There was a huge crowd in the courtyard. Many peepal trees had found their way to grow through the cracks in the walls. Several pigeons sat on the roof. When the bomb blast took place between Zaveri Bazaar and the temple on 25 December 2003, another one had taken place near the Gateway. Nearly twenty-four people had died in the blasts. Most of them were identified. There were four unfortunate people whose bodies were burnt to ashes in the explosion. Their souls had cracks too. These cracks had appeared because of their sudden death and the sudden separation of the soul from the body.

For many days these mortified souls sat hidden in the drains below the temple. Mumba Devi was given this information by a dev. Mumba Devi gave him a mantra, a spell, and said that he should bring the souls in front of the temple and then chant the mantra. He obeyed her. The mortified souls transformed into beautiful white pigeons. Since then, these pigeons have stayed on the temple premises. They were distinct from the regular, common pigeons. The common pigeons keep expressing love all the time, whereas these pigeons were love-deprived. They stared at the skies with blank eyes and the skies stared back, because the skies have stars which don’t just carry wounds of the 25 December blast but also know of the 31 July 2011 blasts. They are also aware of the 2006 train blasts, the 26 November sea attack on Mumbai, the Ghatkopar and other blasts. Were these supernatural calamities responsible for Mumba Devi’s immense grief? Had Brahma already informed her of these unfortunate incidents which had spread an ambiguous silence on her face?

A pigeon bent to look at Asrar and gestured to another one. They had felt something after seeing Asar’s soul. Soon, all the pigeons were looking down at Asrar while he stared at the children who carried red, orange and yellow garlands for Mumba Devi.

They hired a taxi from Kalbadevi to go to Bhindi Bazaar, where Asrar bough tea powder, dates, rusks, cups, saucers, glasses and other household items. They reached the room at nine in the night.

Mohammad Ali was waiting for him.

He informed him that they had to go to their boss’s house. Asrar rested for about ten minutes and then they left the kholi.

It was raining outside. Ali wore a raincoat and Asrar took an umbrella. Moosa Patel lived on the twentieth floor of a skyscraper in Colaba. His wife opened the door. They entered the house and Patel’s wife served them water.