Arjan smiled at Rajjo, on one of the nights she walked towards Mehtaab’s room with a cup of tea in her hand. It had been a week already. Rajjo knew Mehtaab was besotted with her. She also knew Kuljeet was getting increasingly annoyed and suspected something between her and Mehtaab. She would be the first one to go and speak her mind to Rani Maa if her suspicions were proved correct. Rajjo had to get closer to Mehtaab, share her dream and desire, or she was going to be ousted just like Sukhmani.

Arjan and Rajjo stood facing each other in the cold corridor. Rajjo could hear an owl hoot and flutter away in the darkness. Arjan with a knowing look smiled at her and whispered softly, ‘Dangerous games have dangerous outcomes… may God be with you.’

If anyone knew her well, it was this man. He never judged her. But he was a man of God and she could not understand him. However, it mattered to her what he thought of her. She stopped him and turned him around to face her in the eye.

‘You think I am a bad person?’

‘There is no definition of a bad person… ask yourself how you feel?’

‘Pure. Driven. Pure. Like when you have been in so much muck, that you believe you have gone beyond the dirt. That pure.’

‘Then you are fine…’

Rajjo felt relieved.

‘But Kuljeet holds you guilty and responsible. She is a good soul. She is fighting hard to do the right thing. Reach out to her. You may be surprised.’

Rajjo smiled at him, and went into Mehtaab’s room.

She did not return that night and spent the night with Mehtaab. In the middle of the night as they lay in bed naked and Mehtaab lit a cigarette, Rajjo asked him casually.

‘So why only one Rani Ma?’

Mehtaab was puzzled with the question as he let out a puff of smoke.

‘As in?’

‘Isn’t there safety in numbers? Why do you have two cars? Multiple houses, multiple bank accounts, multiple friends, but only one Rani Ma?’

Mehtaab laughed out loud.

He knew what she was hinting at but Mehtaab was not ready to say anything yet. He continued to smoke his cigarette as Rajjo watched the white stick disappear as puffs of smoke. It clung to her hair and seeped inside the sheets. She wanted to scrub herself clean but she knew she had to take it. Rajjo gingerly picked up her clothes and wore them as Mehtaab began to snore. She had worn them inside out. Ideally she would have left an hour later when she was sure no one was out and about, but she had an overwhelming urge for to wash the smoke from her hair.

She gingerly opened the door and stepped out in the cold corridor. Her slippers in hand, she shivered as the cold marble floor hit the soles of her naked feet. She bumped into a figure. It was Kuljeet who stared at Rajjo accusingly. Two red spots formed on her cheeks.