepishly and took a chair.  

“Saya.... I am leaving next Sunday... Hope Sunny returns by then.... I am really going to miss you all...” Sanyogita said sweetly.  Saya merely nodded feeling swkward...! Mrs Russle busy with serving, Dhatri gaped at Sanyogita...! Her charm and beauty was beyond Dhatri’s comprehensive....!

“How old she is? Forty? Thirty Five?” Dhatri looked at her own skin comparing the unblemished creamy pale skin of Sanyogita.

“Humm..!” she sighed again realizing the striking resemblance of Ravi.  He is as charming and handsome!” She concluded feeling inferior...! 

“But then... He is as kind and loving as Daddyji...” she smiled at her father in law...who was busy eating the food made by himself.  But for him it tasted great since it had a flavor of his daughter in law’s liking too...! She liked what he liked since both were from the central India...!

Sanyogita felt a surge of hatred.  They were just not bothered about her, ignoring her completely. “ I can’t be ignored by these people..!” she fumed. Saya was telling Dhatri about his childhood pranks and she was laughing, jerking her head back and flashing her disgusting dimples....! Sanyogita couldn’t stand it... She butted in....

“Saya, you remember? That some damn falls.... what was that? Chitrakoot...! You were almost drowned in that water....!” she said loudly staring at Saya.  He suddenly became quiet.... Someone had pushed him into the waters when the falls was overflowing and roaring fiercely... The onlookers had helped him and brought him on the shore half dead...! He didn’t know who had pushed him... but Sanyogita had kept saying someone from the crowd had done it and before she could catch the person.... he had vanished....! Saya’s grandfather had never sent him alone with her anywhere....!

“Can you swim?” she asked Dhatri and Dhatri looked away...! 

“Thats ok. Beta... ! “ Saya consoled and Sanyogita looked at her contemptuously...! Dhatri busied herself eating....! There were so many things she didn’t know....! Swimming? She shuddered in fright with the memory....! She had almost killed her papu mari .... and then Grumpy had punished her keeping without food for the whole day and spanking her with cane....!  She inadvertently clutched her buttocks still feeling the pain....! 

“Its ok, beta... No problem..! So many even in America do not know swimming..!” he said kindly and Sanyogita’s eyes flashed.  Dhatri was getting more attention...! 

“Saya... Can we go out this evening... ? For dinner?” Sanyogita asked sweetly.  Dhatri stared...! Sayajirao glanced at her and said ...

“No! I mean I have a meeting in the evening....” Sanyogita sulked...! Mrs. Russel had cleared the table and Dhatri was lingering there aimlessly.  

“Beta...” Sayajirao called her.  She looked up.

“Can you come to my room?” he asked and she nodded.  He took her to his room and Sanyogita followed.... “What is he up to?” she was dying to know.  He had some papers and asked Dhatri to sign...! 

“I am bequeathing everything I have to you and Ravi...” he said and Dhatri looked up in horror...!

“No... Please...No! I don’t want anything...!” she said keeping aside the pen.  Sanyogita burned ...!

“I have the right over everything he has...!” she fumed....! She was denied her right....! Her eyes flickered in rage... The blue tinge became darker...! She clenched her fists.  Sayajirao had made Dhatri sign the papers and had taken her to the safe...!

“I am going to register you for the access...” he said ..

“This is Ravi’s product... Biometric Access control system... Only those who have the right can open this safe... And now you have the right...! You manage the house...now! I am going to retire soon..!” he said registering her finger for the access...! She felt overwhelmed...!

“But Daddyji... I don’t want anything... and I won’t be able to handle ...” she said trembling... She had never been given any responsibility before by anyone...! Everyone had managed everything for her.... She was never a part of her own decision making.. Except for her marriage and that also people around said, it was Ravi, whose decision it was to marry her...! This unexpected responsibility shook her...! 

“Now you have an access to everything we have.... !” He said with satisfaction placing his hand on her head...! 

“Its your home.... Dhatri...” he said solemnly.  She merely nodded.  

**********   ********  ******  ******

“Mamma.. please... No!” Rini said seriously when Salil and Nilima opened the topic of her marriage with Vinit.  Vinit nodded concurring with Rini.

“Let her complete her short service commission...!” he said considerately.  But Nilima was not ready to wait...!

“But you can get married and then she can continue ...” she said but Rini shook her head.

“No.. Mamma... I cannot!” Rini said firmly avoiding Vinit’s gaze.

“But why, Rini?” Salil too butted in.  Rini couldn’t tell the real reason but Vinit spoke....

“Thats ok... I am ready to wait...” he said winking at Rini.  Salil shook his head...

“But we are not, beta... I want her to settled down in her life...” he said holding Rini’s hand.  Rini just wanted to get rid of this unwanted, awkward question....

“Mamma... I have a job to do and cannot think of anything else...” she again swallowed hard avoiding Vinit.

“But why? Leave the job... “ Nilima spoke with her heart.... 

“Thats not possible, Mamma...” Rinit turned her face.  Vinit too looked serious...

“Are you hiding something from us?” Salil asked suspiciously.  Vinit glanced at Rini and took control.  They wouldn’t tell anything about Rini’s medical condition unless they were sure about it.  But they must explain...! 

“Muma papa... our jobs won’t permit us to get married... unless one leaves ...” he blatantly lied and then winking at Rini, said... “I am ready to quit the job, though... Anything to get married to her...!” Rini flared up throwing a punch in his direction. 

“Let me see... I will talk to Virender Bhaisaab...” Salil took out his card and both of them eruped saying “NO!”

“why not?” Nilima too got suspicious now...! Rini had to cover up.

“Because they are also too eager to tie the knot...” she said sheepishly glancing angry looks at Vinit.  

“Rini.. Don’t worry about us.  We are still healthy and fine... and We have three daughters and three sons...” Salil said pulling her closer to his heart.  

“Yes... and two of the couples are in US... Typical ...!” he grinned. 

“Nothing doing... I am calling Vireder Bhaisaab...” Salil got up to dial the number...!

********   ******  ******

“God..! What? What happened...” Mrs.Russel pulled out Dhatri’s lifeless body... She was floating in the pool motionless.... There was no one around...

“God!” she remembered the conversation, a couple of days back.  Dhatri didn’t know swimming.... and .... now she was in the pool.... lifeless?”  Mrs. Russel screamed in panic and ran inside to grab the phone...

“Call the ambulance, damn it...!” Sayajirao screamed over the phone disconnecting and dialing Ravi’s number...! Sanyogita had gone out in the afternoon and there were only Dhatri and Mrs. Russel in the home waiting for Sayajirao to return after his dinner meeting...! Ravi was on deployment at Client’s site....

Dhatri had stopped breathing...! Mrs. Russel banged on her heart till the ambulance arrived, as per the instructions issued by the para medics....!