As forenoon wove into afternoon and dusk crept in through the little window in Kuljeet’s room, Rajjo spoke to Kuljeet about her village, her sisters, her mother, Karam, her Totu, her husband, her resolve, her fight with God and then Harsh Vardhan. She moved her hand and showed Kuljeet the bumps she had to prove that even Harsh’s name made her shiver with passion. Rajjo sat disrobed and defenseless in Kuljeet’s room. Her fears and her passions spilt on the cemented tiles – dark mulberry emotion oozing onto the grey parquet. Kuljeet could not decide what to do next. However, she was suddenly in no tearing hurry to see Rajjo leave. Rajjo had drawn Kuljeet in her life and now she was tangled in it.

‘I will leave if you want me to. Quietly.’

Rajjo the beautiful fickle girl with winged feet reminded her of the unpredictable showers in winter. Some days she was the uninvited thunderstorm on others a gentle breeze passing by. Just when Kuljeet felt she had heard it all, Rajjo turned around and spoke the words aloud. ‘I want to be a Godwoman. I want to be like Rani Ma. I want to have a following. My own following.’

Kuljeet sat befuddled again.

‘Why? Do you believe in God, despite your obvious disregard?’

‘No, I don’t believe in him, I despise him. That is why I will sell him and become rich.’

Kuljeet laughed out loud at the mad girl and her plans. But she could see the steely glint in her beautiful amber eyes. A wave of protectiveness washed over Kuljeet towards this frail wounded girl who had a hundred flaws but a soul that was still intact.

‘It’s not easy,’ advised Kuljeet.

‘She has done it… Rani Ma.’

‘Rome wasn’t built in a day, Rajjo.’

‘The thought took a second to form.’

‘Let’s talk in your language, what will you sell?’ Kuljeet posed a direct question.

‘What?’

‘When you go about selling your wares in the market, you tell people why you should buy them. You are going to sell God’s name. Why should they buy it from you, when there are other sellers?’

‘Some offer salvation, some a way of life.’ Rajjo shrugged, thinking as she spoke along.

‘What God’s service do you offer?’ Kuljeet pressed her point.

‘Something that is attainable yet godly, practical yet divine.’ Rajjo spouted, thinking aloud.

‘Find it and then dream. It’s not easy, you foolish girl. Go back to sleep. But make arrangements to move soon. Rani Maa has supported me. She would find out sooner or later and if she asks me, I will not lie. ’

‘You betrayed her with Sukhmani.’

‘I was protecting her feelings…and I did not lie. I didn’t speak the truth.’

Rajjo smiled at Kuljeet. She could see Kuljeet plagued with the karma sword. Guilt tinged her with a blinding phosphorous colour.

‘You think he is sitting up there with a paper and pencil counting how many you got right and how many you got wrong?’