Rajjo wanted to argue some more, but he just moved inside the bright orange-coloured temple. The colour was almost taking over her senses. The orange was like a halo of divinity cloaking the visitors. After entering the gates, patrons were ringing three huge bells announcing their arrival and asking the deities for permission to enter the temple.

Rajjo just stood in a corner, taking in the ambience and refusing to think beyond this orange-coloured experience. Perhaps the colour of passion was orange, as it filled her up with joy.

After walking a few hours upstream towards the outskirts of the city, Rajjo found herself sitting in the boat with Harsh, as the afternoon was receding in the shadows. She wanted to hold it back. She wanted the afternoon to linger forever. She had taken the boat ride along the Ganges before, but sitting across from Harsh and taking in the old sites was surreal. Neither of them spoke, but they were clearly drinking each other in. The past few hours of the day were building up to this moment. Rajjo could almost smell his urge to reach out and touch her. As they travelled on the water with the boatman ferrying them along, a sea of people flashed in her brain. A mass bowed in reverence. Hundreds gathered for salvation, thousands looking at her for answers. She had to be careful. She was that painted deity who was accepted by the masses, fit for worship. She dare not change that image.

A string of warnings rang in her head and the decision was made. After the boat ride she had to say goodbye and walk away from this. She had built an empire and she was going to protect it. They passed the huge old buildings along the riverside and many familiar sights of the busy old city, but Harsh was drinking in her beauty and Rajjo was memorizing him. She knew she had to walk away after the boat ride.

‘Let’s meet for dinner. I want to spend some more time with you, Rajjo.’ She heard him say at last. The boatman continued rowing the boat, the Ganga continued flowing, the chanting of the bells in the distant temples continued to ring, the sea of people stared at Durga with a questioning look.

She turned away to look at the old building and fortresses dotting the city line. A few old people stood in the balcony enjoying a hot cup of tea and taking in the sights of the city.

The question hung between them.

Harsh clearly wanted to go ahead in this. The question was did Rajjo have the courage to take this journey with him?