He followed her through the fields and the muddy roads, the milk man’s house and the rivulet, he bid adieu to the old mango tree at the end of the village with a faded red kite fluttering in the wind from last winter. Old and tired, it still blew in the wind, tied to the branch. They were destined to be together, the branch and the kite, till one of them decided to let go. Just like Karam had decided to let go of his family and everything he knew and loved in this world to follow this woman.

It was over a decade and now here he was: he had comfort, luxury, expensive cars, women and the only thing he did not have now was Rajjo.

A sound alerted him to Rano who was standing behind him. Her beautiful face softened by the light, the love for him glistening on her eyelash. ‘I’ve heard from confirmed sources they are coming to power next. They have secured alliances from other parties. You know which way the wind is blowing. They will finish us if we do not stop Rajjo and Harsh. Pujari will do anything for his daughter. Harsh’s TRP party is merging into PVP officially. They have all the control. The political might of his wife Upasana Wardhan and Harsh’s family will crush everything we have built over the years.’ Her voice trembled with fear. There was a silence accentuated by a ripple on the lake. Rano looked at Karam closely.’ Doesn’t that bother you? Don’t you think we need to do something about it?

Rano had come here with a mission and it was very rare that she failed to get what she wanted. She’d waited a long time for this and the time was finally here. She came very close to Karam and whispered in his ear. ‘She loves him…’ Her whisper wrenched his gut. ‘He will destroy her. Are you ready to stand by and watch her getting destroyed?’ She stepped closer and Karam felt the weight of her desire. He wondered what would Rajjo want, to be happily destroyed in her love or be saved without it? Rano stared at him. There was a moment of complete understanding. Rano slowly took of her clothes. Her naked body bathed in the moonlight. She stood in front of him. She knew she was standing in for her sister, but she wanted him regardless.

He finally touched her. He could smell the jasmine on her breast, between her thighs and he wanted more of her, he wanted more of Rajjo as he captured Rano’s breast in his mouth and thrust into her over and over again, taking Rajjo’s name in his heart.

As they lay naked side by side, Rano felt a strange sense of accomplishment.