The days were filled with lovemaking, eating traditional food, the delicious undhiyo aroma of vegetables and the succulent taste of sesame balls and chikki. Rajjo loved the taste of the food mingled with the sweat smell of her beloved. One more day until both went back to their respective worlds! Rajjo to her Gods and him to his political party and wife. She hated the Gods even more. She wanted more than a secret rendezvous. Harsh circled her in his arms and whispered again, ‘Sorry to miss your birthday. Upasana was sick.’

‘And me?’ muttered Rajjo. She still refused to let him kiss her. Depriving him as he deprived her. She knew it would kill him to not kiss her but she was going to make him feel the pain she felt. ‘You know she desperately wants a baby and my continued resistance is taking a toll on her health now.’ Rajjo looked away. Tears pricked somewhere just behind her eyes and threatened to spill over. The thought of Harsh making a family with another woman crushed her soul.

‘And no matter how much I beg you, you don’t want to come away with me. You are destroying all three of us…’ Harsh tried to stop not wanting to ruin the moment. But it was too late. Rajjo turned away. ‘So for that you will sleep with her and give her a baby?’

‘I am not having a baby with her…I haven’t touched her in a long time.’ Frustration was creeping in. Rajjo, not reassured, this time moved away. Every time both of them wanted a bit more. No one told them love was a hungry beast that had to be fed constantly. Until you throw in your heart, your eyes, your soul it is not satiated. Rajjo was reminded of the fact that he shared a bed with another woman. He was a kiss away. An unbearable ache accosted her.

The last day was spent in strained silence. Harsh wanted to change the charged atmosphere and step out. Thankfully they had word that it was safe to go without the hijaab up to the market square. Rajjo piled up her hair, lined her eyes with kohl, draped a scarf mirroring the colour of the sky and made an effort to enjoy this stolen day with her beloved.

Harsh stared at the beautiful Rajjo, her familiar beauty settling around his heart, ‘I want to visit the small temple outside the market area. It’s a durga temple…mother said to give offerings…’ Rajjo smiled knowingly. ‘It’s not just your mother, you too.’ Unlike her, Harsh was a believer. ‘Of course we’ll go. And I want to buy a kite.’ Harsh smiled at her excitement.