That night, as Mehtaab packed his suitcase, Rajjo entered. She bent down to place a glass of tea. Her naked back, her breast clad in a tight tempting blouse, displaying enough cleavage for Mehtaab to stop and stare, her slim waist almost made his hands itch. She stood like a temptress in full glory. Mehtaab knew he was only to reach out and have her. She stepped closer and his index finger moved of its own accord. It traced the line of her throat, down to her breast, outlining it, down to her waist and before he could lose his control his hand abruptly stopped. He was not going to fall for any of it. He knew she offered her to him, he desired her but perhaps this time around he was going to let it pass. His libido was not going to dictate his decision-making.

Having made up his mind. He turned away from her, and continued to pack. The message was loud and clear. He had tasted, was tempted and had dismissed her.

Expecting to hear a weepy apology or a pleading tone, he was surprised to hear her chuckle. He turned to face the fiery woman, who looked him in the eye and with each passing second, he feared his resolve dissolved into a wisp of smoke as his desire for her raged and pounded in his head.

‘Rani Maa is planning to meet your rival Deependra Kumar. He is going to form his own commune. All her followers will go there blindly. Keep her happy or this is over…’

She adjusted her sari provocatively, making sure he understood what he passed by. With her head held high, heart hammering, unsure whether this would fall the way she wanted Rajjo walked out.

Mehtaab just stood there, turned to stone.

Rani Maa’s impending treachery left him dumbfounded.

Chhoti Maa Durga was here to stay.

October 1993

With the warm sun in the cold October afternoon soothing her back, Rajjo sat in the courtyard feeding the pigeons. It was therapeutic to see the birds move about pecking at the grain of wheat, without a thought, a care, or a worry. Could she be like them? These pigeons? Her reverie was broken as she heard noises. They were hushed immediately after an outburst. Her deafened ear screamed, it was Rani Maa and Mehtaab sparring. She stared at the poster cutout of a smiling Rani Maa, blessing the world while she could hear her anguish.