Given the festive season, the alleys were cramped with people, yet they were the only two people in the world. The indescribable fervour and euphoria of the streets seeped in. The mingling crowds were a distant haze as all she could remember was the brown slippers and the beige kurta he wore over his scrubbed jeans.

He had stayed back to convince her to support their party, and not a word was said about work. Rajjo liked that. Perhaps he was playing her, perhaps he knew not to talk about it…perhaps he felt the same way she did.

The shopkeepers and policemen, scattered to show lost tourists the way, smiled at them. Rajjo felt the rose-coloured glasses slip on her nose. She almost chuckled aloud as she imagined herself guiding lost souls, hungry souls, pained souls, empty souls. She had seen them all. And here she was, heart filled with a spring, eyes seeking colours, and her soul craving for more. She was scared to guide her own soul. Perhaps it was worse than all of them put together! Rajjo smiled at the irony as she spotted yet another spire of a temple towering over the lanes. Every ten to twenty feet there was a temple, with innumerable shivlingas being worshipped in every corner of this complex matrix of gallies. Surprisingly, Harsh stopped at one such corner and paid his respect, his eyes shut in devotion.

Rajjo stayed put at a respectable distance. He looked at her and took in her rigid stance. After he finished praying, he said nothing but to Rajjo it seemed that Harsh knew her ugly secret. She was petrified yet happy that he knew, without being told. Perhaps that’s how they connected. Words were an inconvenience.

He matched her step and whispered, ‘Since the Godwoman won’t worship God, what would she like to do in this holy place?’

Rajjo smiled and whispered back, ‘Try the street food!’

Surrounded by the small shops serving Indian street food from Ragda patti, to sev puri, to various fried items, Harsh blurted. ‘I am sorry I was unable to return your calls.’ Rajjo felt the spicy gravy travel all the way down to her belly and she decided to turn away and look for another savory to try.

Resuming their walk they approached another temple. ‘You can come in, you don’t necessarily have to pay your respects.’ He was challenging her again. She smothered the anger that rose like a hot molten volcano.

‘It’s just business for me… nothing personal. I sell his name in the market, I make profit.’ Rajjo carefully kept her tone devoid of any emotion.

Harsh smiled. ‘I always suspected you were a hoax, but having met you, I think you may just be for real.’