Only he knew how he spent Thursday and Friday. He was immersed in Hina’s thoughts, so much so that he cut himself off from everyone around. In fact, once in the shop Mohammad Ali had stared at him for fifteen minutes and realized that Asrar was only physically present there. Later, over tea, he had asked him, ‘Tell me if you have any problem.’

After a long pause he said, ‘Nothing. I’ve been thinking about Shanti a lot.’

Ali believed him.

Asrar realized that his emotions were manifesting in his behaviour and people had started to notice it, so he started talking a lot to other people. Sometimes even unnecessarily, like inquiring which movie was about to release; which hero and heroine were having an affair; what the latest updates in political news were; what the newspapers were printing, and so on and so forth.

In the kholi he would turn the pages of Usman’s books. He would please his heart by reading poetry books. If he couldn’t understand a word and asked Usman for the meaning. He went to Moosa Patel’s house on Thursday evening. While returning, he told Ali that he would leave half an hour early on Saturday to go to Haji Ali. Mohammad Ali suspiciously asked, ‘Be honest. You want to go to Haji Ali or to Shanti’s?’

Asrar placed the fingers of his right hand on his throat and said, ‘I swear I have to go to Haji Ali. I would have told you if I was going to meet Shanti.’

‘Moosa Bhai is also a great follower of Haji Ali.’ Mohammad Ali smiled.

‘Oh!’ Asrar said with a pleasant surprise in his tone.

‘Do you know why?’

‘No, I don’t,’ Asrar replied.