As the first ray of dawn gently brushed the horizon, Arjan whispered to Rajjo, like that was a parting gift to a dear friend. ‘The birds in the beautiful trees fly around in all the four directions. The more they fly around, the more they suffer, they burn and cry out in pain. Without the name of the lord, they do not find his Mansion, they do not find his Ambrosial fruit. Seek him. Don’t turn away.’

On those words the beautiful clear dawn gently tiptoed in through Rajjo’s window.

Rajjo’s bags were packed. Her little red diary was tucked inside the blue suitcase Kuljeet had left for her at dawn outside her door. She made tea for everyone, hoping it was not for the last time.

Kuljeet popped into the kitchen to say she was sending for a rickshaw. Gurbaksha was fetching it and Rani Maa had asked three times already if she had been removed from the premises. ‘Gurbaksha said he will take his time to find the rickshaw…’ she added with finality. Her voice was hoarse, her eyes puffy and red-rimmed. Kuljeet was troubled.

‘Where is Mehtaab?’ Rajjo asked in a panic-stricken voice.

‘He is still sleeping,’ Asha chipped in, glad to see Rajjo being thrown out. She picked up a glass of tea and walked out of the kitchen haughtily.

Rajjo went to the langar house, where the lunch bell was. She rang it loudly, loud enough for the heavens to fall down. Rani Maa and all the ashram people gathered in the compound. She wanted Mehtaab to wake up by hook or by crook. The bell rang all the way to the afterworlds. If the gods were sleeping they would wake from their slumber and so would the serpents buried in the fires below. If this won’t work she was going to run into his room and physically shake him.

‘Just bidding adieu to all…’

Rajjo looked at everyone one by one.

‘And a thank you…’

The faces gathered in the compound, a mix of pity, ridicule and fear. Rajjo made for a frantic image, ringing the bell like it was a cry for her salvation. The sighs, insinuations and hushed tones about her affairs had seeped through the thin walls of the compound and reached everyone within.

Rajjo was thinking on her feet when to her delight she saw a sleepy Mehtaab walking out of his room.

He was clearly annoyed at the commotion. Taking in the scenario, he told Rajjo to meet him in the conference room with Arjan Singh and asked Rani Maa to follow him.

Kuljeet served them tea as Rani Maa hurled abuses at Mehtaab.

Mehtaab heard her out, as if waiting for a wave to ebb.