65

65

Dhatri walked into the house throwing her chapples in the corner, not bothering to keep them on shoe rack..

"Where were you?" Dhaa ignored Disha's yelling.  She went straight into the kitchen and drank water.  Dharini came to her.

"Dhaa...!" she couldn't stop Dhatri from moving out again. 

"Dhaa...!" Rini held her hand.  "What is it, Rini Didi? Can't you see, I am busy?" Dhaa yelled irritably.  Disha stood dropping her jaw.  Rini hung her head leaving Dhaa's hand.

"How rude...!" Disha came forward.  Dhaa ignored her too...!! "What's wrong with her?" Disha looked at Rini... Rini ran after Dhaa.

"Dhaa.... I am sorry...!" she said holding hand.

"Sorry? Sorry for what, didi? Its your life...after all, who am I..?" she asked disdainfully and Rini gaped in disbelief. 

Dhatri again went into kitchen followed by desperate Rini to make amends...

"Wait.. I will make tea for you...!" Rini said  lighting the stove... !! Dhaa ignored.  "Laxumbai...I want milk with lot of sugar..." she said loudly in Laxumbai's ears...!! Laxumbai nodded.  Rini gaped at her Dhaa. 

"Dhaa... Please... listen to me... just for once?" Rini pleaded and Disha came on to her.

"Can't you hear, Dhaa? Rini wants to talk to you...!" she yelled authoritatively.  Dhaa glared at her. 

"Its, none of your business..!" Dhaa retorted back. 

"How dare you...!" Disha came forward aggressively.  Dhaa stood her ground.  Rini intervened. 

"Its ok.  Sorry Disha didi... Sorry Dhaa... I am sorry...!" she went out dejected.  Dhaa hid her smile.  "Poor Rini Didi...!" she smiled inwardly.  "Look what you have done...!" Disha accused.  Dhatri looked up at her....!!

"Don't bother Disha Didi, take care of your own business.... " She retorted and came out in the hall.  She looked at the time and went into the bedroom.  She saw Rini looking out of the window with a pile of clothes in her hand.  Dhaa banged the door on purpose.  Rini looked back.

"Dhaa... " she came forward.... "I am sorry...!" she said again making up her mind...!

"Sorry for what, Didi?" Dhatri asked.  Rini shook her head.

"Forget it Dhaa... Forget about everything I said... Its just you and me again...!" she said swallowing hard. 

"Promise?" Dhatri looked into Rini's eyes.  Rini closed her eyes for a second and then said with determination,

"Yes Dhaa... Its a Promise... Its only Rini and Dhaa...!" she said clutching Dhaa's shoulder.  Dhatri hugged her tightly... "My Rini Didi..." She said loudly... "And Vini free too...!" she thought grinning.

Rini looked at the time... "Anytime he will arrive...!" a lump formed in her throat...

"Are you waiting for someone, Didi?" Dhaa asked suspiciously and Rini winced.  "No... Dhaa..!" she said turning her back.  "What will he do, when I say No?" she didn't know.  She didn't want to say no... but she had no option... She couldn't convince her Dhaa...  And Vinit?  She had lost her heart hearing his voice after almost four months...!

Dhaa picked up her clothes... "I am going to take bath..." she kept her face straight and went into the bathroom.  Rini went into the kitchen to prepare Tea for her Dhaa.  Disha walked in...

"What's going on between you two? You look so miserable...." she demanded.  Rini shook her head.  "Nothing.. Didi... Its.. just.. I mean... she is upset with me ...!" Rini stuttered nervously...

"Upset? With you? ... unbelievable...! She is upset with everyone!" Exclaimed Disha throwing her hands up... !!

"Whatever...!" she moved out not bothering about the turmoil Rini was going through...!! Rini hung her head. 

"Didi... Tea..!" Dhaa demanded and Dr. Salil came in hurriedly.

"Rini... Someone from your office... Maj. Vinit...!" he said in a hushed voice beckoning her.  She looked up startled and glanced at Dhaa.  "No need!" Dhaa ordered and Rini stopped in her tracks.  Salil looked up shocked.  "She is preparing tea for me!" Dhaa said angrily and Rini pleaded...Salil looked at Rini's face...

"Ok.  I will go out.  Dharini, he wants to talk to you...! Some urgent work, he said...!" said salil and Rini nodded fidgeting.  Dhaa hid her smile..."Hihihawhawhaw..." her heart jumped at the arrival of Vini.  "Exactly half an hour!!" she blurted smiling and Rini looked at her.  "Umm.. I mean... half an hour... I have to finish Disha Didi's list!" Dhaa tried to cover up.  She saw Salil moving into the room and went behind.  Rini followed.  "What is it papa?" Dhaa asked.

"Invitation card....!" he was searching for the card...  "I must invite him..." he took out a blank envelope and card and took out the pen.

"No Need... Papa... No need to invite him....!" Dhatri was loud enough, making sure everybody in the hall heard it.  "Shuu... Dhaa...!" he pressed his finger on his lips... Dhaa didn't bother.  Rini pressed her hand on her mouth.  "How am I going to face him?" she didn't know.  She decided to remain in the kitchen.  She poured tea in two cups...

"Rini... he is waiting...!" Salil was again at the door and Dhaa came forward... "I will take the tea out...!" she said frowning.  "No, Dhaa... he is waiting for Rini...!" Salil stopped her.  "Waiting for her? What work he has, when she is on leave...?" Dhaa asked loudly and Salil shuddered. 

"Dhaa... Stop it! He is our guest....!" Salil said in a hushed voice.  Rini, for the first time in her life felt hopeless and miserable.  Dhaa glanced at Rini.

"Ok!" she said doing a great favour to Rini.  Rini took the tray and went out.  Disha poured some namkeen snacks in a plate and carried out.

 Dhaa looked on, thrusting her hands on her hips grinning like a villain.  "Let me see.... How Rini Didi manages..." she came out in the hall to find Vinit sitting on the sofa clutching a tea cup and Disha sitting on the chair gauging him;  Rini standing at the corner like a guilty child and Dr. Salil clutching the other tea cup. 

"He doesn't like tea... he likes coffee..." Rini's heart cried out seeing him contorting his face...!

"Why? You don't like Tea?" Dhaa asked loudly and Disha looked up... "Why is she so rude with everyone?" she didn't know.  He looked up at Dhaa's dancing eyebrows... "I like coffee..." he said looking at Dhaa.

"Rini Didi....!" Dhaa ordered her.  Rini moved to make coffee.  "Rini Didi makes best coffee in the world..." Dhaa said and Vinit nodded.  Salil was surprised.  The otherwise very shy Dhaa had suddenly found her voice...!

"Umm... She is my eldest daughter, Disha... !" Salil introduced trying to change the topic.  Disha shook hands with Vinit and took over.  "Dr. Disha...  NASA..!" she created enough awe ... Vinit nodded in admiration..."Scientist...!" she added proudly.  "Why is she vocal about her achievements..?" Dr. Salil didn't know...!!

“She got her doctorate a couple of months back...!” Dr. Salil said glancing at Disha.  She was expecting him to praise her more.  He couldn’t, so she went ahead. 

“I am probably the youngest scientist to hold a Ph.D....” she said adjusting her spectacles...!!

“Thats great...! What was your topic?” Vinit asked curiously and Dhatri frowned.  “Now she will start her... blah blah blah....” she turned her face in disgust.  “Poor Vini... won’t understand anything...” She knew nothing about her poor Vini. 

Disha looked at Vinit measuring him up... !! “Hummm.. he won’t understand... I have to tell him in simple terms...”

“I work on observatory... you know? Watching stars, Comets, Planets..?”  she looked at him and he responded.  Dhatri was at the door watching him...

“Yeah... Thats great!!  Really out of this world....!” he said glancing at Dhatri, hiding his smile.  Dhatri looked suspiciously at him, narrowing her eyes....! “Is he making fun of Disha Didi..? Good!” he passed another test...! She grinned. 

“I do the simulation...!” she went into technicalities.  “Oh! I See!” he admired.  Disha smiled proudly. 

“Yeah.. Disha Didi is through out first... Very bright... She went to US on scholarship...!” Disha gaped when Dhatri for the first time praised her proudly.  Vinit nodded.  Then asked politely....

“Which one...? SOHO, HST, CGRO, SST.... he looked up at Disha and Disha almost fell down from her chair.  “Wow... he knows the observatories...!” she raised her eyebrow.  Vinit looked at Dhaa.  She grinned.  Rini had brought coffee and Vinit sipped the piping hot coffee.

“Humm...”  he approved the taste.  Rini went in without a word and Salil called her back.

“Dharini.... I think you should finish of your work, first...!” He gestured at Vinit and Vinit got up with a jerk.  Rini shuddered, Dhaa turned to hide the giggle. 

“Yes...” Vinit took out some papers from his bag and Salil marched out of the hall, so did Disha.  Dhatri stood her ground watching nervous Rini. 

“Didi... finish off ASAP... !” she ordered eyeing Vinit.  He looked away. Dhatri walked out.

“So?” he waited folding his arms on his chest.  She had no answer.  She avoided his gaze. 

“So...sorry...!” first time she stuttered. 

“Sorry?” he asked clenching his fists.  She must avoid the inevitable...

“Sorry... She never behaves like this....!” Rini tried to cover up.

“What is your answer, Lt. Dharini?” he asked formally and her mouth went dry. 

“Wha.... What?” she swallowed.  It was a no from Dhaa.  She made up her mind...!! She looked up at his waiting eyes.  She couldn’t bear his gaze.... she just wanted to disappear in his embrace....!  She couldn’t say No....!! She was torn between him and her Dhaa... She had to choose one. 

“Why can’t I have both?” she floundered... !

“What did she say?” he was losing patience.  She knew the disaster when he lost his patience.  She shuddered. 

“Yes or No...?” He was trying to make it simple for her and she was in more complication....!!  She knew, with her NO, she was going to lose him forever.... She looked up at him for the one last time with her heart in her eyes.....!! 

“This is the last time we are meeting, Maj. Vinit Sir....!” she stopped swallowing.... clenching her fists in despair....!!

“What do you mean...!” for the first time, he seemed not understanding her...!  She shook her head looking at him, sending back her tears...!

“You know the answer, Maj. Sir..!” she steadied her voice. 

“Is it a No?” he asked taking a step ahead aggressively.  She looked up into his eyes and nodded.

“Even if its a YES, from Dhatri?” he asked angrily and she gaped in disbelief.

“Khu khu... hihihihi...!” she heard Dhaa’s giggle from behind the door and her figure appeared.

“What..?” she asked bewildered and Dhaa came running to hug her Rini Didi.

“Its a yes, Rini Didi...!” she kissed her cheek.  Rini looked at Vinit in disbelief.  He nodded.  “How?  How did this happen?” she asked breaking apart among the giggles...!!

“I made a fabulous offer and she accepted...!”  He said seriously.

“Yeah.... Rini Ke Saath Vini Free...!” Dhatri said holding Vinit’s hand bringing him to Dharini.  He wrapped his arm around Rini and Dhaa wiped her eyes....!!

“Papa... Mamma..” She called out loudly and Rini broke apart.

“What? No.. Dhaa...!” she tried to stop Dhaa.  Salil came in.  “Papa... I think they have finished their important work...!” Dhaa declared and Rini blushed.  Vinit couldn’t take his eyes off.  Rini suddenly looked up.  Vinit nodded understandingly.  Dhaa looked at both of them... Now it was their decision when they wanted to break the news..!! And they both had decided not to disclose it now to the family members....!!

“Another round of coffee...” Dhatri declared grinning at Rini and Rini dashed inside.  Disha took over and the discussion continued.

“I must leave now...!” he said giving his card to Dr. Salil glancing at Dhatri.  She nodded.  Disha too got up shaking hands with him. 

“Umm... Ms.  Please convey my regards to Dr. Michael Greenfield if you happen to meet him....!” he said and Disha’s jaw dropped.  Dr. Greenfield was the Head, Office of Safety and Mission Assurance, NASA Headquarters....!! 

“How do you know him?” she asked in disbelief.  “I was in his office for six months, a couple of years back...! And had an interaction with Prof. Richard Harrison, Head of Space Physics and Chief Scientist, SOHO..!"
he said glancing at grinning Dhaa.  Disha nodded looking lost.  She had met the Head only once that too in a conference when she was a participant and he was presiding over....!!

Rini gaped at her Man in admiration.... Indeed he was a HAWK with no boundaries...!! Dhatri was grinning ear to ear, looking at Disha’s ashen face...

********************************************




The Solar & Heliospheric Observatory(SOHO)

Hubble Space Telescope (HST)

Compton Gamma Ray Telescope (CGRO)

Chandra X-ray Observatory (CXRO)

Spitzer Space Telescope (SST)

 

 

64

Dharini waited nervously.  “What am I going to tell him?” she didn’t know the answer. 

“He would arrive anytime ... and I haven’t even had the answer...!” she fidgeted.  Everyone was looking for Dhatri and she had disappeared somewhere.

Disha blew her top.

“How irresponsible...!” she blurted in anger.  “I had told her to make the list of my bags to be carried to the wedding hall and she just has disappeared...” she fumed. 

“Its ok.  I will do it...” Nilima came to Disha’s help. 

“Mama.. .. what’s wrong with her?” Disha asked her mother.  Nilima looked up.

“There is nothing wrong with her, Disha...!” She said calmly. 

“She doesn’t even talk to me properly... I am her elder sister...!” Disha raised her voice. 

“She is so rude.. Mamma... As if I am her enemy, a filth...!” Disha vented out.  Nilima shook her head.  Dhatri and Disha never shared that bond...Dhatri detested Disha’s bossy nature and Disha wanted Dhatri to obey her. 

“I am the eldest... she should listen to me Mamma...!” Disha confronted her mother too. 

“I know!” Nilima said considerately.  But Disha flared up.  “You know! But don’t want to do anything about it! Isn’t it?” she asked getting up.

“I got a bag full of dresses for her... And she? She asked that stupid used salwar kameej from Rini...!!” Disha again lost her control in rage.

She had got the dresses and had shown them to Dhatri.  Dhatri had pulled the dresses out of the bag and was trying them out when Disha had inadvertently said that she had hardly used them.  Dhatri suddenly had thrown the dresses away saying “I don’t use used dresses...” Disha was shocked.

“What do you mean, Dhaa? You always wore our old, used dresses...” Disha said disdainfully pointing at Dhatri's childhood.

“Yeah.. I had no choice... but now I do! My Rini Didi gets me new dresses every time....” Dhatri had retorted back.  Disha felt insulted.  Salil intervened and the argument died out there.  But hurt Disha was waiting for the opportunity to give it back to her youngest sister and when Dhatri asked Dharini about her beige top... Disha blew her top.  This time, Rini had intervened.

“Dhaa... its an old one.  I promise, I will get you a new one of same style and same colour...” she had promised Dhaa. 

“But I don’t mind wearing your used dresses, Rini Didi...” Dhatri had said loudly eyeing on Disha’s reaction.  The rift between the eldest and the youngest was audible and visible... Rini’s bridge was too short to bridge the gap....!!

 “Rini, where is Dhatri?” Disha shook Rini and she winced.  “Don’t know...!” she blurted looking out of the main door.  There was no trace of Dhatri.  Rini grew restless.  She didn’t know what to do!

***** ****

Dhatri hid her face in her palms to calm herself down.... “No... I can’t...!” She looked up tormented with the thought that someone else was in her Didi’s life.  She clenched her fists feeling lonely.... No! she would have no one... Her Rini Didi had someone else....

“Humm....!” someone exhaled sitting by her side on that same stone bench and she yelped. 

“Dhatri...!” said his deep voice and she gaped.  She looked at his side profile.  “Who is he? I have not seen him before...” she thought gauging him.  He looked at her.  She stood up to go.  She never talked to strangers.

“But how does he know my name?” she stopped.  He gestured her to sit.  She did not but didn’t move away either.  She looked at him alarmed...!

“How about having two people at your disposal..?”  He asked mysteriously. 

“What?” 

“Yes...” He got up.  Dhatri looked at his tall figure...!

“RINI ke Saath VINI Free?” he asked looking at her.  She staggered backwards...

“Rini ke saath Vini free?” his words echoed and “Huf... hihi...” she couldn’t hide her smile. 

“Maj. Vinit...!” he introduced himself.... “At your disposal, Madam...!” he added seriously and the sense of authority made her feel better.  Her shyness and fright fading away, she measured him from top to bottom... somehow judging him for her Rini Didi....!!  She sat on the bench again, so did he. 

“So... he is the one....!” she murmured looking away.

“No, Dhatri... you are the one...!”  his sharp ears had heard her murmur.  She turned to face him...

“You are the one.... Dhatri.... your Rini Didi thinks about, all the time...!” he said seriously. 

“How does he know? Rini didi must have told him about me....!” her heart twisted... “Rini Didi shared our secret with him....!” she concluded with bitterness.  She suddenly got up....

“I don’t talk to strangers...” she said angrily...!

“We are not strangers... I know, you are Dhatri and you know, I am Vinit...!” he too had got up. 

“No!!... You will take my Didi away...” her inner fear blurted out....!

“No...! I am coming with your Rini Didi, in your life...” he said and she turned.

“Yeah... Rini ke saath Vini Free... Only for you....! Think about this fabulous offer, Dhatri...!” he again said seriously and she again had to work hard to hide her giggle.

“Not a bad idea...!” her heart said.  “Rini ke saath Vini.... Two-two persons at my disposal..” Her child-like mind jumped....!! She looked up at him removing her hand from her mouth and he gaped at her beautiful dimpled smile. 

“Didi sent you here?” she asked after a short while.  He shook his head.

“I haven’t met your Rini didi... yet!” he said.

“What? You haven’t met her at all?” she yelled bewildered and he gave her a child-like smile.

“No... I mean... not today... I was getting out of the auto... and saw you running out of the house... and... followed..!” he said seriously.  She gaped in shock.  “ I met Dharini four months back...!” he added getting serious. 

“What?’ Dhatri squeaked in shock.

“I was on Sikkim Border...!” he said.  Dhatri gaped in disbelief.... She remembered how desperate Purva, her friend was when she couldn’t meet her boyfriend even for a day.... And her Rini Didi didn’t meet him for last four months....!!

“Shall we...?” he gestured at the stone bench all set to tell her the story...!

“You proposed her in a Tank? Are you crazy?” she asked with wide eyes full of amazement.  He merely nodded. “Why?” she asked bewildered.

“Ghaas hi nahi dal rahi thi...! Toh yeh gadha kya karata?” he said sulking. She giggled tossing her head back... He gaped...!!

“And what did she say?” she asked him pressing her hand on her chest.

“No matter how many times you take me to the other side of the fence, Maj. Vinit... If Dhaa says no... Its a NO from Rini Too!” He mocked Rini and Dhaa felt a knot in her stomach...!

“My Rini Didi...!” she looked down in realization.  She must ensure her Rini Didi’s happiness.  She wrapped silence and then looking up into his eagerly waiting eyes said seriously...

“Promise me.... you will never hurt her...!” he promised pressing his palm on his heart.

“And you will keep her always happy....!” he nodded getting serious too. 

“Humm.... “ she sighed gazing into the distance.  Vinit stared at her bright smiling face and he knew....!

“So? Have I passed?” he asked with a smile.

“What..?” she asked.

“The test?” his smile grew.  Dhatri stroked her chin thinking hard....!! Sharing her Rini Didi... twisted her heart.... a trapped breath left her.

“Dhatri....” he suddenly leaned forward and cupped her face....!!

“You are her little sister....” he looked into her eyes and then said in a whisper... “And mine too....!” she looked up at him with teary eyes.  The genuineness in his gesture touched her heart.  A faint sob fanned his face.  He wiped her eyes...

“If you say NO, Dhatri... I promise... I will go away without meeting her..! She wouldn’t even know, I was here...!” he said seriously taking his hands down.... She looked at his face...

“And what if I say YES?” she asked raising her eyebrows smiling broadly... He looked up at her face... Holding her shoulders, he said grinning...

“Then,  this Vini is at your service, Madam.... Always...” She got up with a jerk....

“Let’s go home...!” she said holding his hand and swinging it happily.  

It wasn't Rini ke saath Vini.... It was Rini ke Saath Dhaa...!! for him..!  He walked with her silently.  

"Shuuu....!" she pressed her finger on her lip as they approached the house.  

"I go first....!" she commanded, he nodded.

"Half an hour...!" she said in a hushed voice.  He grinned...!!

She had a plan.... to rag her Rini didi for getting a brond new Vini for Dhaa....!