Sumitraben escorts Swami Shivanand to the stage. The artists fall at his feet. Swamiji puts his hands on their heads and raises them up. Sumitraben takes the mic. Speaking in lilting English, she says, ‘I thank you, the audience, from the bottom of my heart for honouring our invitation and blessing us with your presence on this occasion. I can see that you are as overwhelmed by what we have heard and seen today as I am. I have no hesitation in saying that the artists have together touched the highest peak of spirituality. [Applause.] You have already acknowledged their rare talent with your applause. I now hope you will also respond in a more material way. You already know that these four paintings are to be auctioned here and now. Sharmila Parekh, ex–Chief Director of the Indian branch of the world-renowned auction house Sotheby’s, has flown down from Delhi especially to be with us. We are profoundly grateful to her for agreeing to conduct today’s auction. I will repeat that the money collected from the auction will go towards funding a new and novel project planned by Swami Shivanand. He plans to build a gurukul where he will teach Sanskrit to Dalit children. He has graciously agreed to accept our humble contribution towards his work. May I now invite Sharmila Parekh to the dais to conduct the auction?’

Ms Parekh, the toast of Delhi’s party circuit and popularly known as ‘Shums’, dresses in Western designer outfits as a rule. On this day, however, she is draped in a red-and-black Orissa ikat sari, accompanied by chunky, oxidized-silver jewellery. She sways up to the dais. When she turns to face the audience, they notice the coup de grâce of her look for the day. A line of sandalwood paste is etched from the middle of her nose to the parting in her hair in imitation of the Vaishnavs of Manipur. This is in honour of Swami Shivanand who is said to have come to the plains from the hills of the North-East. While Sumitraben introduces Ms Parekh to the audience in hyperbole, Ms Parekh stands with head bowed, blushing modestly. When the introduction is over, she descends from the dais to kneel before Swami Shivanand and lay her head on his feet. Janaki makes rapid notes.

Bowing and blessing over, the auction begins. The base price for all four paintings is declared. One lakh rupees. Shums takes in the audience with a sweeping glance and begins the auctioneer’s chant. ‘Who says a lakh and a half? Do I hear a lakh and a half? Who said a lakh and a half?’