The lava that had erupted from Vidhi’s body had now cooled down in the falling water and flowed down into the depths of the valley’s river. They kept enjoying themselves in the water, oblivious and undisturbed by the world outside for nearly two hours. The insects, butterflies and dragonflies returned on smelling the lava. While sitting on the green grass and the rocks of the waterfall, Vidhi and Dariush, like Adam and Eve, seemed busy looking for signs of paradise in each other. All this while, the caterpillar pulled out its head from under the rock and moved towards the spring. It was also a witness to the intermingling of two bodies and souls.

Vidhi’s story had astonished and surprised Hina, as well as made her happy.

Vidhi had smoked a lot of cigarettes while narrating the story and Hina had assisted her too by smoking two of them. Hina could see a film of Vidhi’s account unreeling before her eyes. Many a time, she imagined herself in Vidhi’s place. She realized that there was a spring within her too, a spring that had a well behind it, a well that did not contain water but boiling lava. She was still thinking about herself when she was reminded of the prediction that Wardatul Sa’adat had made. A wave of reflection and sorrow spread over her face. ‘Does my story make you jealous?’ Vidhi asked.

‘Yes,’ Hina replied.

They laughed for long at Hina’s ‘yes’.

When they were done laughing, Hina told Vidhi about what all Wardatul Sa’adat had said. Vidhi claimed that to be absolute rubbish and advised Hina to never believe in such superstitions. Vidhi told Hina that Dariush left after a few days, and they had not been in contact since. She said that she had also had sex with her lover from school, her music teacher and an artist friend of her father’s. Hina did not feel very comfortable about that revelation. She remarked, ‘This is mere lust.’

‘Everything is lust, even love is a form of lust but nobody confesses it.’ Vidhi paused and then continued, ‘In fact, lust is desire. And it is unnatural to suppress a desire. The results of unnatural actions are unexpected.’ Vidhi spoke while taking pauses. Hina was reminded of all that Yusuf had said in the museum the other day. She told Vidhi, ‘But I will have sex with only one man throughout my life.’ This declaration came as a joke to Vidhi. She laughed at it for a long time and then said, ‘This business of one man for one woman is very cinematic. It does not happen in real life. Those who are ill might be an exception.’ Hina did not react to what Vidhi had just said. She got up, brushed her teeth and then went back to bed.