Kuljeet started limping forward as Rajjo stood there watching the half-rainbow melting away, retreating into the fruit gardens. As the last of it melted away, Rajjo knew she had her answer, and the first person she wanted to share it with was Kuljeet. She ran all the way back to the ashram, racing against the wind. She knew the right answer sat gently in her bosom. It was a little afraid, like a newborn calf with trembling legs feeling the ground for the first time. She carried it, gingerly, all the way to the ashram.

Rajjo entered the ashram in an excited state. The rickshaw puller and Raahat were unloading the wares at the entrance. As soon as Rajjo spotted Raahat she screamed in excitement, ‘Kuljeet is a genius! I love her!’

‘Be careful with that,’ chaffed Raahat.

Rajjo chided him and went looking for Kuljeet.

She barged into Kuljeet who was overseeing the unloading of gadda (mattresses) and sheets in the storeroom for the events to be held in the evening. A musty smell caught Rajjo’s nose as soon as she was through the door. Somehow it did not seem to bother Kuljeet. Rajjo had to cover her nose with her dupatta, and through that she mumbled.

‘I have found it, the answer, it’s Shani! The lord of wealth, power, happiness! Half the problems in the lives of people astrologically are based on Shani being unhappy. I would cure that!’

Rajjo waited for Kuljeet’s reaction, almost breathless.

Kuljeet did not react as she chewed over what Rajjo’s enthusiastic bulletin.

Rajjo continued with the same fervour, ‘My father used to tell me this story all the time, that there is a very powerful Shani temple he always wanted to visit. Shani Shignapur! He said it was a live temple, where the presence of Lord Shani is so strong that he punishes anyone committing theft instantly. No house has doors, only door frames!’

‘I know, it’s somewhere near Ahmednagar city. I know a shepherd discovered the statue of the lord, offered to construct a temple, the lord said the whole sky was his roof. He also granted the village a boon, that there would be no theft or burglary in the village. Ever since then there have been no doors in any of the house! Kuljeet repeated, her mind still working through Rajjo’s proposed idea.

Rajjo laughed.

‘Exactly! People are foolish in their faith. Lord Shani is a popular God, they fear his wrath. I can be the one to temper it down, get his boons, control his bad effects. They buy the hogwash of that temple to this day and don’t have doors! Post-offices, houses, temples have no locks! Due to the fear of Lord Shani. It’s hilarious! And that’s what I will use.’ Rajjo cackled in delight, for finding the elusive cure to her problems but Kuljeet was not laughing.