‘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.

Through gritted teeth she muttered, ‘I want you out of here by the end of the week… Else Rani Maa will be meting out her own justice that won’t be pretty. Get out!’

‘You didn’t snitch on Mehtaab. You kept quiet about Sukhmani and him.’

‘Don’t test my patience. I have my ways, I want you out of the ashram by the end of the week!’

Kuljeet limped away and Rajjo followed her barefoot with a pleading tone.

‘Please hear me out before you do anything or say anything…’

Kuljeet entered her room and shut the door in Rajjo’s face.

Rajjo trembled with cold and fear. Just when she thought things were finally falling in place, down it went like a house of cards. She felt helpless. She could see the fog closing in the dark stinging night.

She went to her room, had a quick bath and changed her clothes. Wrapping herself in warm layers she stepped out to look for Arjan. She found him coming out after his morning prayers from the prayer room.

She repeated what had happened and asked for help.

‘I need to reach out to Kuljeet; she cannot go and tell Rani Maa the truth about Mehtaab and me.’

Arjan shook his head and turned away from Rajjo.