Yet there was reason for her blindness. Haridas had opened her eyes to the world of art beyond music. She had grown close to his friends—Feroze, Anima, Ashesh. These friends in turn had begun to listen to her music. Their response to it became important to her. And one day, Anima had mustered up the courage to say, ‘I hope you aren’t expecting a long-term relationship with Haridas.’

‘Of course not,’ Sharada said and laughed but without conviction. Then Haridas met a French musician and got involved with her. He said to Sharada, ‘She plays the harp. You’ll like her. The two of you could even do an east–west encounter. Wouldn’t you like that?’

Sharada's insides had been torn apart. She had tried not to let it show on her face; she did not know if she had succeeded. Her friends rallied around her. Shekhar felt profoundly sad. He proposed to her. She said she needed time.

Sharada's music changed after the Haridas episode. It became richer. With the passage of time, she came to terms with herself. Her visceral muscles had relaxed. She accepted Shekhar's proposal. Her only condition was that he must believe she now felt only simple friendship for Haridas. Shekhar had instantly said, ‘Of course I believe you. It's evident. You have many common friends. You’d want to . . . we will naturally meet them. That's not a problem. But,’ he had added, ‘I must also lay down a condition. You must not expect me to indulge him. Don’t expect me to cut him slack because he's a great artist. To me, if a man is corrupt, his work is corrupt.’

On the phone Sharada is saying, ‘Yes, that’ll happen in time . . . I don’t know. I’m not anticipating anything before I meet him.’ She ends with a neutral thank you.

‘What was he saying?’ Anima asks.

‘Liked the concert. He has reservations about the new bandish. He said rice served straight off the fire is tasty but a bandish is tasteless until it's had time to mature. Wanted to know what Guruji was going to say.’

‘Did you read Janaki's piece on him?’

‘Yes. Good. His famous lifestyle ignored for questions about his work.’

Janaki makes a face. ‘I asked only one question about his work. Even then the boss said we don’t want “intellectual” writing. Our readers won’t get it.’

‘Did he call to thank you?’ inquires Anima.

‘Yes.’

‘And did he suggest you meet some time?’

‘Yes, that too.’

‘Watch out. He eats women.’

‘I know.’

Anima looks at Janaki for a few moments, then turns to Sharada.

‘So have you thought about Guruji?’

‘It's going to be an ordeal by fire. I’ll be cursed.’

‘Let it happen and be done with it. Stand your ground.’ Anima reaches for Sharada's hand. ‘A day comes when artists must leave the guru's shelter. If that day has come for you, just face it.’