Part 18

“She still has high fever... Not responding to the treatment...!” Doctor said gravely and Salil’s heart sank.  

“Her reports....!” Dr. Salil gaped at the stretched out file.  He didn’t have the courage to take it.  He looked at her daughter on that death bed.  Her involuntary movements stabbed him.  Her hands were twitching... the IV had oozed out under the skinn swelling her hand like a balloon.  A nurse hurriedly came in to remove the IV needle.  She ointment for her superficial thrombosis, lifting her hand and keeping it in upright position with the help of the strap hung on the bar of her bed.  

He gaped....! “Umm... doctor... Can we shift her to another hospital?” he asked hopefully.  “Will it help?” he asked praying hard for a positive answer.  There was no response from the doctor for a while... 

“She is critical... It will be a big risk to move her in this condition...!” The doctor said gravely.  Salil stared at her twitching hands.....! “She is sensing malady, illness...everywhere...!” he thought looking around seeing patients everywhere.  “She should be moved away from this environment....!” he made up his mind.

“Doctor.. Can we shift her to a private room? Away ...!” He asked holding doctor’s hand.

“I will check.  But it will cost...!” 

“I will manage... Please Doctor?” Salil urged.   The doctor moved, he followed.  “Please Doctor, do something...if we can shift her to private room... I will pay... I can manage...!” he pleaded.  That was the only solution he could think of.  The doctor looked at him intently rubbing his palms.  Salil looked at him.

“Yes, doctor...! Tell me how much..!” the doctor was expecting his cut in the deal.  “Five!” he said and Salil agreed.  Things moved faster than expected when Salil paid the Doctor five thousand rupees, under the table  and soon she was shifted to a private airy room on the top floor.  Salil took a sigh of relief. 

“We do not know the cause of her fever... “ said the dean seriously.  Dr. Salil looked on.  He knew the reason but couldn’t talk about it.  No one would believe him and he wouldn’t tell anyone to put his Dhaa in more trouble.  

“Does she get fever frequently?” Doctor asked looking at the test reports.  Salil nodded.  “How frequently?” Doctor interrogated.  “Frequently..!” answered Salil.  “How does she get well?” asked the doctor.  Salil fumbled.

“Cold water bath and Crocin...!” he gave a lame answer. 

“Strange...! She sustains that kind of high fever...!” exclaimed the doctor.  Salil looked away. 

“This looks like some kind of autoimmune disease...!I am not sure...!” the doctor blurted and went away.  Dhatri still on the bed with oxygen mask opened her eyes.  

“Doctor...!” Salil went out hurriedly to call the doctor seeing his daughter opening her eyes after a week in the hospital.  ... The person under the blanket sitting on the wooden bench on the top floor of the hospital got up to go!!

**********   *********

“Rini... Stop! Don’t speak on her behalf.  Let her speak..!” Salil said sternly.   Dhatri was looking at her family nervously locking her fingers.  

“Yeah.. ok...Dhaa.. tell them...!” Rini ordered Dhaa and she opened her mouth fidgeting nervously.

“Yeah.. I mean... as Rini Didi says... Science..!” she said weakly casting glances at Dharini and her father.  Salil shook his head hopelessly.  

“Rini.. you are letting her grow like a parasite... !” he said gravely and went away.  Rini gave a broad smile and hugged her Dhaa, snatching her tenth standard marks list.  Dhatri hugged her back, relieved.  

“Rini didi...!” Dharini started off weakly but Rini was not ready to listen to anything.  She was dancing with Dhaa’s marks list.  

“Good...Very Good!” she patted on Dhaa’s back.  “shabaash...!” Rini was happy with Dhaa’s results.  Dhaa got ninety percent in her CBSE board exams, less than her elder sisters. Both Disha and Dharini had secured their places in the merit lists. But everyone in the family was very happy.  Disha had called up from USA.  Rini was in her second year Mechanical Engineering and was waiting for her results, sure that she would top again.  

“Rini didi...!” Dhatri tried again.  

 “Shuuu.... Dhaa... Stop.  I know you will do it... Don’t worry!” Rini said in a hushed voice and Dhatri’s resistance died out.

Dr. Salil went into his room to find Nilima sitting at the study table scribbling something.  “Writing to Maasi Maa...!” she said smiling at him.  He sighed and put his arm around her shoulder from behind, resting his head on her shoulder.  She patted sympathetically. 

“Don’t worry!” she said looking at his grave face.  

“We should keep her away from Rini...!” he said sitting on another chair beside his wife.  Nilima smiled...

“Humm... I know..!” she said and got up.  “Soon Rini will also move out..!” she had tears.  “Yeah... probably, she will be the first woman to join Army from this part of the country..!” Dr. Salil said proudly.  Rini had a dream to join Indian Army....!

 

Part 17

Nilima and Disha rushed to the hospital.  Salil was waiting for them.  Dharini was allowed inside the ICU ward again. 

“Salil...!” Nilima was apprehensive.  “I don’t know.... bu...but Rini says its her!” Disha had already dashed in.  The security guard stopped her outside ICU ward and she peeped in through the glass door nervously.  She saw a girl on the bed with numerous tubes, wires and electrodes attached.  She pressed her hand on her mouth to suppress her scream.  “Dhaa....!” she was not sure.  Dharini was sitting on the chair beside the bed and was holding the bed.  She was told not to touch her Dhaa or anything.  She was to obey to be with her Dhaa.  

“Only one person is allowed inside...” The security guard was strict enough.  Disha waited with bated breath.  But Dharini was not to come out.  The doctor came with Nilima and Salil accompanied by the Inspector and the guard opened the Huge Glass door of ICU ward of civil hospital.  

“No.!” Nilima Clutched her mouth looking at the small figure lying on the bed miserably.  “No...!” she fainted and the doctor came to her help.  “Please take her out... !” He pleaded and Salil took his wife out when she was able to heave herself on her feet.  

“She can’t be Dhaa...! Look at her... she is so small... Dhaa is not this small....!” she kept saying holding on to her husband for support.

“Doctor...!” Disha ran behind the doctor.  “Yes..?” he looked back.

“I mean... can I go in and see my sister?” she pointed at the ICU ward.  “Yes!” he said.  “Umm..Can you please tell the guard...?” she requested joining her hands earnestly.  The doctor turned back to instruct the guard.

“Didi..!” Rini held Disha’s hand.  Disha kept looking at the small girl unblinkingly... “Didi... she is Dhaa..!” Rini said confidently.  Disha looked at Rini in disbelief.  The small girl didn’t look like Dhatri from any angle.  “Rini...!” Disha held her tightly.  Rini got up with a jerk.

“She is Dhaa, Didi..! Look at her hands... she cured someone... look at her ... She is Dhaa... my Dhaa...!” Dharini broke down.  Disha patted on her head.  “Shuu... Rini... stop crying... else they will send you out!” she whispered and Rini stopped immediately.  “No... I am not going anywhere....!” A nine year old child was determined to stay with her younger sister Dhatri.  “Rini...Let us go!” Disha pulled her hand.

“No.. I will stay here!” Rini resisted.  Doctor came in. 

“Dharini, go with your didi and come back later.  We have to change your sister’s bed...!” Doctor said gravely looking at the chart hung on Dhatri’s bed.  Disha took Dharini out of the ICU ward.  The ordeal was not over yet.  Doctor came out and talked to Salil.

“We have to put her on ventilator... she is not breathing properly..!” he said gravely and Dr. Salil hung his head dejected.  There was a bustle outside and the Dean came in hurriedly.  Doctor dashed forward to talk to him.  They had a talk in hushed voice and the doctor went away.  The scavengers, ward boys, nurses, aayas, matrons, sisters, interns... everyone associated with the hospital were in some kind of hurry.  Dr. Salil watched on helplessly.  He didn’t know what to do.  Dhatri was so critical that he couldn’t think of shifting her to a private hospital.  He heard siren and the motorcade stopped at the entrance of the hospital.  

Minister Inderjeet Negi walked into the hospital to pay a visit to the girl fighting her battle, who survived in the encounter with naxals.  Dr. Salil was shocked to see the minister at the hospital.  “How did he know?”

“Dr. Salil Dixit, don’t worry! She will be given the best possible treatment...!” Minister consoled him looking straight into his eyes with a shade of threat.  Salil shuddered.  He looked away in dejection.  He knew that his Dhaa was at the mercy of the minister now.  He had watched helplessly the sycophancy of the Dean of the hospital in front of the minister.  He lost hope....! Dhaa was losing her battle inside and he was losing his, outside the ICU ward.

“What am I going to do?” He had no answer.  Disha had taken Nilima back home.  She wouldn’t bear the anguish.  The girl on the bed was beyond recognition.  Dharini had not moved an inch from Dhaa’s bed.  She knew it was her Dhatri and was waiting for her to open her eyes.  It was sixth day since Dhatri was admitted to the hospital and Dharini had not left her sister.   

“Rini.. go home! Have some rest!” he said placing his hand on her head.  “No papa... Dhaa will wake up.  She will need me!” Dharini was sure that her Dhaa will wake up soon.  Salil looked away hiding his tears.  Doctors had said Dhatri was unable to breathe and was on artificial respiratory system.  He didn’t want Rini to see if anything happens to Dhaa.  He wanted to send her away.

“Papa... Don’t worry.  I will sleep here.  You go home!” A  kid was consoling her father.  Salil broke down.  “Rini...!” he lifted her and held her tightly for support.  Rini patted his back.  “Papa... you go home..!” she said maturely and wiped his tears.  It was nine in the night and Disha had come to take Rini home.  

“Rini.. go home.  Come back here tomorrow morning...!” her father, salil talked to her soothingly.  “No...!” she screamed hysterically.  “I am not leaving Dhaa... you all go!” she jerked herself free and ran towards the ICU ward.  Guard stopped her and she kicked him with all her might.

“No... Rini, Stop!” Disha held her tightly.  She looked back at her dejected father and said.  “Ok.. stay here with us.  But tomorrow morning we are going home to get breakfast for Dhaa...! She likes Kheer... So we are going to get her Kheer!” Disha said gravely and Dharini smiled.

“Yeah... Tomorrow morning we will get Kheer...! Didi ask mamma to prepare...!” she looked up.  Disha worked hard to hide her tears and forced a smile on her face.  They all set to spend the night in the hospital.  Rini slept peacefully on her father’s laps.  Disha didn’t even close her eyes.  Salil was completely dejected.  He held Disha’s hand for support.  Barely sixteen year old girl was taking care of the entire family. 

“Mr. Dixit...!” A nurse was waking him up.  “Wh.. what?” he woke up with a start and Disha opened her eyes getting up with a jerk.

“Please come with me...!” She said turning and Salil heaved Dharini.  Disha took her from Salil and Salil walked with the nurse with bated breath.  Disha patted on Dharini’s head to pacify her waiting for her father to return.  

 A person sitting at the other end of the corridor covered in a blanket stirred in his sleep.

Part 16

“Salil, Minister visited…!” Nilima said gravely to Salil’s shock. 

“What? When?…Who?” Salil asked with bated breath.  He again had gone to the Chandrapur Police station to identify Dhatri’s belongings and had come back saying those were not Dhatri’s.  This was the fifth time in last two months he was called to the police station to either identify body or to confirm some clue.  CRPF had done a combing operation in the jungles of Bastar with no success.  Suspicion alarmed him.  “Is the minister behind this?” He floundered.  He couldn’t do anything for his Dhaa.   He just had to wait for some news about her.  

“Salil, what happened?” Nilima asked concerned.  He couldn’t tell her anything.  Helplessness crept in. He turned his face and went out hiding his tears.  He was losing it.  He was losing hope that his daughter would return.  Disha had already lost it.  It was only Dharini who kept saying, that Dhaa would return.  She was sure that her Dhaa is alright and would return soon.  She tried going out of the house in search of her Dhaa only to be brought back by Dayal Chacha.  Salil kept the doors locked in the night.  

Schools reopened.  Dharini forced her father to buy books for her Dhaa also.  “I know, Dhaa will be back soon!” she was sure. “I will help her in studies!” she kept saying.  Her faith and optimism kept the family going.  Maasi Maa had gone back.  Disha’s college had started.  She ignored the gazes of people and whispers of her classmates and concentrated on her studies keeping her head down.  Bhanu Pratap kept calling her from Delhi.  She poured her heart out to him.  Only Dharini was normal who kept her head on her shoulders.  But her aggressiveness had intensified.  Any mention of her Dhaa would flare her up and she would bash the person furiously.  She was the only person in the house who kept her Dhaa alive.  Everyone else had given up.  Police search was unsuccessful.

On December 1, 2000, a combining operation in naxal-affected Saranda forest area of West Singhbhum district, Police also recovered a solar plate, four radio sets, couple of torch, a flash light, some medicines, clothes, laptop chargers sixteen dead bodies of the villagers and three half dead bodies; of a girl of around four ; a middle aged woman and a boy of around 10!  They were admitted to the Civil Hospital of Bastar and again Dr. Salil was called for identification.  

He couldn’t recognize his own young daughter.  A skin headed, painted black, with blisters on her hands and bruises all over her body; the girl was fighting for life in the ICU with tubes and monitors attached to her body.  She was gasping under the oxygen mask and doctors were worried about her recovery.

“No! She is not Dhatri.  She is some other girl..! She is not Dhaa!” Dr. Salil kept saying looking at the girl, losing her battle from the door.

“Ok….!” Police Inspector sighed.  He had some hopes that he had some success but Dr. Salil’s denial proved him wrong.  Dr. Salil turned to leave looking at the Inspector hopelessly.  The doctor attending to the girl came out.  

“Inspector… she is blurting some name… Rini.. Didi.. something…!” Dr. Salil turned shocked.

“What? What did you say? Didi? Rini Didi?” he held Doctor’s shoulders shaking him vigorously.  “Ye… yes!” Doctor confirmed.  The next moment Salil was inside ICU.  

“Dhaa…!” he cried out chocking….! No response.  Doctor dashed in to control Salil.  Salil broke down completely.

“I don’t know! I can’t tell!” he kept saying hiding his face in his palms and crying out his daughter’s name.  Inspector somehow brought him out.  He regained his composure after a while.  

“Umm… Salil Saab… I mean … who is this Rini Didi?” asked Inspector in a low tone.  Dr. Salil looked at him blankly, “she is my daughter, Dharini…!” he said aghast.  Inspector gaped in shock.  He looked at Dr. Salil.

“Can we bring her here?” he asked and Dr. Salil nodded. 

Dharini was brought to the Civil Hospital. 

“Dhaaa….! She is Dhaa…Papa!” Dharini tried to break free from her father the moment she saw the girl on the almost death bed. 

 Doctor was still worried.  Dhaa was losing the battle.  Her pulse was weak, she was not responding to the treatment.  

“No! Dharini.. wait!” Salil tried to hold her tight.  But she went hysteric the moment she saw Dhatri.

“Papa… she is Dhatri… I know…Let me go in…!” Dharini cried out loudly.  Dr. Salil looked at the Inspector and Doctor.  Doctor nodded.  

“Dharini, come here!” Doctor took her away.  “Look.  The girl in the ICU is not well.  She is very sick.  We have to be careful. 

  Ok?” he said in a whisper.  “Ok!” Dharini nodded.  She was ready to accept anything to go to her Dhaa. 

“And you will not touch her! Ok?” Dharini nodded again.

“And don’t touch anything.  You know, she is sick! Ok?” Dharini accepted every condition.

“Let me go in…!” she pleaded.  “Ok!” the doctor took her inside.  Dharini went inside and stood beside her Dhaa.

“Dhaa….” She called out in the girl’s ear.  No response.  Dharini couldn’t control herself.  She held her sister’s hand.  “Dhaa…!” she called out again.  No response!  

“She is unconscious, beti..!” the doctor too chocked looking at the plight of desperate Dharini.  Dhatri was losing her battle with this.

“Dhaa…!” Dharini screamed at the top of her voice when the doctor tried to take her out and Dhaa shuddered.  The monitor beeped and the doctor turned.  He held Dharini’s wrist.  “Call her again!” he said looking at the monitors.  

“Dhaa…!” Dharini called out in a scream again and the girl on the bed shuddered again.  

“Stay here! Don’t touch anything…!” The doctor said in excitement and signalled the nurse issuing frantic instructions.  Two of the nurses bustled and Dharini was taken away.

“Papa… she is Dhaa.  I called herr… She is Dhaa!” Dharini said sobbing hard.  After a torturous while the doctor came out.  “Dharini, you stay here with your Dhaa…”  He said looking at Salil and Dr. Salil nodded with tearful eyes.  He called home.  

“Nilima… Dharini says its Dhaa…!” he said unsure.  He still was not sure but Dharini was sure that it was Dhatri.  Only the girl on the bed would know who she was.

Part 15

Part 15

They had reached a small hamlet.  Bijoy made some weird whistling, which reverberated through the valley.  Dhatri imitated giggling.  “Shuu… stop! No!” Bijoy stopped her and stood still listening to the responses.  He heard percussion instrument drumming and he turned his face to smile at her. 

“Baby… let us go!” he said gazing at the setting sun.  “Ok. Good boy!” she wrapped her tender hands around his neck and locked her legs around his waist.  He picked up speed in that dense engulfing night. 

“No….!” she held on to him tightly when a women tried to separate from him.  “No….Awaaaaa….!” she was loud enough to gather the crowd.  Bijoy patted her fondly and talked to the woman with an unknown tongue…. Dhatri didn’t understand.  The woman caressed her cheek to her horror “Paapu Mari…!” she said pressing her fingers to her lips.  Dhatri turned her face still mounted on the back of Bijoy. 

“Good boy…!” she started crying.  In fact she was hungry, being starved for a day but unable to understand what it was.  Her stomach growling, she cried loudly.  Bijoy said something to the woman.  She went inside hurriedly and brought something in her closed fist. 

“Have this… sweet…!” Bijoy pulled Dhatri from his back and kept her down.  She was not ready….”No…” she jumped on him holding him tightly.  Another old lady came up.  She had a close look at Dhatri and pulled them apart.  Dhatri cried her heart out stretching her hands. 

“Shuuu… baby… stop crying…!” Bijoy held her closer.  Bijoy, a boy of eighteen was recruited by naxals when he was just eight.  A thoroughly brainwashed with Maoist ideology he picked up weapon against the Government at the age of only 12.  He was taken on smaller gorilla attacks on the Government offices and officials.  But was never included in actual attack.  He was used as informant and spy.  Being young and innocent looking, he was a perfect camouflage to gather information.  He was taught English and Telugu, besides his dialect Gondi, to be able to merge in the crowd.  He took pride in working as naxal.   He was told that being Maoist, he could do justice to his community, peasants and tribal people oppressed for ages.  He was one of the backward “Halba” community, most of them were living in small settlements and cultivated paddy in the fragmented clearing of land in the dense forestland and gathered jungle timber.

Men were hunter-gatherers. They went out and hunt animals like bison, deer, monkeys to bring meat home! A primitive community in all sense.  Naxals had a great influence on the youth of the community to fight off barbarian Government officials and law. They cultivated on the open grass lands so that the family did not starve.

 Soon his tribe became a synonym of peasant revolt.  The pro-Charu Mujumdar group of naxals captured the entire settlement and every male member of that small hamlet became a staunch naxal, shedding blood for the peasants revolution with violence.  Bijoy being skinny and small in appearance was not taken in direct assault.  This was his first mission where he was asked to kidnap a five year old.  He was shaken to the core.  He thought he was involved in a noble cause for the tribal but when he saw the girl being kidnapped he lost his heart.  Guilt was eating him alive.  He was asked to take her to the training camp for recruitment.  Grumpy came to his rescue and they had a plan to save the kid.  Bijoy was astonished by her super natural ability when she healed his wound almost killing herself in suffering.  He had talked to the grumpy, his leader and grumpy had understood why she was kidnapped. 

“No..!” she was crying refusing to leave Bijoy, her good boy.  He sat on the ground holding her and pulled the woman beside “Mother…my mother…!” he said trying to wipe off her tears.  She stopped crying.  “Your mother?” she asked.  “Yes!” he said hopefully.  “Mamma…” she missed her mamma….! She started crying.  The lady took her away from Bijoy stuffing a piece of jagerry.  Dhatri stopped at once with the sweet taste in her mouth.  The woman smiled kindly Dhatri smiled back.  Bijoy disappeared somewhere.  Three other children gathered around the new kid.  The woman gave her puffed rice and jaggery to eat.  Dhatri liked it. 

“Good Boy!” Dhatri jumped up in his arms when he returned. He was the only familiar face for her.  “Ate?” he asked.  “Yes, aunty gave me nine hundred twenty eight grains and a big piece of sweet…!” she said animatedly. Bijoy giggled with her like a kid.  Other kids laughed pressing their hands on their mouths.  Bijoy looked at the lit lantern.  He saw their shadows on the wall of his one room hut and grinned.

“Baby…!” he touched his middle and ring fingers with his thumb raising his index and little finger and pointed at the wall with other hand.  Dhatri looked up and her face lit up.  “Deer!” she screamed giggling in excitement trying to do the same to create deer on the wall with her tiny fingers.  Other kids followed her.  Soon, the wall was full of shadow deers all over.  Then there came a series of shadow plays of different animals by the kids.  Bijoy laughed with happiness.  Dhatri was laughing and giggling with other tribal kids.  Dhatri forgot to cry and Bijoy forgot worry about the baby. 

Part 14

“Papa….!” Dhatri cried out loudly running out of the door.  Dr. Salil didn’t realize how he came home with Dhatri.  She never stopped crying.  “Rini Didi….!” She broke away from Salil when she saw her Rini Didi…!

“Salil, what happened? Why is she crying?” Nilima asked shocked.  “She didn’t like that ras..!” he only could say.  Rini had held Dhatri in a hug.  “That man was bad…!” Dhatri kept on saying between her uncontrolled sobs whipping Salil’s heart. He had made a big mistake by leaving a child alone with a stranger.  And that person had taken undue advantage of the situation.  Nilima walked into the room.

“Salil, what happened?” she asked again.  “Nothing, Nilima, I had to leave Dhatri alone for some time and she…. She…!” he chocked looking away.  Dharini had managed to pacify her Dhaa.  Dhatri had slept on her laps completely exhausted.  Dr. salil winced coming back to his senses when the vehicle stopped with a jerk. 

“Chai, tea!” Dayal Chacha came with a cup of tea.  Salil still looked lost.  “Humm..!” he said clutching the disposable cup having no desire to have tea.  Dayal Chacha waited.  Salil smiled faintly and sipped the lukewarm tea.  He again was lost in his thoughts.

Things took a different turn from that day.  He took leave for a week and got a message from the Director of IIT Delhi when Dr. Salil was busy with his lecture.  Minister was sitting in the Director’s cabin and Dr. Salil understood what it was.  The trouble started from that day onwards.  The director clearly stated that day, that the Minister was not happy with the way the project was handled.  Dr. Salil put his papers down and came home dejected.

It was Nilima who suggested him to return to his native in Madhya Pradesh, Vidisha.  To his good fortune he got a job in an Engineering College as Dean, Mathematics.  It was little difficult to convince Disha as she was settled well in Delhi.  But Nilima was successful in persuading her.

Dr. Salil was worried about Dhatri.  She looked frightened and became quiet.  She stuck to her Rini Didi and even refused to go to her Papa.  Dharini, without understanding anything proved to be a great support to her Dhaa.  But Dr. Salil was restless for a couple of days.  He didn’t know what effect the incident would have on little Dhatri.  He cursed himself for letting her alone with the stranger.  He kept it to himself but his guilty mind snapped him every time he heard Dhatri crying.  Finally he made up his mind.

He took Dhatri to a psychologist and narrated the incidence.  They had a long discussion and Dharini again came to Dhaa’s rescue, unknowingly.   She brought her back to normal.  Dr. Salil too was initially worried but then the conscious efforts and guidance of the psychologist helped Dhatri come back to her self.  He had learnt the lesson the hard way. 

But decision to come to Vidisha had proved to be a blessing.  The family flourished.  The girls adjusted well to the environment and Nilima too felt contented.  They had a peaceful life till Disha’s class X results. 

Dr. Salil got down from the vehicle.  He had no face to face his wife.  He had somehow managed to tell her the truth about Dhatri and had taken utmost care to keep her regain her composure.  Maasi Maa too had mellowed down considerably and was trying her best.  Nilima had buried herself in pooja rarely coming out of the pooja ghar.  Dr. Salil was losing hopes, so was Nilima.  But Disha and Dharini were sure that their youngest sister was going to come back and soon! Disha tried to set right the routine for her parents.  She insisted that he should go to the college and took care of her mother with the help of Maasi Maa.  She sent Dharini to the school and kept on assuring her that Dhaa was going to come back.  People kept asking about the child and gossiping.  The family paid no attention.  Salil was sometimes amazed by Disha’s optimism. 

********   *******

“Where are we going?” Dhatri woke up on the back of Bijoy.  “Home!” he said showing his bright white teeth.

“My home?” she asked excitedly.  They were moving through the cattle route in the forest of Baster.  “Your home?” Dhatri was nervous.  “Yes.. and then we will go to your home..!” he gave her hopes.  She smiled happily putting her arms around his neck.  “Good boy!” she gave him the certificate.  

Far away from that place, in the office of Maoist naxals, in Midanaapur in West Bengal, a message was relayed about an escape of a girl and a maoist activist.  The orders to hunt them down were issued without any delay.

 

 

Part 13

“What? Impossible!” Exclaimed Salil when Nilima told him about Dhatri.  “Nilima, you know! That’s not possible..!” he patted on her back.

“I know, technically that’s not possible! But I think we should observe!” she said and Salil looked at her in disbelief.  “Nilima.. incredulous belief…!” he tried to convince her.

“I know!” she said a little annoyed.  But believe me.  This has happened before, and even Dharini has found out this special ability.  She too sounded convinced.  Salil shook his head.  “NO!” he dismissed. 

But the things didn’t stop there.  Dhatri went on displaying her abilities even as a baby and when she healed Dr. Salil’s wound, he was left flabbergasted.  “That is not possible!” he kept saying in disbelief.  But Dharini had made use of her younger sister’s special ability and boasted in her friend circle.  The word spread in the IIT campus and there were hushed talks about it.  Dr. Salil finally had to admit that his youngest daughter was extraordinary with special ability.  But it took three years for him to accept. 

It came as a great surprise to Dr. Salil when he came to know that almost everyone knew about Dhatri’s ability in the Campus.  Mr. Indarjeet Negi, the State Minister of Home Affaris, Government of India was the special dignitary being the alumnus of the institute, at the The convocation function in IIT Delhi.  Dr. Salil was a member of organizing committee.  His colleague, Dr. Amit Pandey who was an ardent believer in Dhatri’s ability had let out the information of the Minister, inadvertently. 

Dr. Salil’s three daughters were playing with other kids during the function.  Negi’s eyes followed them everywhere. 

“Hey, Kid..!” he had lifted Dhatri and she started crying.  Dharini her ever protective sister came running and pulled her down from his hands. 

“Don’t cry…!” she started moving away with Dhatri but Mr. Negi held her from behind.  Dharini’s anger saw no boundary.  “Leave us..!” she screamed with Dhatri’s crying.  Dr. Salil felt embarrassed.  “Dharini, go and play with Disha Didi!” he sent the siblings away and apologized. 

“No problem.  You have adorable daughters…!” said Mr. Indarjeet Negi.  Dr. Salil smiled sheepishly and introduced him to Nilima.  

Eight days after the convocation function, Minister Inderjeet Negi paid surprise visit to IIT campus.  After the meeting with the Head of the departments he talked to Dr. Salil Dixit for a long time about the future projects.  Dr. Salil was surprised.  In another week he paid visit to Dr. Salil’s residence.  Dr. Salil gaped in disbelief.  But this visit brought a grant to IIT Delhi for Mathematics Department in Vector calculus, the field most dear to Dr. Salil. 

That day he received an invitation from Minister Negi to visit his office with Dhatri.  Dr. Salil was surprised.  “May be, he knows about her abilities.  He wants to talk to her…!” Nilima kept saying.

“No! Dhaa is not going! That man is a bad man!” Dharini declared and Dr. Salil looked up in surprise.

“Yeah, is a bad man!” Dhatri repeated.  “Dharini… No! This is bad manners!” Salil scolded her.  But Dharini was not ready to leave Dhatri.  She was not ready to come with him either.  Finally Disha took Dharini away and Dr. Salil took Dhatri with him to pay a visit to Minister’s office. 

“So, got the grants?” asked the Minister.  “Yes!” Dr. Salil said with gratitude.  They had the discussion for some time and Dhatri grew restless.  She had no interest in all these things  but Mr. Negi’s eyes were fixed on her.  “I heard she has some extraordinary power….!” Minister said looking at Dhatri.

“No.. I mean she is a normal kid!” Dr. Salil refused to admit.  Minister smiled.  He took out a big chocolate and Dhatri’s eyes twinkled.  She ran towards the minister when the chief secretary, higher Education walked in to call Dr. Salil for the discussion. 

“Oh! Don’t worry! Let her be here!” the minister waved at Dr. Salil when Dhatri was busy tearing the wrapper of the chocolate bar. 

“Dhatri…!” Dr. Salil called out and she threw away the chocolate running towards him.  “Sir..!” The secretary looked at the Minister.

“Dr. Salil, you leave the kid here!” said the minister fondly and took out another chocolate.  Dhatri again was tempted.  Dr. Salil smiled. 

“The meeting is next door!” informed the secretary.  “Dhaa.. stay here.  Be a good girl.  I will be back in ten minutes. Ok?” he asked Dhatri and she nodded again struggling to open the wrapper of the chocolate.

His secretary closed the door and Mr. Negi came closer and picked her up.  She struggled to get down but he pressed her on his laps coming back to his huge plush chair.  Dhatri opened her mouth closing her eyes and cried out loudly when he moved his hands on her.

“You cure people?” he asked her kissing her cheeks.  She struggled crying out loudly.  The sound proof room suppressed her voice.  He pressed his hand on her mouth. 

“Let me see.. what you can do for me!” he said hugging her tightly.  She cried desperately.  “Papa… ! awaaaaaa…. Rini Didi…!” she was kicking and bashing, struggling.  He was not to let her go.  He removed took her hand on his neck.  She felt the wound.  She suddenly stopped crying.  “Leave me…! Papa!” she screamed. 

“Shuuu… stop .. stop crying..!” he pressed his hand on her mouth again pinning her on his laps.  “ Chocolate…?” he asked taking out another one from the drawer.  “No…!” Dhatri was desperately kicking to come out of his clutches.

“Shhhh… baby… let me look at you!” he kissed her again inserting his hand in her frock.  She cried and bit his wrist with all her force.  He grew desperate. 

“I am not well….!” He said holding her with one hand and removed his dhoti with the other.

“Come .. baby…! He pinned her between his legs and she closed her eyes screaming for her Rini Didi…!

“Let me see… baby…cure me…!” he said in a husky voice, taking her hands in his.  “Easy.. baby…easy! Slowly… let me see how you cure…!” he moved her hands down clutching her between his legs … and the door banged open..!