December carried an extra chill as they ambled throughthe streets of Chaura Bazaar. Rajjo wanted to hand-deliver the posters announcing a sermon of the new Godwoman on the block to some key people identified by Kuljeet, and to other vendors who knew pockets of people they could reach. If a crowd was to come to Dhaulapur, then Ludhiana had to be explored as well.

Chaura Bazaar was one of the oldest markets in the city, the daily business transactions in these crowded streets ran into crores. With both sides of the street heavily encroached there was hardly any space to walk. Raahat wailed constantly about the cold and the crowd.

People thronged the market on both sides as wares were displayed in heaps. From bags to clothes to accessories, the market seemed flooded.

‘Who is worried about Shani here?’ Wondered Raahat, looking at people walk around in a hurry, haggling and going about their business.

‘Traders! I know, they believe Shani stalls business. That is my audience.’ Rajjo waved her hand around.

Raahat rolled his eyes.

‘I want to leave some fliers with the shopkeepers in Pindi street – it’s one of the largest drug markets.’

‘I want to go there first!’ His eyes shone wide with excitement.

‘Well I doubt anyone in the drug market gives two hoots about Shani or Vishnu!’

‘Drug as in the medicine market, Raahat’ Rajjo emphasized. ‘Then a few stops in Purana Bazaar and Ghaas Mandi!’

‘What?’

‘The hosiery market in Purana Bazaar and the cycle market in Gill Road.’

‘Can we go to the cycle place first, pick up the cycle and then cycle to wherever we have to go?’

Ignoring his surliness, Rajjo marched on.

The blue was leaden and grey even though it was only half past two. The chill in the air increased and the low hanging smog almost touched the rooftops of the crammed shops huddled together, adding to the gloom in the crowded lane.

After finishing their rounds, having had a quick lunch of oily puris at a roadside stall, Rajjo was ready with her list of the Shani temples that were to be visited.

Raahat muttered for the n’th time.

‘Hanging out around the Shani temples is not going to work.’

‘If I am offering them to solve the Shani Dasha, and they come here, they will come to the Dhalipur ashram when we announce it. In my opinion people go to any extent to appease Shani and get good fortune.’

‘First fix my Shani then! How do I get rid of my pimples and get more girls and become rich?’ asked Raahat.

‘Shani is not your problem! You head is in between your legs and that is your problem. Get your head sorted first and all your problems will disappear!’

Raahat ignored her barbs making mickey faces. He loved riling Rajjo.

The duo alighted from their rickshaw as they halted in front of a big temple in one of the marketplaces.