Yusuf went on to share his perspective on the poem. Vidhi expressed her gratitude again and again. Hina said that in this exchange of thanks, they should not miss out on the main course. They went to the buffet counter and served themselves their favourite dishes. By then the waiter had picked up all the used plates from the table. When they returned to the table, Vidhi told Yusuf that Hina kept talking about him all the time. Yusuf looked at Hina and said smilingly, ‘Ah! She’s my sweetheart!’ Hina smiled. Vidhi peered into Yusuf’s eyes in the dim light of the restaurant and said, ‘Can I ask you a direct question?’

Yusuf said, ‘Of course!’

‘What’s your view on religion?’

Yusuf looked at Vidhi. Her face was very different from that of a common Indian. Her eyes and nose were small, like those of people from the North-east. Her lips were reddish and thin. On seeing Yusuf’s eyes concentrated on Vidhi, Hina also started looking at her. Hina thought that Yusuf did not like the question at all and was assuming that Vidhi has asked this question on her behalf. Hina’s heart began to race. The few minutes of this silence made Vidhi’s heart also lose pace. She thought that the question had angered Yusuf. Yusuf looked at the waiter standing next to them and said, ‘Water, please.’

The waiter stepped forward and poured water into the glass.

Yusuf looked at Hina and Vidhi’s pale faces while drinking the water and said, ‘I’m almost an atheist, and look, I said almost, not completely, an atheist.’

Hina and Vidhi were looking at him with complete astonishment. Both were silent. On noticing their silence, Yusuf said that the question was very pertinent, and he was happy to hear it. This explanation brought back the colour on the faces of the girls. Yusuf talked about religion for a few minutes. He said that religion was part of human civilization, but it was necessary for man to question why a particular civilization was his civilization. Could one liberate oneself from civilization? Yusuf took a few names of philosophers and said that they believed that every individual had the right to question his present state, beliefs and culture. If society took away those rights, then it would be curbing thought and insulting the individual.

Even after understanding the interest that his conversation had generated in Vidhi, he changed the topic, ‘Can I also ask a question directly?’

Vidhi smiled at the mention of the word ‘directly’ and said, ‘Of course.’

Yusuf looked down and wrinkled his eyes as if welcoming the ‘of course’. He then asked, ‘What is your view on religion?’