Holographic images of Rajjo in all shapes and sizes appeared on the stage. Lord Shani, her symbol, sat at the centre of it all with his giant image forming the backdrop motif of the entire auditorium. The lights were cleverly used to conjure the image of Lord Shani that would come and go in between the sermons and proceedings.

As the crescendo built up, the lights dimmed and what followed took his breath away. She appeared in an extravagant balloon-type structure, as if she was floating in the air and descending from the heavens. Her entry had the desired effect as the gathering went into a frenzy. Dressed in more than usually heavy bridal jewellery and nuptial finery, Durga Maa sent the crowds wild. As the balloon approached the stage, the bottom panel opened with fireworks and Guru Maa was seen sitting with a trident in her hand, almost as if she was Goddess Durga herself. The devotees bowed in devotion as the balloon – masterfully guided – settled as her throne in the middle of the stage.

Each soul in this maidan believed they would attain salvation right here, with this woman sitting in a balloon on the stage.

As Durga settled on stage, the –much-awaited sermon began.

Kesar left without meeting her, she was perhaps not the same woman he knew. His paper with the NOC application for taking over ‘Maa Cable’– Rurki Chowk – lay crumpled on the floor, trampled on by the devotees who were in a frenzy to catch a better glimpse of their Godwoman.

Kuljeet sat patiently in Rajjo’s room waiting for her sermon to finish. This was the second time Kuljeet was visiting her after Rajjo had donned the mantle of a Godwoman. Kuljeet stared at the large TV screen that ran the live telecast on Durga’s channel. Life had come a long way. The naïve girl, taking refuge in the ashram, was light years away from this woman who ate up the TV screen with her sheer presence and left you spellbound.

A hassled-looking man barged in and wheeled out a rack of clothes hurriedly from the room, politely nodding at Kuljeet. It was a fairly big room with mirror and lights. One corner was filled with racks with saris and robes. Another contained a pile of books, primarily of the literary kind and pamphlets about the Durga foundation.