‘Isn’t it pathetic to do all this in public?’

‘Love is blind,’ Asrar said.

Hina smiled at this philosophical rendering by Asrar. She wanted to enjoy the conversation further and so she asked, ‘Why is love blind?’

He had said it out of the filmi wisdom he had acquired, but he had not anticipated such a question. He started thinking. He spoke what his mind had just explained to him, in his own words, ‘It’s the heart which is the decision-maker when you’re in love, not your eyes. And that’s why we call love blind.’ Hina did not expect this answer. It was as much a surprise for Asrar. He could not understand if he had said something meaningful. Or was it just a fine attempt at answering her question? After this answer, Hina had no option left but to continue the conversation, so she asked, ‘Why does the heart take decisions?’

‘The heart is the home of the soul,’ Asrar answered immediately. He was amazed to hear his own words. He wondered what had got inside him that was giving such answers! At that very moment, he was reminded of Bani’s couplet that he had decided to recite for Hina. He looked towards Hina and asked for permission, ‘May I recite a sher?’

Hina smiled.

Asrar began:

Ye bisat-e-arzu hai is ko yun assan na khel,

Mujhe se babasta hobat kuch daw par mera bhi hai.

(This is the chess of desire, do not play easy here,

Not just me, but so much of mine is at stake here.)

Hina wrinkled her eyes and looked at him, ‘You seem like a fine poet.’

‘No. I’m not. I know nothing at all. This is a couplet by an Urdu poet.’

They turned and started walking towards Haji Ali.

Hina told him that she had once read a collection of Urdu poets in Hindi when she was in class ten. Asrar coerced her into reciting something if she remembered. Hina said that she could not recollect anything. Asrar tried to persuade her. Hina was enjoying this persuasion. She jogged her memory only to recollect a couplet she had copied in her diary in roman script. She repeated the couplet in her mind and then started reciting it to Asrar:

Na karda gunahon ki bhi hasrat ke mile daad.

(The desire of unfulfilled sins and crimes should be appreciated too.)

Asrar stopped to look at her. She tried recollecting the next line and said:

Ya, rab, agar in kardo gunahon ki saza hai.

(If there is punishment, O Lord! for the sins that have been done.)