Rajjo called out to him once again. ‘Please help me.’

‘You don’t know what you are doing.’

‘I am fully aware, I know what I am doing, Arjan!’

‘The men asleep, mad or drunk may have knowledge, and not use it and that is the condition of men under the influence of passion!’

‘Who is not using the knowledge and who is under the influence of passion and who is asleep, mad or drunk?’

‘You are. All of the above.’

Arjan turned away, a trail of red anger staining his face.

Panicking, Rajjo finally cornered Raahat. Raahat turned beetroot red as soon as Rajjo asked to know more about Kuljeet. Rajjo knew there was something there to uncover.

‘I am not sure if Asha will let me touch the her again if she finds out I shared with you what she shared with me what she shared with her in bed…I mean we were all together at different times. Me and Asha and then Asha and Kuljeet. So indirectly I may have made out with Kuljeet! Gawwd!’

Rajjo’s deaf ear erupted with the sound of bugles and drums. Raahat came through for her. She had to be sure of what she heard. .

‘Raahat, what the heck are you saying?’

‘Ok. It’s a sad story though and it should not come back to me…’

Rajjo dragged him outside by the arm into the vast farmlands as dawn broke and morning prayers began in the ashram. Raahat narrated the story of a woman named Kuljeet.

Rajjo gently knocked on Kuljeet’s door to seek her compassion and grace. Not waiting for a response she pushed through the door and stood there as Kuljeet looked at her with a rigid expression. Before she could ask her to leave Rajjo launched into a tirade.

‘I am sorry. In the name of God that you so trust, do you think you can forgive me? I misunderstood you… And then I went about looking for something to blackmail you with. And then I realized it would be fine if you want me to go, because I think you are a brave woman. You live by your choices and your faith. I respect you. Please forgive me… I’ll go if you want me to.’

Whatever Kuljeet was about to tell her died in her throat.

‘What did you learn about me…?’

Kuljeet had a wary look on her face. She was vulnerable, waiting to be hurled a blow. Taking a defensive position against the approaching squall, she repeated the question softly.

‘What did you learn about me?’

Rajjo in a sincere tone uttered aloud,‘Just the truth. That you were brutally banished by your in-laws. They beat you with hockey sticks, broke your leg, called you a witch. You braved all that. They found out about your true love from your impotent husband.’