121

“Dhaa.....” Rini blurted aghast.  Dhatri had dropped down on her knees and was holding Swarnima’s bleeding wrist.  Her eyes rolled up, she went into a kind of trance.  She was seeing herself floating in the air with cool breeze engulfing... She was weightless... flying away... .Soon the tremors hit her..! She was seeing things which were not there... She was in a different world...!

Both Rini and Suresh turned motionless with shock.  They both had experienced her healing powers but had never seen her healing someone else.  Swarnima had closed her eyes.... The blood was gushing out....

She suddenly felt the warmth entering her body... calming her down considerably.  The physical pain was subsiding making it bearable and the mental anguish had vanished.  She felt her heart filled with divine calmness, giving her confidence....A strange feeling of peace engulfed her! She moaned and Rini came out of shock.  “Suresh....!” she held his hand.  He was looking at the scene ahead mesmerized...! The bleeding had stopped... Dhatri’s swollen, blood soaked fingers were moving magically over Swarnima’s wrist...! They could hear a low groan of pain... Suresh leaned forward to be pulled back by Rini...! 'They can’t stop Dhatri now...!' She was in trance, her muscles flexing...receiving uncontrollable convulsions....

“Seizure...!” They both looked at each other panicking...! She was getting seizure.. her body was twitching... her mouth foaming...her hands shaking uncontrollably....

“No...!” Rini screamed leaping forward to pull Dhatri apart.... “Trismus....!” She looked at Suresh who had held on to her.  “We should stop this...!” she blurted.  For the first time she saw the severity of the problem... Dhatri had got ‘grand-mal’ with a lockjaw...! She dropped down on the ground in a heap and Rini ran forward...!

“Water...!” she yelled lifting Dhatri up in her arms...! Suresh ran towards the building cursing, kicking himself for not keeping the water ready.  Dhatri was burning with temperature..... She needed help...!

Suresh suddenly stopped and came back running...!

“Get the water... goddamn it!” Rini yelled.  Swarnima opened her eyes and looked at her wrist.  The bleeding had completely stopped... the veins seemed to have sealed themselves stopping the blood stream.  The white slit... with flesh was visible on her wrist, with no pain....!

“Miracle...” she blurted and her eyes travelled to Dhatri on the ground...

“Oh My God...!” She got up with a jerk to be stopped by Rini.  Rini pushed her back on the bench...!

“Suresh...!” she yelled.  He looked at her standing over Dhatri’s burning body...!

“Didi... Admit her ... take her to the hospital...!” he said panting and sucking his breath with apprehension. 

“What?” For a fleeing second Rini raised her hand to hit Suresh... but then her eyes flashed... “Yes... I have to admit her to the hospital....To get an entry inside....!” She heaved Dhatri’s body and Suresh ran forward to help her.

“Seizure...! She is sick...” he yelled carrying Dhatri.  Rini looked behind.  “Stay there...!” she ordered Swarnima who was trying to follow them...! Swarnima sat back on the bench.  Dharini and Suresh carried Dhatri yelling their lungs out for help....seeing the sentries running out for help!    Dharini would complete the formalities and paper work, being the elder sister of Dhatri.

***********  **********

“Mr Deo..!” Mrs. Russel had made a drink for Sayajirao.  He took the glass and slumped back on the chair closing his eyes....! His son was on his way to India...That India, his home, he left behind twenty six years ago, never to return. 

His son, now around twenty six was just a few months old when he landed in New York, US of A.  It was a herculean task to rear an infant taking care of his physical and emotional needs.  Then he found an angel called Mrs. Russel through a housekeeping agency.  A black Afro American lady, Mrs. Russel, traveled from downtown everyday.  Gradually she became a part of the family as Ravi wouldn’t leave her alone even for her weekly off and due annual vacations.   Ravi was growing up and Sayajirao decided to shift to Bay area for better prospects.  Ravi, aged five agreed only on the condition that Mrs. Russel shifted with them.  She agreed.  Then there was no looking back.  Sayajirao’s business saw no boundaries.  He had started with an employment in a concept car design company and slowly shifted to consultancy in automation, targeting small and medium businesses, bringing in turnarounds, taking up turnkey projects and consulting on changing processes for better productivity. 

Sayajirao shifted a bit and opened his eyes to see the aging Mrs. Russel picking up his empty glass.  She looked at him questioningly and he gave her a nod to fix another drink for him.  He looked around opening his eyes.  His gigantic villa came into view as he rubbed his palms on his eyes.  He picked up the glass...! His lips curled up in an inwardly smile...! Every time they changed the house, Ravi insisted on having more space, more rooms....! Why? Ravi couldn’t tell...! He only asked... “what if there are more people in the house? What if there are more guests?” Sayajirao could guess his crave for a family.  Unfortunately, he had none.  He had left everyone behind. 

“The house looked so lively, when all of them were here...!” he looked up at Mrs. Russel.  She merely smiled.  Indeed the house... the huge villa had come alive when Dhatri and her family was here.  She missed them all too! Suddenly, Sayajirao got up, went into the Pooja Ghar and lighted the lamp.  Mrs. Russel looked surprised. 

“Let his dreams come true....!” he prayed.  “Amen...!” she prayed too....! 

*****   ******   *****

Rini’s phone buzzed... “Ravi...!” she hurriedly went aside.   He had landed on Indira Ganghi International Airport...!  Rini felt overwhelmed....! “Ravi... “ she couldn’t control her emotion...

“Hey... Rini... !” He too didn’t know how to console her.  “Give me the directions.... !” he said distracting her.  She gave him the directions mentioning the landmarks...! He disconnected.  She looked up wiping her face and saw her mama papa entering the compound with Abbaji, wng. Cndr. Virender Pandit.  A lot had happened in between.  Rini had to cover up.... Cover up cleverly...!

“Dharini...!” Ammaji, swarnima had placed her hand on Rini’s shoulder standing with her for support.  Suresh came out wiping his sweat.

“Didi... Finally...!” he stopped looking at the trio at the entrance.  Rini looked at him threateningly.

“Go!” she said and Suresh left hurriedly.  “Where are you going?” Salil asked surprised. 

“Umm... Papa.. Ravi has come... Suresh usse laanay gaya hain...!” She said glancing at Swarnima who had hidden her wrist behind....!

“And where is Dhatri...?” asked Nilima pressing her hand on her chest, worriedly.... Rini and Swarnima gaped at each other.  

120

“What the hell is this...!! Why can’t I be at peace...? For once?” Disha dug her fingers in her hair.  Bhanu patted on her shoulder to calm her down.

“Not even a single day, Bhanu....! And Now, this...! How will I manage? I want to be with Rini right now... but this new phase of this damn project, won’t let me...!” Disha sobbed. 

“Disha, Rini is a strong girl....!” Bhanu tried to console Disha but it had an opposite effect...!

“strong girl... Every time... every one says so and leaves it to her to take on all alone.... Strong girl.... You think she can handle this, all alone? She too needs someone, Bhanu... why can’t you understand?” Disha was bang on....!

“I was so relieved to meet Vinit... He was perfect for her... supporting each other so well... And now... She is alone... and he is suffering...!” Disha broke down.

“I am sure, now also she must be taking care of my parents, his parents, him..... And they are not even married....!” Disha sobbed.  “But what about her? Who will be for her...? What if she cracks up now?”

“I want to be with her, Bhanu.... For this time... At least...! She was always been there for all of us ....!” Disha got up with a jerk.

“I think I should pack my things... I must go...!” she said wiping her face.  Bhanu got up too...!

“Disha... !” Bhanu hugged her.  “Look . I had called Ravi....!” he said and Disha flared up.

“Ravi? Why did you call him? What does he got to do with us? With our family?” Bhanu failed to understand Disha’s mood swing. 

“Disha.... He already knew... !” Bhanu urged to calm down.

“He knew? How did he know? Did you tell him?” She again blew her head.

“No, Disha... He ....!” Bhanu stopped.... He had not asked Ravi...!”

“This Ravi... and his pervert Father...! Why are they meddling in our lives?” She was disgusted.  Bhanu gaped shocked.   

“What did you say?” he asked her taking a step back.  Disha was on all together a different plane....!

“Forget it Bhanu.... !” She said jerkily.  Bhanu shook his head hopelessly.  She fidgeted, paced the room restlessly and then sat on the sofa losing her strength.  Applying for leave at this juncture meant inviting a pink slip....! She couldn’t afford this... Her house repayments, her bills... her expenses were mounting and Bhanu too was going through a very bad phase as Chrysler too was on the verge of closing down...! General motors had already shut down its SUV division...! Bhanu’s job too was at stake...!

“Bhanu... what if I am denied the vacation?” she asked miserably.  Bhanu held her hand and said... “Then I will go....!” she gaped.  “Bu... but your job...?” she asked.

“Don’t worry Disha... I have alternatives... I will handle it...I will go!” he said pulling his laptop to book his ticket.  He pulled out his phone seeing Disha going into the kitchen.

“Ravi...?” he asked in a hushed voice.

“No.. Ravi is in the flight to India.... He boarded a few hours back...!” Sayajirao responded.  Bhanu took a sigh of relief. 

“Bhanu... please take care of Disha... and if there is anything I can do... Please let me know...” Sayajirao said in a heavy voice, empathizing with Bhanu.  He too felt a pain for Vinit....!

****  ********

“Why are you not letting me in?” Dhatri yelled in desperation and Suresh pulled her aside.

“Daa.... Shhhuuu... We are in the hospital....!” he said in a hushed voice.  She felt her desperation mounting... The atmosphere in the hospital waiting room was suffocating and Rini seemed helpless.  Rini came running towards her.  Nilima followed.  No one was allowed and it was a military rule.  The visitors were allowed only during visiting hours and not in Intensive Care section.  Visitors could see the wounded soldier only from a distance.  Hospital staff and nurses took care of the soldiers admitted.  Even Rini was allowed to visit the patient as a special case.  Only his parents were allowed near him. 

“Rini Didi... Why can’t I see him? Just for once?” Disha asked literally begging.  Rini shook her head.  “Dhaa.... You know.... I mean you do not know, what will happen to you... I just can’t handle another shock.  Please Dhaa... try to understand.... !” Rini pleaded hugging Dhatri.  But Dhatri pushed her away.  “But I am confident, I can help...” she raised her voice in frustration.  Swarnima stopped dead.  “She can help? How?” She inched forward. 

“Yes.. Dhaa... I know, you can help... but what if something goes wrong? He is already fighting death, Dhaa... What if it fails? What if something happens to you in the process? Please Dhaa... Let the doctors take care...!” Rini dropped down on her knees...! Dhatri moved away...!

“Rini Didi... I know, I can help... I don’t care even if I die in the process.... Your.. your worst case scenario...! If it helps him recover... I don’t mind dying...! Anyway... I am useless if you guys don’t allow me to do anything I can...!” she said holding Suresh’s hand.

“Wait a minute... You said, you can help! What kind of help?” Swarnima asked looking at distressed Rini and frustrated Dhatri.  They gaped at each other...! For the first time, Dhatri took a bold step....

“I can heal...!” She said and Swarnima gaped in disbelief.  “Dhaa....!” Rini was stopped by Dhatri. 

“Thats impossible....!” Swarnima blurted shocked.  “Thats possible for me...!” Dhatri said holding Rini’s hand.  Swarnima clutched her hand and dragged her to a corner. 

“We should go out in the lawn...!” Suresh came back to his senses after the initial shock of revelation by Dhatri.  Swarnima dragged Dhatri outside and others followed.  Dhatri was determined to see Vinit and was ready to do anything for him....!

“Ammaji....” Rini held her hand earnestly...! “Wait a minute... Dharini...!” Swarnima stopped Rini.

“Dhatri.... you were saying something....!” she turned to Dhatri.  “Yes.. I can heal...!” Dhatri said confidently.  “But... Daa...!” Suresh was cut off by Swarnima...!

“Let me hear it from her...!” she held Dhatri’s hand.  Rini intervened...!

“She heals... but she suffers ... beyond our imagination....!” Swarnima gaped.  Rini narrated what Dhatri can do and how much she suffers healing others....!

“But I want to do it....!” Dhatri urged. 

“But we are not sure about the effect after the experiments on her in US” Rini narrated further....

“What if it worsens his condition? I can’t take that risk Dhaa.... Let the Doctors handle it...!” Rini sat on the bench clutching her head.  She was in conflict... She wanted some help for Vinit but wouldn’t take risk on Dhatri... What if she ended up losing both? She couldn’t bear the thought....

“Her suffering..... is it life threatening?” Swarnima asked putting her hand on Rini’s shoulder.  Rini shook her head... “Not so far.... She suffers other’s pain... her body temperature rises, she goes into trance, she passes out, her pain does not subside for a long time.... Its like she dies a slow death, every time she heals...!” Rini chocked but Dhatri sat there unmoved....

“And we are not sure, what will happen now... Not sure about her healing powers... She suffered a lot .....!” Rini sobbed and Suresh nodded.

“Ammaji.... What? Oh! God... What are you doing?” Rini couldn’t hold Swarnima’s hand....! The stream of blood oozed out of her wrist... Swarnima had cut her wrist with one swift swipe of the Swiss knife she was carrying in her bag....! Dhatri ran forward.... Suresh screamed his lungs out... Rini dashed forward to hold Swarnima......

“I am ready to take the risk... Dharini.... For Vinit... !” She said faintly before closing her eyes in pain.....losing all her strength breaking down under pressure....!

119

“This is wound ballistics....! This study of the impact of a bullet shot on your body...!” The Doctor said gravely.  

“And here is what the bullets did to the tissues, bones and organs of his body...!” He took out multiple frames of the X-Ray films...! 

He looked at it with bated breath.  “About the destructiveness of the projectiles....!” The Doctor was cut off...

“What are the chances....?” a prolonged question was raised and the Doctor gaped for a long time.  He waited clutching his fists impatiently.  

“Umm.... Te... Ten percent...!” was the reluctant answer.  

“Ok.  Work on that 10%...! I will hold on to it...!” He said slightly quivering but with confidence that his boy will hang on...! 

“We are doing our best...!” The doctor finally found his voice.

“Thank you...!” he said getting up, shaking hands with the Doctor and came out.  He kept his shaking hand on his wife’s, Swarnima’s shoulder for support.  She supported him and they both came out of the Hospital.  Their orderly, who was waiting outside the gates dashed forward.  She gestured him to get water bottle.  He ran back to the vehicle.  Inside the vehicle, he drank water and she waited for him to calm down.  

 “She must know...!” Swarnima said stroking his head on her lap.  He looked up “No..!”

“We have to...!” Swarnima was the strongest.  Goldy came around wagging, licking his face.  “Yes.. Veer... she must know!” Swarnima said gravely picking up the phone.  

“Doctor said we have 10% chances...!” he said losing his hope... his strength.  She was taken aback in shock.  But immediately gaining her composure said... “We will hang on to that ....!”

“Connect me to Bridgier Randhawa...!” she said to the operator ....

*********  ***********

“Two bullets remained in his body.... Here.. His hip bone... is crushed... and his lower rib... is broken.... The infection of Lead poison is spread all over...! Another bullet.... here... had passed through his body... His shoulder... !” The Doctor showed the X-rays and MRIs.  She stared sitting upright....! 

“The particles of bones are to be removed and the problem is we cannot do it in one go... The kinetic energy transferred by the bullet in his body has spread the shock waves, his heart functioning weak... his femoral bone is fractured .... !” The doctor added.  

“Four days.... Four days he was carrying the bullet in his body... his hip joint, his shoulder is replaced... the Lead toxicity has affected his heart, intestines, kidneys and nervous system... We are yet to assess the effect on his reproductive organs...!” The Doctor said to her dismay.  Her breath was sucked out.  The next moment she made up her mind and thanking the Doctor, came out.

“Dharini..” Swarnima ran out of words seeing Rini’s pale face.  Rini forced calm on her face. 

“We should keep trying....!” she could only say and fell in Swarnima’s arms.  “... We won’t give up....!” Swarnima whispered patting Dharini.  “He is a fighter....!” 

*****  *****

“No Dhatri.... Please... Please listen to me....! I will call you once we reach...!” Dr. Salil tried to console Dhatri but she was not at all in a state of rationale....! 

“No Papa, I am coming...!” she said wailing in anguish.  “Dhatri... Listen... Let me just go there first and see... I will call you....!” Salil said helplessly.  Nilima took the phone from him.

“Dhaa... We will inform you... And then you plan over the weekend ok?” she said glancing at panic struck Salil.  Dhatri disconnected.  Poorva stood before her.

“I want to go...!” she said looking at Poorva.  Poorva and Ragini were trying to reach Dharini since they heard about Vinit...! 

“But Dhaa...” Ragini started off but Dhatri turned to her raising her hand.  “No but..! I am going...!” she said pulling her bag from under the bed.  

“Dhaa... Chal mere saath....!” Poorva pulled her out of the room.  There was a message from suresh.  He was waiting for them outside the girls’ hostel.  

“Suresh.... I want to go... and I am going...!” Dhatri said with determination.  Suresh nodded and took out the papers...

“Tickets for tonight...to Delhi....!” Poorva looked at Suresh with satisfaction.  “I am coming with you... “ Suresh added and Poorva was shocked.  

“You have your elective internals....!” she said aghast.  “Yeah... Best of three...and I have already scored enough...!” he said smugly and poorva nodded.  “Thank God! They had finished their internals a day before...!” Dhatri had ran back to her room.  Poorva and Suresh discussed the situation for a while.

“Don’t worry... I will bring her back once she meets Rini didi....!” Suresh said confidently.  

**********  ********

“Dhaa.....!” Rini lost her words seeing her Dhaa in the Military Hospital.  Dhatri hugged her tightly and Rini lost all her courage.  She sobbed in Dhatri’s arms and Swarnima couldn’t stop her tears.  Suresh was not sure, how Dhaa would react in the hospital but Dhatri had forgotten her trauma seeing her Rini didi in distress.  

“Its Ok, Didi...! Now that I am here....!” She said in a bare whisper..! Rini looked up shocked.  “No... Dhaa... Its beyond your .....!” But Dhatri broke apaprt raising her hand looking around.  “Dhaa.... No!” Rini clutched her palm on her mouth but Dhatri left her and went back to Suresh. 

“Dhaa... When... How...? I had told you .... !” Salil was equally shocked seeing Dhatri in the Hospital.  He was with Wng. Cmdr. Virender Pandit.  “Papa...” Dhatri dashed to her father. 

“I want to see him....!” Dhatri said looking at Vinit’s father.  He shook his head...! “No one is allowed...!” he said hopelessly.  “He is still fighting his battle.... Now with death...!” he said gravely looking away hiding his emotions...! 

When the MI received the intelligence report, Maj. Vinit, the Hawk was summoned.  The highjacked Boing 707 TE 435 of Air India left New Delhi airport at 8:30 pm for New York, was forced to land somewhere in Afghanistan.  Vinit with his select Six landed in Kabul en-route Jerusalem, Isreal...! The Mossad Special Operations Team joined hands.  The plan to rescue 213 passangers was chalked out.  Vinit moved out of the team alone to investigate further...! The huge Boing was diverted to the smaller asfalted runway of Eshkashem in Badakhshan Province...somewhere in the north, at the height of 2625 meters above sea level.... The runway strip failed to take on to the Boing and It crashlanded nose down... Damaging the aircraft heavily.  All the passangers were unhurt but the highjackers threatened the crue and cabin members to death.... Two Cabinate Ministers life was at stake.  The Palestine highjackers had no mercy.  The started off shooting with the elders...! The dead bodies of five people who resisted were thrown out of the aircraft.  All emergency doors were sealed... the Passangers were starved and suffocated....! 

The team had to act fast and Vinit and two Commandos were first to reach....! The operation was carried out with a nano second precision but in the process Vinit was shot several times... The next seventy two hours were very critical for him.  He had to clean up...! Take the surviving crew and passengers in smaller air crafts and ensure their safety, bring them back home...! .... The clean sweep took toll on him... He was flown to the Military Hospital in a pretty bad shape... The chances of survival were meek....!

The media was singing the praises at a very high tune, of the Military personnel and commandos for the rescue operation and Vinit was fighting his battle with death..! Completely drained out of blood... he was on ventilators supported by artificial respiratory systems... The blood transfusion and the smaller surgeries were carried out.  Once stabilized... his Shoulder joint and Hip joint were replaced....! The toxicity had taken toll on his vital organs and the Doctors too were losing hope...!

“But Dhaa...!” Suresh was not sure whether Dhatri could sustain the ordeal.  After her US trip she had not gone through the experience of curing anyone.  She was deliberately and consciously kept away from any illness around.  Rini too was not sure about Dhatri’s healing power.

“Those people experimented on you.... I do not know, Dhaa... What effect it had on you...!” Rini was very sceptical... ! Dhatri kept on saying... “I want to see him....!” She was not allowed inside....! Dhatri was desperate... Vinit was losing his battle...!

118

“Maasi?” Bhanu was surprised to see Santogita in the house.  Disha came out smiling broadly.  Santogita got up and gave him a light hug... “My boy!” she patted on his back and looked at Disha expectantly.  Disha made a drink for her and Bhanu opened the fridge for some food.  

“What is she doing here?” he had no idea when she had arrived.  He saw her hurriedly moving.... With a great bustle she produced a plate and a bowl.

“For you.... My boy...!” She placed the ‘spinach and mushroom Quiche with gruyere chees and meatballs with spaghetti....! Bhanu looked surprised.  

“I know, you like meatballs...!” she sweetly smiled and Disha smiled lovingly. 

“What the hell is going on here? Disha?” he looked at ther questioningly seeing them exchanging glances.

“Oh.. Sweetheart...! Maasi made some delicious food....!” Disha flung her arms around Bhanu.  Bhanu was shocked....! Suddenly coming back to his senses, asked

“When did you come?” 

“Oh Bhanu....! She came yesterday....” Disha said and Bhanu lost in gauging the damage done already.  He lost his apatite.  His phone buzzed in time and he walked away....

“Must say, Bhanu... your wife is a gem of a person.... She handles everything so efficiently and effortlessly.... You are a lucky man... Bhanu... I am proud of you my boy...!” Santogita had already spread her charm and Disha smiled smugly with a fake politeness, holding her hand. He prayed hard.. for some miracle...! 

He sat at a distance switching on the TV but stared somewhere in the distance...! He could see his dear wife and his Maasi chating merily with a glass of wine.  Disgust took over...! He gazed at his maasi....! 

The striking similarity between Ravi and Sanyogita punctured his heart.  She had a tall slender figure, fair, white skin, could easily be passed as a sexy figure with her curvy figure luring men even at this age... her strikingly gray eyes with bright blue tinge and her bright smile was so captivating, even he couldn’t take his eyes off.  From no angle she looked Indian... Bitterness spoilt the taste in his mouth.  Ravi had the same wrinkles at the corner of his eyes when he smiled as his mother and his smile would win anyone...!  “He resembles his mother... but so different in nature....!” he sighed, thinking and thanking God...! Ravi was his dearest and he wouldn’t want Ravi to be like her...! 

He looked on at his dear wife.... She had assumed her Indian being.... and extending her hospitality towards Santogita.... “Atithy Devo Bhava...” 

“For Godsake, Disha.... wake up...!” he looked away in desperation and Disha’s phone buzzed to his relief.  She excused herself to talk to her boss and Bhanu grabbed the chance....

“What you want, Maasi?” he stood before her folding his arms. She smiled sweetly and looking in the direction of Disha.  Bhanu hesitated for a second and took out his phone...! Her eyes blazed malice for a fleeting second and she said... “Ask your wife before calling the cops, Son...!” He gaped in shock.  She patted on his arm...

“Don’t worry.. I am leaving.... But must say... Your wife is too sweet...!” She turned towards Disha who had reappeared after the phone call.

He slumped back on the sofa seeing his wife seeing maasi off and promising her to catch up some other time...!

“Humm.... !” Disha came back and sat beside him wrapping her arm around his.  He looked at his wife.... “What all she has done? He was sure, Disha had not parted with her money... He knew, she would part with people, but not with money....!” Again bitterness spoit his mouth.  He just sat there engrossed.... Disha looked up...!

“She is so different from your mother....!” Disha said, still having the hangover of Santogita.  Bhanu looked taken aback.  “Your mother? Since when Disha started calling ‘your mother’!” he sat facing her.

“She is your mother in law, Disha....!” he said plainly and Disha looked at him. 

“Yeah... Maaji... I mean maasi is so different from Maaji.... She looks different... She is different....!” Disha went on stabbing Bhanu further.  He looked away....

“Sanyogita had enchanted Disha... spreading her charm....!” He thought dismayed....”Damage already done....!” 

“You know...Ravi and Maasi look so alike but are so different.....! Looks could be so deceptive!....She is so sweet....! I mean....” Disha’s voice trailed off looking at Bhanu’s furious face.  Somehow she had distanced herself from Ravi and his father after the Dhatri incident.  Ravi had pointed finger at her accusing her of being insensitive...! She couldn’t digest...! And her Dhaa had taken his side....! 

“Disha... I request you to stay away from all this.... ! Don’t be judgemental, Disha...!” he urged.

“I can judge people, Bhanu ! “ Disha said flaring up and Bhanu gave up.  He was already tired with the hectic meeting and the travel....! 

“Forget it sweetheart.... I need some sleep...!” he said getting up and Disha realized.  She got up... poured juice in a glass and held Bhanu’s hand passionately.  Bhanu smiled faintly.  He gulped it down his throat and resting his head on her lap, closed his eyes...! Disha kept stroking her husband’s forehead, caressing his face, pondering over the conversation she had with Sanyogita.  

“I will not let my Dhatri fall in the trap again... No matter what.... I will protect her from these people... “ she thought resolutely....!

*****   ****

“You know what? I have never seen a girl like you...! No dreams about life partner, no ambition, no plans about future, no boyfriend, no....!” Ragini pulled her legs and Dhatri smiled smugly. 

“I keep my life very simple...! Uncomplicated...!” She grinned.  

“Yeah? Don’t you want to earn money? A lot of it? For a lifestyle?” Ragini asked astonished.  Poorva looked on...!

“Lifestyle? What is that, Ragini? The top I am wearing covers my upper body with only 100 Rupees and  your 1000 Rupees top covers the same...! So what’s the point in earning 1000 Rupees when I can do well with Rs. 100?” Dhatri had her math perfect.  Ragini gaped with no counter argument...!

“But the luxuries of life...!” she again tried weakly...

“Luxuries? What? A fridge? TV? An expensive mobile? AC? Big House? A Car? Hah!!” Dhatri mocked Ragini.... 

“what you require a house for, Ragini? For shelter! How much space you require to sleep? 6X3 feet? The blankets and duvets.... Have you ever slept in a sleeping bag, under the heap of dried leaves? They give you more warmth and they airy too, in the summer...!” Dhatri snapped and went ahead....

“Have you ever drunk the natural, Pure, Chilled mineral water percolated down the crag? Have you ever kept the food in earthen pots in underground water to preserve it? Have you ever plucked a half ripe mango from the tree and squeezed it into your mouth? Why do you require a fridge, Ragini?

And TV? Have you seen a Tiger chasing deer in the jungle.. have you seen a wounded bird mocking death to save itself? Have you seen a peacock and a peahen courting in the rains? ... Have you seen a stampede ofof a bison? You don’t need those channels....! “ Dhatri went ahead reminiscing her jungle trecks...! 

“Stop... Stop... Dhaa... Got your point...! You really don’t require these worldly things... You are better off a jungle girl...!” Ragini said thoroughly exasperated.  Dhatri grinned.

“Oh! There is more to it...! A Car? Why? You don’t have legs? When you can travel by public transport...!”

“Stop .. stop it!” Ragini pressed her palms on her ears.  “I give up... You win...!” she said bowing before Dhatri.  Dhatri grinned victoriously.  But Ragini had a different plan....

“Dhaa.... Sunn naa...!” Ragini pestered pointing at her bag and Dhatri jerked her away. 

“I said no...! I don’t want to open the gift..! I don’t want those memories back...!” Dhatri fired and Poorva intervened.

“Yes, Ragini... Let it be...! She is right...!” Poorva held Dhatri’s hand. 

“But Dhaa...” Ragini was not ready to give up.  Her curiosity was killing her... and now Dhatri was all set to kill her.  She opened her bag.  Took out the packet...and throwing it to Ragini, said “Yeah... take this... Open it and have it for yourself...! I don’t want it..!” Ragini gaped taken aback.

“Bu... but its from Ray...!” she gasped.  “So what?!!  I don’t care, even if its from the President Obama...!” Dhatri fired back.  Poorva took the packet and keeping it in Dhatri’s bag said... “Its ok. Dhatri... Forget about the packet...!” Dhatri looked at Ragini furiously and walked out. 

“Bu... But I just wanted to know what is there in that pack...!” Ragini failed to understand Dhatri’s point.  Poorva held her hand.

“Ragini... have patience... She has gone through hell... Naturally, the memories keep coming back to her like thunder storm... Give her some more time... She will open the packet on her own...!” Ragini nodded reluctantly.

“Its over... All I want is peace.... some moments of peace.... !” Dhatri blurted sitting on the stone bench and to her dismay, it began raining....! “To hell with this rain...!” she blurted and the next moment slapped herself....

“Mari mai... Mari mai... Sorry.... I cursed Rains.... sorry!” she prayed closing her eyes, drenching in rain.  Her Mari mai was showering blessings on her.