‘So,’ Sakshi turned to me, ‘what should we do?’

We eventually decided to sit right at the back of the stage area, where we would be able to talk without straining too much. I touched my jeans pocket to make sure my money was still there. I led Sakshi back to the stall where Rishi and I had bought the Mexican sandwiches; I bought us each one along with a soda. We ambled back to the stage area, eating and laughing about stories from our childhood.

She told me that she grew up in an average middle-class home. Her father was a doctor, and her mother, a nurse. After her father retired from his job and her mother began showing symptoms of her health problem, Sakshi had quit full-time nursing school so that she could attend to her.

I told Sakshi that I was an orphan, about how I was left on the doorsteps of the orphanage, and how I never knew who my parents were but that my Maa was for all intents and purposes my mother. She raised me, sacrificed so much for me. When I told her that I would like to own a home where Maa would be able to live with my wife and me, Sakshi gushed. She loved the idea. I was relieved, I couldn’t even think of falling in love with a woman who did not share the same vision for our future.

I felt comfortable with this woman I hardly knew, and she, I hoped, felt comfortable with me. The evening was spent catching up on all of the things we had not yet spoken about; the conversation flowed freely. She only let go of my hand when she had to. Around midnight, she laid her head on my chest; I felt her yawn. Any thoughts I had of not falling in love with her were long gone; a battle that couldn’t be won. My heart had overruled my head the moment her head found its spot over my heart.

‘Are you tired?’ I asked, concerned that she had an early flight back to Mumbai.

‘I am, but I want to finish this set, all right?’ I couldn’t see her smile, but I imagined her warm smile reaching her eyes. Silently, we sat and listened to the music, watching the laser show. It was the most incredible thing I had ever seen. When the set was done, I helped Sakshi up and walked her through the camping grounds to her tent.

‘Heard from Rishi?’ she asked. I shook my head and was about to say something when Sakshi stopped dead and pointed in front of us. A woman was crawling through the tents; she looked ill and had definitely had too much to drink.

‘You all right there?’ I shouted. She collapsed, and Sakshi ran to her side. I followed, not quite as quickly, afraid of what I was going to see.

‘Quickly Ashray, she is sick. I need to roll her onto her side.’ I kneeled and helped Sakshi roll the limp girl over. The smell of alcohol and vomit was overpowering.