That was enough for Mohammad Ali to open the box. There was another box inside that box which had a Nokia 3310 mobile in it. Everyone took turns to take it in their hands. On seeing them so excited, Asrar said, ‘A girl has given it to me.’

Qasim Dalvi looked at him and said, ‘Why are you making a fool of us?’

Everyone started laughing and Asrar also joined in. They discussed the girls of Mumbai for a long time. They believed that Mumbai girls fool men for money in the name of love. Asrar looked at them sympathetically because they had not seen the light of love in his eyes. At dinner, Asrar told Mohammad Ali that Madhuri was asking about him. Mohammad Ali looked at him with curiosity but did not ask him anything.

Saleem Ghare also returned by that time. He softly informed Asrar, ‘Your mother is suffering from malaria. If you can manage an off from work, you should go to the village.’

After dinner, Asrar and Mohammad Ali left the kholi and sat on the makeshift stalls that were now closed. Asrar told Mohammad Ali that Saleem Ghare had just informed him that his mother was ill. He required an off from work. He hesitated while talking about taking an off because he had just been to his village a few weeks back. Mohammad Ali was looking at him. He said, ‘Your luck is in place, dude. Moosa Bhai is going for Umrah day after tomorrow. Don’t worry. You can go to the village.’

Mohammad Ali told him that he would inform Moosa Bhai when he would go to drop him at the airport. Asrar’s face lit up. After a while, Mohammad Ali said that he would buy a SIM card the next day at the office address. Asrar inquired how much that would cost. Mohammad Ali explained that it wouldn’t be as costly as before because the rates of mobile connections were falling regularly. He also advised him to use the mobile phone sparingly in the village or else a lot of money would be charged due to ‘roaming’. Asrar was excited about the mobile phone. On seeing him look at the mobile again and again Mohammad Ali smiled and finally said, ‘Hina has gifted you this mobile phone for her own self.’

‘What do you mean?’ Asrar asked.

‘Dude, you’ll now be in her control. She’ll call you whenever she wants.’

‘I would like that. What could be better than that?’ Asrar said.

Mohammad Ali put his arms around his shoulders and said, ‘You love her a lot, yes?’

Asrar did not say anything.

‘Make me meet her sometime,’ Mohammad Ali requested.

‘I will, once I return from the village,’ Asrar said with earnestness.

His mother was fine, and the medicines were showing their effect. Asrar plucked ten or twelve coconuts from the neighbour’s tree, dehusked them and kept them next to his mother’s bed. He spent the entire first day at home. The next day his mother was feeling much better.