He could see another car follow close behind. It was Rani’ Ma’s. A thought struck him; the stupid woman was going to leave her sermon to check out Durga! To his relief he could only see Kuljeet and Arjan in the car. Perhaps she had sent them to take a look and report back to her. Mehtaab sped off. The sermon was scheduled to start in another half an hour. If he took the shortcut he would easily make it on time. Just then a question rang in his head like an out of tune bell, annoying and eating at him, how did she get that surly journo to write the article? That Neeta! He had to get into the thick of it all.

As they alighted from the car at the venue, Kuljeet could see the elaborate preparations. In the capacity for 2000, almost 5000 people were crammed in. There were foreigners, there was a camera crew, the singer was being mobbed, head priests were in attendance. And there was that reporter Neeta Sahni covering the event and reporting it all!

‘Shani Tod!’ Neeta spoke into the camera. ‘The new emerging Godwoman, Guru Maa Durga, has taken the sleepy village near Dhalipur by storm. The devotees are flocking to her as she is said to be the one and only mantra to fix your errant Shani if it’s not in the right position. She will bless you… She will guide you. She will reshape your destiny. Is she one of the many false gurus or is this the real deal? The crowd tells a story, see for yourself…’

The camera panned the teeming crowds, the bedecked tent, the banners and the stage. The crowd was transfixed as Durga entered the stage captivating one and all, commanding attention and submission.

The cameras took in the swelling crowd as Durga addressed them.

‘How rare are those who actually know his grace. The worshipper of Bhagauti practises self-discipline, Yogi speaks of liberation, the ascetic is absorbed in ascetism. The men of silence observe silence. The sanyasis follow celibacy. Pandits recite vedas, householders assert their faith in family life. The naked renunciates, the wearer of patched coats, the magicians, those who bathe in holy places of pilgrimage – all say they have found the lord!

Rajjo drew energy from the warm stove, her mother’s words, her mother’s faith and surged ahead.

But alas! So untrue for he alone is the devotee whom the lord has united with himself! And here in this house, with this way, you become a true devotee! That’s the path we embark on! ’

There was applause. The congregation instantly connected to her voice, her eyes, her emotions, her presence. She engulfed the entire assemblage; she carried each and every soul with her. She had the charisma to ride it all by herself and it was as clear as the light of the day!