Suddenly Rajjo saw a flash of Kesar; the vulnerable nine year old, telling her not to leave him and go, running after her in the crowded market street. His little heart breaking into pieces. She had not gone back for him. But she knew one day she will. Kesar loved kites. He never flew them in the skies, he kept them like precious postcards, marking the summers as he grew up. His mother wanted him to save the kites for someday when he grew up. She wondered if Kesar flew those kites now.

‘They take it very seriously!’ she heard Devi say. ‘Months before the festival, homes turn into kite-producing factories, and all the family members start making kites. We should introduce this as a meditation technique in the ashram. Shani kites…,’ she laughed at her own joke as Devi added dryly, ‘And then all your siblings will swoop in to manage that factory.’ Rajjo heard the bitterness in her voice. Devi having spent the last ten years by Rajjo’s side had earned the right to be bitter for her.

‘Its hard work, Devi,’ Rajjo added in a placating tone. ‘Kite-making is hard work. The glue is stirred for a long time, paper and glue is cut and then stuck. Strings are coated with rice and glass powder. This simple thing also draws blood. It’s important to them.’ Devi gave Rajjo a look.

‘We made kites back home in our village. Sheru loved to fly them.’

The simple days came rushing back and the Rolls Royce stopped like an arrogant bird at the entrance of a small bylane. Rajjo was supposed to walk and get lost in the crowd where he would be waiting in a nondescript house.

‘I will be in the hotel. The guards are going to be a foot behind you in plainclothes. Kripa and Shailesh are on duty.’ Rajjo nodded as Devi sped away after giving the instructions. Rajjo adjusted her burkha, covered her face, clutched her little purse. She was ready to get lost in the crowd, as she proceeded to meet her lover.

His trademark khadi kurta, leather chappals, overgrown beard, a low slung cap, he stood in the shadows and waited. Harsh Wardhan wanted to chuckle at the thought of waiting for his girlfriend in disguise. His trusted guardsmen watched the streets. He could not wait to take her in his arms.