159

“Bolo beti...!” Rahman took his chair...! Dhatri gazed at her feet.  Afroz stared at Rahman to gauge him.  Dhatri sat there in silence.  Rahman watched her, waiting for her to speak up.

“Is she the one?” He wondered... “Ravi is in love with..! What is so special about her?.” He stared at her ordinary looking figure... She had never looked up...! Her curly, frizzy, thick, dark brown hair tied up in a tight braid, the drops of sweat springing on her forehead; soaking her symmetrical eyebrows sticking her curly hair strands on her forehead.... he could see her thick, long curved eyelashes.  

 She could have been passed easily as a fair girl per Indian Standards.  There was no trace of make-up!  with a simple grey salwar-suite, her face was shadowed  with nervousness; she was biting her lips fidgeting with her fingers.  He could make out her dilemma...!

She looked up gathering her courage and Rahman couldn’t take his eyes off.  The bright brown eyes bored into his for a fleeting second and they again disappeared under her eyelashes...!  He gazed....! I should introduce her to Rehaanaa...! His daughter, a very bold, talkative girl, a bit older than Dhatri, now married to a builder in Bhopal believed, ‘only the make up highlights the beauty...!’  His eyes twinkled with the thought of Dhatri meeting his daughter...! 

“Big Sis.. say something...” Afroz nudged Dhatri.  Dhatri wrapped silence.  Afroz lost her patience.

“Ok.  We came here to know the status of her VISA...” she started off.  Rahman was in dilemma...! “Does she know the situation in US ?” he didn’t know.

“Oh! It will be done soon.  Other documents are ready, only the marriage certificate and her educational transcripts ....” he looked at Afroz.  

Afroz took out a file.  Dhatri’s mark-sheets... Final result not declared yet..” she threw the file on the table and Rahman nodded, still unsure about Dhatri...! Dhatri wiped her sweat and taking some time to open up... said...!

“I know...!” Dhatri looked up again and Rahman gaped.

“You know?!!” he couldn’t stop himself.  Dhatri nodded and Afroz burst out...

“Yes.. we know about Ravi... and she needs to go there, be with him, Damn it!” she thumped on the table forcefully.  Rahman looked at Dhatri aghast...! “Does she really want to go there?” he still was not sure.

“Un...Uncle... I wa... wa.. want to go!” Dhatri opened her mouth stuttering..! 

“Look... My GP can help... He is a very influencial man in Bhopal...” Afroz spat rudely... throwing a Challenge to Rahman’s social status in the city...! Dhatri was scared...! Raised voices always gave her shivers....! 

“No need!” Rahman spat back, picking up the file.

“Here... free slots ...!” afroz forwarded a handwritten slip...! Rahman gazed at the dates and time slots available for VISA...! “This means she really wants to go... I must talk to her parents...” he looked around and gestured the beara to clear the table.  Dhatri waited with bated breath.

“Ok.  I will do it at the earliest.  I will meet your parents...” he was cut off...

“No... please.. d..d...don’t tell them anything about Ravi... “ Dhatri pleaded for the first time looking into his eyes for a longer period of time.  He just nodded.  “What was going on? She knows and her parents do not know about Ravi’s problem?”  He looked at Afroz for some explanation...

“Look Mr. Rahman... They do not know anything about the problem with Ravi.  We don’t want to tell them anything...” she started off...!

“Th... they will be devastated...” Dhatri said at once and Rahman nodded.  

“I promise.. I won’t tell them anything... but I will have to meet them once the VISA interview date is fixed...” he said reasonably.

“Promise?” Dhatri asked extending her hand, with beady eyes like a small girl asking for a promise to get chocolate...and Rahman nodded smiling... Smile of relief appeared on Dhatri’s face and He gaped.

Her dimples and bright brown eyes were so captivating...”No wonder Ravi fell flat for her..! Her simplicity touched his heart...! Lucky man!!” he concluded.  

“Ghar jao beti... And I will manage everything...!” He placed his hand on her head.

Afroz gave a slip... “Call me, if you need anything...” she said confidently.  He merely gave a nod.  Afroz turned holding Dhatri’s arm and Rahman looked at the note.

“Oh! Bandukwalas... !” He smiled knowingly.  No wonder she was so arrogant..! Bandukwalas were the big name in Bhopal in business community... One of the richest families, Rahman knew Mr. Pirooj Bandukwala well enough to know his influence.

“How does dulhan know this girl?” he wondered.  He didn’t know the bond between Afroz and Dhatri....!

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

Rini/Mehrunnissa bidding her time... was undergoing the torture and rigourous imprisonment in Lahore..!

The tiffin and the cloth had reached safe hands...!

“Another nine days...” she was fixing the membrane key pad on the IEDs as a part of her duty...! A trained militant.. she was given the assembly work.  Soon she will be given new responsibility.

....................  ...

“Its like digging the tunnel from both the ends, with precision planning... one single, slight mistake and we end up digging two parallel tunnels...!” Vinit thought gravely looking around at the herd of Yaks and Camels loaded with the ‘material’.  

“Look.. These five will come with you..  The transfer should be done carefully... We will be ready to strike anytime... One single mistake and you all will be dead in no time..with our bullets...!” Khan baba warned flounting his AK 47 and Vinit nodded takeing out his oxgyne mask and handing over the cylinder...! They were on the tapering terrain on the borders... There was no need for the supporting oxgyne now..! Vinit, a trained soldier in high altitude terrain, never needed such extra support..But sometimes he faked breathlessness to gather sympathy!  He emptied his money bag infront of Khan baba.  Kahn’s eyes widened, seeing bundles of green dollar notes..! He could have killed this lone traveller anytime for this kind of money...! But he had a bigger motive.  Vinit had promised him to get in touch with an Indian who would pay double the amount plus the chemical drugs, Khan was getting now for the Chinese Combat tools...! The deal was tempting enough to keep Vinit alive...! 

Vinit watched Khan’t hungry eyes and played his card..! “If anything goes wrong... Next time, I am going to try the other troop...” he warned Khan baba.  Khan touched his ears...

“Naa Naa...!” he wouldn’t leave this ‘murgi...’ He grinned from ear to ear and Vinit turned his back on the troop with the five member team....a herd of 25 yaks and 18 camels..! hey were entering the hostile territory where Afghan-Pak borders meet...! 

*********  ********  *********

“Dad... “ Ravi ran his fingers through his unruly hair sitting on the chair.  Sayajirao patted on his back, swallowing hard.  He had seen his son after it seemed like ages.  Ravi looked up at the officer requesting for some privacy.  He was on the other side of the bars and Sayajirao’s heart ached for his son.  Ravi’s company was trying hard for the bail of three of his employees, Ravi included...! Sayajirao had appointed one of the best lawyers in the region shelling out moeny like anything...! The so called sex scandle had spread all over ... like a conflagration....! Ravi’s remand for judicial custody was extended by another fifteen days.  He was interrogated several times a day by different people...!

“Go home, Dad...” he said holding Sayajirao’s hand and Saya shook his head.  “Not without you...”  His phone buzzed.  Mrs. Russel... spoke to him for a long time getting his monosyllable responses.

“Ok!” he said flipping his phone.  It seemed like Sanyogita was asking for the Library keys and Mrs. Russle had said politely that she has no access to his private rooms... his study and Library...! Sanyogita fumed, frustrated... She couldn’t lay her hands on anything big...! Mrs. Russel was a through and through Saya’s person, not letting anything at all.  She just was there to guard the fort for her Masters...! Sayajirao had given in, in the condition of distress but Mrs. Russel had not given up yet.  She was waiting for some miracle to happen, praying day and night ...!

“I need those damn keys...right now..! Sanyogita yelled and Mrs. Russel was unmoved. 

Can’t you see? I got a call and Ravi needs money for his bail, damn it!” Sanyogita spat anger...

Mrs. Russel looked at her blankly.  “I don’t have the keys... Mr. Deo has them...” she said staggering backwards...! Sanyogita stared for a while and clenching her fists... said

“Fine.. I will let Saya know about this...” she looked at Mrs. Russel threateningly.  Mrs. Russel clutched her hands at the back not giving in...!

Her phone buzzed and she lept up to grab it before Sanyogita could lay her hands on. 

“Yes... Yes... Yes... Ok.  Ok! Yes... I go...! Don’t worry....!” she was unusually agile to her age.  She clutched her palms praying... crying... wiping her eyes.... and surprisingly lighting a lamp in pooja ghar....! Sanyogita gaped in disbelief.

“What happened?” she asked shocked.  Mrs. Russel shook her head saying...”Nothing much... Case will come up for hearing this Monday...!” she said moving out of the room...! Sanyogita stood like a statue and then sighing... came out to fix herself a drink...! 

158

“Please... Didi... Mamma-papa should not know about this... Please don’t tell this to them..” Dhatri pleaded worrying about her parents.

“Didi.. promise me... please...” she chocked with her throat hurting...! Disha fell silent...!

“Dhatri....” her mamma called out and “Didi.. bye.. mamma will come anytime.. please don’t tell this to them...” Dhatri disconnected and Disha on the other end dropped her cell. 

“What have I done?” she thought regretting that she had called her parents first.  

********  ******  *********

“Dhaa...” Nilima was at the door.  Dhatri looked up folding her duvet neatly.

“Chai... Tea is ready..” Dhatri came out of her room with her mumma.  Surprisingly her mamma didn’t do her ritual by asking her whether she got a call...! Dhatri looked up sitting at the table.  Salil was pretending to read the news paper and Nilima busied herself with the household work.  Laxumbai was in the backyard plucking flowers for pooja.  Dhatri had her tea silently.  Salil kept glancing at her through the news paper.  

“Kya banau aaj? What do you want for lunch, Dhaa?” Nilima asked and Dhatri was surprised.  She was always told to eat whatever was served in her plate.  But today her mamma was asking about her choices.

“Aray Wah...! Mamma... You are asking me today? Wah.. Wah.. This calls for some sweet... so may be kheer?” Dhatri asked grinning.  Nilima turned her face to hide her tears.  She would do anything Dhatri had asked.  Her heart ached for her child.... suffering personified.   Salil kept the paper aside.

“Ok. Nilima I will get the breakfast. Omelet-bread from the railway station...” he said glancing at Dhatri and she shot up to her feet.

“Yes... Papa.. let us go..!” she was ready already.  Salil and Dhatri went out.  

********  *****  *********

“Bhanu...” Disha hugged sleeping Bhanu.

“Humm... Disha...” he turned in his sleep feeling her.

“Bhanu... I am worried...” She said and Bhanu didn’t respond. 

“So jao... Disha...” Bhanu wrapper her in his arms and she let out a faint sob.

“Don’t think too much, Disha, about Dhatri.  Think about your project...” Bhanu blurted in his sleep ...!

“Bhanu what do you think, will happen? Will Ravi be acquitted?” she asked raising her head.  Bhanu opened his eyes.

“Yes, I am sure, ..! He is not guilty... There may be technical irregularity but he is not a criminal...” Bhanu stressed on his response.

“I know...!” Disha said closing her eyes.  “Hope, Mamma papa are alright...!” she prayed with guilt.  “I should have called Dhaa first....” She turned and hid her face on sleeping Bhanu’s shoulder.  Bhanu stirred in his sleep a bit...! Disha had lost her sleep.

*****  ********  ********

“You can’t carry this inside...” Customs officer picked up the tiffin box tied in a cloth.  Rini fidgeted.  Her tour guide came hurriedly giving an angry look at her.

“Who asked you to carry this tin with you?” he asked and she stammered... “Woh... khana...”

“Shut up.. Let them do their duty...” He gestured at the security officers and they continued their search throwing the Tiffi box in the bin.  She looked away sighing... Her baggage was cleared...! The sirens hooted out and the red alert panicked the passengers.  A few were weeded out and taken into custody by the Airport Authority Security personnel.  Mehrunnissa was one of them !... The tour guide blatantly disowned her, when inquired further.  

She was moved out of the Airport, hand cuffed, no one knew where she was taken...! 

**********  ********  ******

“Hello... Dhaa... I am in a bus... I will call you later...” Poorva shouted over the noise and Dhatri disconnected her phone.  

“Humm... “ she sighed dejected.  All the three of her gang had dispersed.  Suresh and Poorva had joined IBM in Bangalore.  Ragini was in Delhi working in Wipro and Dhatri was al alone.  Suddenly she felt exposed.  Her shielding support system was taken away.  Her old fear dealing with strangers surfaced and she grew panic.  She badly needed someone....! She had called poorva with hope.  She would suggest the best solution.  But it seemed that her gang had no time for her.  They all were busy with their life and had moved on.

“I am the only one ... stationery...! not moving an inch...in my life..” she clutched her head, unable to think anything.  The complexity was overwhelming...! She had always tried to keep her life simple, uncomplicated, all sorted out.  But the more she tried to keep it simple, it became more complicated and hard to manage...! Her Rini didi would have sorted out everything....! But where was she?  That damn joint military exercise had taken her away from Dhatri, with no communication at all.  Dhatri banged her forehead losing her heart.  

“Mamma... papa should not know about Ravi’s problem...” was her only priority but she didn’t know what to do next to assure her parents that she was serious about her marriage and her relationship.  That would give them some respite...! Hours passed in just thinking about the solution...~!

“Dhaa.... come... lunch is ready...” Laxumbai came into her room and she got up with heavy heart and lead filled legs...! 

Her phone rang...!  “Hey... big sister...” Afroz cirped and Dhatri smiled happily.

“I am waiting outside...” Afroz gave her shock.

“Where?” Dhatri asked stupidely.  “Outside your house... open the door...” Afroz ordered yelling and Dhatri ran to open the door.

“Oh! Big sister...!” Afroz trapped her into a bear hug and Dhatri suffocated.

“Stop...” She pushed Afroz away and Afroz grinned.  

“Oh! I missed you all so much...” she again tried to hug Dhatri.

“Mamma, Afroz...” Dhatri shouted turning her face towards kitchen and Salil came out.

“Hello uncle..” Afroz tried to greet in what she thought to be a polite voice.  Salil nodded.  Afroz had lunch with them...

“You know...? Poorva had called... she asked me to visit you...” Afroz said and Dhatri fell silent.  Poorva had disconnected her phone deep in thoughts.  “Dhaa wouldn’t call at this hour unless there is some problem” She had thought gravely.  Her training had started and she wouldn’t get time till evening.  Dhaa’s problem wouldn’t wait till evening.  She had called up Afroz and asked her to visit Dhatri.  Afroz had bunked the college and had come to Vidisha....! 

“I am in a big mess, I believe...” Dhatri told what had happened with Ravi.  

“What are you waiting for? You should be there with him...” Afroz spoke at once and Dhatri gaped at her.  “You think I should go?” she asked and Afroz nodded.

“Yes, you should.  He needs you...” Afroz said and Dhatri hung her head.  She was not sure about that.  She always thought, Ravi married her out of sympathy... ! 

“He said I give him strength...!” she thought remembering when Ravi was talking to her parents a day before their wedding....! 

“Humm....” she sighed.  “How?” she asked.

“How?” Afroz was surprised with that stupid question.

“How, Big sister? Just buy the ticket and go..” her solution was simple.

“Duffer... I don’t have a VISA” Dhatri pointed out at the difficulty.

“Then apply for one...” Afroz had solution to that also, equally stupid.

“Wait....” She pulled Dhatri’s laptop.  

“See... here is document list... you need for VISA interview.  Let me check the available dates and slots...” Afroz took over the control.

“Marriage certificate?” she asked and Dhatri shook her head.  “Umm.. I mean... Rahman Uncle said he will take care of documents....” Dhatri said in a small voice.

“call him...” Afroz pointed at Dhatri’s cell.  Dhatri hesitated.  Afroz picked up her phone.

“Number?” she asked and Dhatri again hung her head shaking it.

“I don’t have it..” She said and Afroz banged on the table frustrated....!

“Papa has it..” Dhatri said and Afroz spat...

“Go get the number...” Dhatri dashed out of her room and came in after a while doomed.

“Papa is in the college....” Afroz gazed at Dhatri’s ashen face and took out her phone.

“Papa’s number...?” she asked and Dhatri blurted the number.

“Hallo uncle... This is Afroz.   Can I get Mr. Rahman Khan’s number ?... My grandfather  has some work with him...” Afroz said sincerely and smiled winking at Dhatri.  Dhatri looked down smiling.

“Humm... Number! Now call him...” Afroz folded her arms sliding the piece of paper.  As Dhatri pressed the number keys... she grew panic...! Afroz looked at her panic state.

“He... hello... Dh.... Dhatri ...!” Dhaa stammered. 

“Haan... Bolo beti..” the encouraging voice gave her some strength...!

“Mi... mi.. milanaa thaa...!” she gathered all her courage.

“Ok.  I will come to your place in the evening...” Rahman said.

“N..No...” Dhatri blurted at once.  Rahman waited...

“I... I will come...” she said looking at Afroz and she nodded.

“Ok, beti... I will send the car...” he said and spoke in panic.

“N..No.. I will come...” he wondered at her hesitation to accept her elated status...!

Dhatri disconnected and looked up at Afroz.  Her phone range again...

“Beti... ?” he asked.   “Rajoria hotel.” Afroz prompted her. 

“Ok.  In two hours..” He said looking at the time ...

Within fifteen minutes both were out on Afroz’s Royal Enfield.  Nilima stood at the door seeing Dhatri going away.  Dhatr’s happiness was what she wanted.. nothing else....!

********   *****  ******

It was a test of her endurance when Rini was transferred to the prison for drug trafficking.  Hashish and marijuana was found in her vanity bag with few bullets and a loaded gun...! Her tour guide had sacrificed her for the others and the remaining 44 would reach India safely and would soon be on their various destinations all over India, bidding their right time to strike and flee...!

“What rubbish...!” The customs officer threw the tiffin tin into the waste bucket.  

“Yeah...! Some shit...!” he picked up to examine.  Nothing important... some stale food and a soiled piece of cloth...! The customs officer turned to the other passanger and he pocketed the cloth smiling inwardly...! 

She knew... they were monitored 24 X 7 in this so called prison only for women controlled by men security officers, where the brutality had reached its limit...! The women were dragged in the night for the hedous gratification of the prison security personnel...!  Every time a girl was picked up and Rini’s blood boiled.  She was waiting for her turn... but it seemed, that she was treated specially, nicely for some unknown reason.  She wondered...! But soon realized that her vanity bag had revealed a prescription of medicines for HIV positive drugs...!  Blood samples were taken and it was confirmed....! 

“Chal.... someone ordered her and she woke up with a start... “Doctor...” she was pushed with the butt of the rifle and taken to the office where there was routine check up  of the so called prisoners to show that these prisoners were taken good care of...! 

“Lait jao...!” The doctor ordered and she gaped in disbelief....! 

“Do... Doctor?” she was unable to comprehend...! “What was he doing there?” She read his nameplate...! “Dr. Hamid Kazi..!

“Dr. Krishnamurthy who had treated Vinit in the hospital was staring back at her...!” she closed her eyes... hoping it to be only her dream. 

“Turn on your back..” he was checking her asking her to breathe in and out...!

“Dual employment.....” he winked bending over her.  She was amazed.  How could he do that? Dual employment? What the hell?” She was unable to get the picture....!

He was Colonel in Indian Army in charge of the military hospital in Delhi.  She observed his face... the beard and a deep cut mark on his eyebrow reveled... master of disguise...!

“What are you doing here?” she hissed breathing in.  

“Shut up...!” he punched her right in her tummy and she groaned in excrutiating pain...!

“He will join you soon...!” he said in a bare whisper...!

“Who?” it was hight of stupidity to ask such questions...!

“Vikram...” came the answer and she winced in shock.  He will take it from there...!” he turned to his table...!

“Does this mean, Major Vikram too had a dual employment? How many have this special status...?” She clutched her head not wanting to believe what she had just seen.  If this could happen in here... it could happen in Indian Army too...! she had a knot in her stomach....!

“No... not possible... there is always a thorough background check before recruitment...” she dismissed her grave thought and waited for further orders...! 

157

“What am I doing here?” She took a final look around her tiny barrack and took a step out of the camp. She turned to look back for the last time... promising...

“I will come back... and soon...” she held her dupatta hidden inside her burkha and a mysterious smirk appeared on her face. It was her final summit in the camp. She was to be transported for her new responsibility. 

 

“Food for two days...!” a girlish voice whispered and Rini she took the packet securely packed in the cloth, inadvertently dropping the dupatta clutched in her hand.

“Vande Mataram...” she felt the figure walking with her. Ignoring completely Rini looked straight with pursed lips...! 

 

“Good bye...!” The figure disappeared branching out from the group. Rini walked merging herself into the crowd, removing the cloth tied on the tiffin box and hiding it under her burkha. 

 

The religious sermon took longer time than expected. She grew uneasy. The group was again sorted out. She was isolated from her original group and transferred to another group. Rini waited patiently biding her time. 

 

**** *** ****

“There was a big debate going on in both the countries on the issue of the arrested Fishermen and transferring them back. The 171 taken into Indian custory against 143 Indian fishermen in the prison crossing the territorial water from Gujarat....! 

 

Rini had a stomach upset and was in the tiny precarious toilet for a long time....! Taking out the cloths hidden under her burkha and deciphering the encoded message. The list of military officers rotting in the prison. The employment codes were deciphered and the list in her mind was ready....! 

 

The exchange would take place in a week’s time. With much deliberations and negotiations, Indian Government was ready to exchange 171 fishermen for the 143 Indian fishermen. The names and identifications were exchanged and they were waiting for their release....! 

 

The Mirpur Lahore International Airport was buzzing with the women visiting India for the pilgrimage to HazaratBal Shrine, Khwaja Garib Nawaz,  Ajmer Shareef Dargah, Hajiali Dargah and the famous monuments Kutub Minar, Tajmahel, Golgumbaj and other religious places.

Someone walked past her in the crowd and she gaped in shock. Her legs followed inadvertently....!

“What is he doing here?” She was shocked to see him on the Lahore Airport.

The tour manager was shouting the instructions, yelling his lungs out. The women, excited, thrilled, over enthusiastic, busy talking to each other ignored the instructions completely.

“Where are you going?” A hefty lady gripped her shoulder and turned startled.

“Umm.. No.. Ghuslkhana...” she showed the ladies restroom. The lady accompanied her... Rini had lost the opportunity to find out. Her tiffin cloth must be handed over. She didn't know how, but seeing him on the airport she knew the things were falling in place. The others would follow soon... Mission accomplished...? Really? She must find out....!

We have to wait... the flight is delayed for bad weather...” The tour guide announced and a murmur of disappointment rose in the crowd. Rini grinned ear to ear under her scarff covering her face. Indeed the things were falling in place...!

The things were falling in place for the militants too...! Soon the 'Material' will be delivered, packed on the backs of camels and along the side of the railway line... will be sent to the destination....! The secure path was set....Khokhropar railway station, Zero Point Railway Crossing... immigration and customs checks... Munabao Railway station in India.. Bhuro ki basti...! The rest would be taken care of by the other group...! A second precision planning was done at every stage, monitoring every move...!

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

“Fix a drink...!” She ordered and Mrs. Russel hesitated. Sanyogita looked up angrily and Mrs. Russel turned to the bar...! Snayogita was at peace....! She had regained the entry into the house. Saya and Ravi were held up with the litigation and Saya had no other option than to allow her into the house. She got what she wanted. Saya had no energy to fight another battle. Her opportunist mind smirked wickedly...

“Finally...” she relaxed holding the glass of fine wine...! The moment she came to know about the litigation, she had grabbed the opportunity to visit Saya in his distress. He was shocked to see her at the door. She had hugged him tightly crying for their son. Saya was numbed. She had given him hopes to use all her influence to find a way out. He just had given in hoping for good. Soon she took over. Sayajirao's hopeless condition was used to her advantage....!

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

“Disha... please tell me what happened?” Nilima pressed her chest sucking in her breath.

“Mamma... he is turned in... for interrogation....!” Disha exploded the bombshell....! The phone slipped from Nilima's hands... she sat on the chair drained out completely....! Salil supported her, bringing her in the bedroom. 

 

“What do we do now?” he had no answer. 

 

“Salil... please... please... let us not tell her anything about this... She will be doomed..“ Nilima pleaded and Salil just hid his face in his palms....! The complete blackout made sense...! Dhatri's suffering had not ended ....! His heart cried out for his youngest daughter. No one knew what was in store for her. Her destiny was taking twists and turns into the darkness....! There was no end to the tunnel... no torch at the end of the tunnel...!

“Rini...!” Nilima wailed wrenching her heart...! Salil prayed for her return... There was no respite for anyone of them... He should helplessly wait for Rini's return....!