She looked at Rajjo, her words washing over her. ‘I am not saying this, it’s written in the holy books. That’s the cycle of life. Do what you need to do – remember in the end the birds are called to come and eat the rice balls. That’s how it ends.’

Leaving her beloved Rajjo rooted to the spot, Kuljeet made her way out. Her heart sang for Rajjo was in love, and her soul wept for the love was going to be her atonement.

Rano had finished an entire pack of cigarettes, yet the momentary relief she seeked eluded her. There were too many troubles piling up and she felt like she was drowning. The herbal medicine business was incurring losses despite good sales. Someone was fudging the accounts and that made her blood boil. It was not the swindled amount that angered her but the fact that someone had the nerve to cheat them from the money they rightfully deserved. Rano was on medication for anxiety and she had been steadily increasing her dosage in the last few months since Rajjo had decided to switch roles from a successful Godwoman with a turnover in crores to a pining lover of a married man whose father-in-law happened to be the only guy who could screw them. She felt like a sitting duck. The guy was a ruthless politician who doted on his daughter Upasana, Rajjo’s lover boy’s wife.

Despite warnings, threats and a lot of cajoling, it was clear that Rajjo was in no mood to listen. Rano had witnessed her disastrous taste in men since they were in pig-tails. That reminded Rano of the days back in the village when they were still growing up and the world was theirs to conquer. She remembered Rajjo’s hasty lover by the railway tracks and piles of hay baking in the sun.

She lit another smoke, fingers quivering with anger and irritation. She took in a deep breath and sensed a silent shadow cross the door. She knew from the faint rustle and the odd smell of dried spices that it was Rajjo’s trusted confidante Devi. She hovered around in nooks and corners she should not be. Devi reminded Rano of a slithery black blood-sucking leech. She’d stuck on to Rajjo and it was impossible to get her off Rajjo’s skin. Like it was impossible to get any information out of Devi about Rajjo.