Just then Rajjo paused, she could sense the quiet that had settled around her friend since they had started the walk back. Rajjo’s tentative enquiry about why he was so quiet did not elicit any response.

They continued the walk side by side in silence, each lost in their own thoughts when they crossed a queue with three or four villagers standing and waiting for their turn patiently. Each one of them carried some oil in a container. An old man, the caretaker of the little temple, sat at a little distance away from the devotees and the deity. The temple was not bigger than a little kiosk. On a muddy raised platform sat the god of Saturn, all black, known for granting boons and accused of making life tough if not pleased enough. The Shani god gave results of one’s deeds in one’s life through appropriate punishments and rewards. The villagers, like the rest of the Indian community, worshipped him every Saturday and paid the old man one rupee to pour oil over the deity in the hope that all impediments in their life would be removed.

Rajjo laughed out loud as they crossed the queue.

‘It all boils down to Shani – work not going well? Shani is unhappy, Shani is in a bad house. Love life screwed? Shani must be sleeping. Not getting married? Shani is slow! Poor thing gets blamed for everything, I almost feel bad for him and every Saturday they drown him in oil and leaves. Including me! But I am praying to him for Kashi and me. I am sure all will be well!’

Rajjo looked at the dark black deity sitting in the tiny mud enclosure. It held a sword, arrows and two daggers mounted on a crow.

‘I come here every Saturday,’ Karam muttered, not telling Rajjo that he came here every Saturday to ask Shani to give him Rajjo. Perhaps something would happen and she would be his. He fervently wished to the God he so believed in.

‘Oh my-my! I never took you for a believer!’ Rajjo laughed. ‘But that’s OK, I come here too. Father says, when Shani opened his eyes as a baby for the very first time, the sun went into an eclipse. It affects the astrological charts! He is the giver of boons!’

‘So what has he given you so far…,’ Karam enquired.

‘Everything. He has given me Kashi!’ Rajjo was flying.

‘I can’t wait to meet him again. We are going to live in Tarn-Taaran, he is going to take me away! He will speak to his parents so they can come and talk to mine, and if that does not work I am eloping.’

Karam noticed that the brinjal man was no longer there. The evening prayers blared suddenly from the temple down the road. He heard what Rajjo had said.

‘Rajiv Gandhi lost the elections.’ He found his voice again, not knowing why he told her that.

‘That was ages ago, you fool, months back! He will be back soon though.’ Rajjo continued skipping ahead, sure and happy in planning her future.