Kuljeet limped around with food and beverage and was not considered a presence in the room. She wished they at least acknowledged her as an entity by telling her to leave the room. But to them she only existed, like the mirror on the wall or the painting of the forest.

Rani Maa abused Rajjo and accused her of many things. Finally, she lit a cigarette and Mehtaab knew she was ready to talk.

‘She cannot have a sermon in the same town as me. Send her to the hills and set her up there. She is your whore so set her up there. Don’t pollute my ashram.’

A nerve ticked. Mehtaab was clearly controlling his urge not be goaded into an altercation.

‘Let her start off with one small sermon and immediately after she will be sent away,’ promised Mehtaab in a placatory voice.

‘It’s good for the business. For the people, for the sangat! When you are busy with other things, she can be a stop-gap arrangement!’

Rani Maa gave a hesitant nod and turned away. She wanted to be left alone. She was playing it smart. She was an old fox. She had assessed that fighting to get rid of Rajjo was useless. She still was not strong enough to go on without Mehtaab. She was going to replace him. Kuljeet knew she was buying time.

Mehtaab, relieved to have contained a full-blown altercation, stepped out.

Rani Maa moved to the phone and then she paused. She looked at Kuljeet and stubbed the cigarette.

‘Can I have the room to myself, please? Get me some tea and put some poison in it. ’

The only time when Kuljeet wanted to stay in the room like a dead painting on the wall she was asked to leave.

Kuljeet carried the good news to Rajjo but she also warned her; Rani Maa was going to get rid of Mehtaab soon. He had underestimated her power.

Rajjo shuddered at the thought.

‘It all depends on what I do with the first sermon…’

‘I am sure you will say what the people want to hear,’ Kuljeet encouraged her.

‘Screw that… All I need is to get the people in there and then all I need is to get them to come back. But if I have big numbers for the first sermon, Rani Maa will be on a weak wicket. Mehtaab will be able to sell me as a better idea…’

‘What are you doing? What are you doing… you are thinking this through?’ Kuljeet was gasping for breath. Things moved around her like a blizzard. The monkey was back again, jumping on her shoulder from right to left.

Sleepy Raahat stood in a corner, biting his nails. He had gone completely quiet since the night before. The gravity of the situation ate away his insides.

‘I need people I can trust. Will you two come with me?’

Arjan smiled and shook his head.

Rajjo looked at Kuljeet hopefully.