Karam held out a glass of water. Rano’s ranting increased. ‘Why can’t Rajjo see it? How can she be so blind? Why is she refusing an alliance with them? Pujari’s PVP party is our salvation and they are handing it to us on a plate!’

‘She has other things on her mind, she is going through a lot.’

Envy like a snake uncoiled in her heart. He was always taking Rajjo’s side, since they were running in the fields or chasing the fireflies by the railway tracks, he was always looking out for her.

Rano wanted to smash something or someone. ‘Or why can’t you say she is fucking the brains out of that Harsh Wardhan and in return for a party alliance Rajjo will have to stop fucking him because the party belongs to Pujari and Pujari’s fucking daughter is Harsh’s fucking wife! Rajjo’s affair with Harsh Wardhan is a ticking timebomb! ’

Karam’s face was pale for a second and Rano knew she had hit her mark.

‘Since when was fucking more important than Godly business?’

‘Since we started running it! Can you please calm down?’ Karam waited for Rano to reign in her temper.

‘And she is not doing this deliberately, she is helpless. Understand her.’

Rano turned to look at Karam. She wanted to twist a knife in his heart.

She still had the same longing for him that she did decades back and Karam still had the same yearning he had for Rajjo.

However, over the years Rano had mastered the art of quelling that envious serpent that uncoiled in her throat time and again when she saw Karam pining for her sister.

But Rano knew she had other serious problems to focus on. If this was not contained, it could very well mean the beginning of the end of everything they had worked towards all their life. She could hear the hooting of the train they had left far behind in the village; she could hear the wheels turning and inhale the smoke rising from the engine, the piercing whistle of the incoming train was keeping her awake in the nights. If the business fell apart they were all going to go back to that village, and Rano would die before she would let that happen!

Karam smoked pot under the starlit sky. His head throbbed. He could hear the lake’s stillness, and the sweet smelling flowers reminded him of Rajjo. He could sense the pale petals nestled quietly in the dark green leaves, spreading their fragrance. It was comforting to have this scent around him, just like the knowledge of being near Rajjo.