He heard Upasana’s voice again, ‘How is the weather?’ he cheerfully squashed the guilt inside, for now he was going to humour her and the first thing after he returned he would tell her the truth. Having made a decision, he felt lighter than the magpie hopping on the aircraft. ‘It’s going to be a beautiful clear evening and night. Perhaps not great for those early plants that are far ahead of the season with this record warm March. But with this clear dry air, it will be perfect to view another sunset.’

Upasana heard him out quietly and then he heard her saying – ‘In a short while, we’ll see the crescent moon right next to Venus – high in the evening sky – as high as it will ever get. Tonight it will shine the most beautiful of them all. Watch it and remember me.’

There was something odd about her voice, ‘The evening sky can be a time machine, a magical place, an omen, a prophecy…do you see anything else.’ Harsh had rarely heard her talk like this. There was an odd feeling settling inside his heart. An ache? A fear? Was it anxiety? Rajjo always told him the universe knows. It will whisper to your body. Your instinct will try and tell you in any possible manner it can. It will use your body, it will use the skies, the birds, the animals, it will try and warn you.

‘Magpies,’ he said into the phone. There was a pause on the other side, and then she said, ‘See carefully how many are there.’

‘You and your magpies!’ Harsh chuckled. He heard her throaty voice break into a sing-song jingle, ‘One for sorrow, two for joy, three for a girl, four for a boy, five for silver, six for gold, seven for a secret never to be told.’

Harsh laughed, her desperate voice pleaded ‘Can you please cancel your meeting for my sake and come back?’

Harsh hesitated as the metallic bird started churning its wheels for the departure. It was too late for him to turn back. He climbed the chopper as the pilot greeted him.

‘I want to be on the phone till you take off and the signal goes.’ Harsh was uncomfortable with that request but if Upasana was adamant there was nothing he could do. The rumbling of the giant machine made it impossible to talk further. As the machine took off just about touching the low hanging clouds, a giant explosion filled up the firmament.

The ravens, the magpies and the skies, all stopped to witness it in silence.

7

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