The boat trip with Miss came rushing back to his memory. It was nearing sunset. He could visualize his mother, Jamila Miss, his uncle and the servants chatting in one corner while he sat in the dark in the other. For some time, Jamila Miss kept talking to his mother and uncle. During the conversation, his mother told Miss that Asrar generally remained aloof and sat in the darkness. Jamila Miss said she would talk to him. The night was having its effect and the lights from far away had dimmed and disappeared. The sound of the waves and the noise of the boat’s engine were competing with each other. Jamila Miss got up, stared at the waves and walked towards Asrar.

Asrar stood up when he saw her in front of him. She glanced briefly at everyone else from behind the deck. They were all busy in conversation. She pounced on Asrar and hugged him. Asrar was shocked. They stood near the deck from where they could see everyone on the boat, but no one could see them. They were facing each other. Asrar’s mother thought that Jamila had gone to have a talk with Asrar. Jamila Miss’s back faced the others on the boat. They were both silent. Asrar moved back a little into the dark. She looked at the waves. The water was smashing against the sides of the boat. She felt as if the temperature of the sea had risen. The temperature within her also rose in the presence of Asrar and spread all over her body. This was a unique feeling. She felt aroused—as if mercury would spill out of her body. Asrar knew well the smell of that mercury. He could gauge from her eyes the secrets of her heart. The smell of her fluids had found its way into his nose many a time, but he had never in his wildest of dreams imagined this intense flow of heat in Jamila Miss’s eyes, now sensuous with a desire coming from deep within her.