Until sundown, they walked steadily till they reached a group of pointy deodar trees that blocked the wind and made for a safe resting point. The sky was a mix of red and black. Idhika cleared the inch-deep snow and quickly prepared the fire. Jagrav gathered more dry branches from under the trees. For drinking water, Payal used the kamandalus meant for carrying back the Madhu to collect clean snow and heat it over the fire.

With tension in the air, everyone waited for something to happen. They rested in the snow—Fayza and Aman lay on top of their cloth bags looking up at the Milky Way. They all warmed their blue-and-black toes on the fire, Savitri throwing twigs into it to keep it going. It was starting to get late. Idhika saw Jagrav and Savitri walk up to Payal, whisper something and then help her with the drinking water.

Fearing that the Souls were losing confidence in her, Idhika decided to act. She put on a smile and walked over to Aarti, who sat on the side. ‘I apologize, Aarti. Perhaps I did overlook some of you before. Tell me your story.’

The others noticed when Idhika and Aarti started talking. Aman was sure Idhika was only pretending to like Aarti. But a small part of him was happy after a long time. Perhaps it’ll all be okay, he thought. Both Fayza and he had made it out alive. They just had to find Madhu and return to the valley. Make sure Sanaka was punished for his sins. And then perhaps, he could meet his mother, and even resolve the mystery of his father’s death.

‘And then?’ Idhika asked Aarti.

‘My parents were from Muzaffarnagar in Uttar Pradesh. They met, and I was born shortly after,’ Aarti said. ‘Dad was killed in the communal riots. Mom didn’t have much money. But we are Brahmins, and that afforded us some standing in the community. So, we kept our chins up, and things soon started to work out for me and Mother. That was, of course, before Sanaka coerced her into giving me up.’

‘Are we doing pre-Vanyasa lives?!’ Jagrav said. ‘Can I go next?’

‘Sure.’ Idhika nodded, intrigued at what she was learning about the plains.

‘I’m from Mumbai,’ Jagrav said. ‘One of the most populous cities in the plains. My dad’s an industrialist, and his job ensured our lives were very comfortable. So much delicious food to eat all the time. And we used to go on so many vacations also. But all that’s in the past. I just wish Sanaka had let me bring a suitcase of my chocolates to the valley.’

‘Oh, god.’ Savitri sat beside Idhika. ‘There he goes again with his chocolates. Back home, we didn’t expect or have such luxuries. Mine is a farming family, and we lived on fruits and vegetables grown in our backyard. One day, when I was out in the fields practising my boxing, I felt a blow to my head. I fainted. Next thing I knew, I was tied and blindfolded. Sanaka kept me that way for an entire day in a jeep until we arrived in the valley.’