And now, finally, Rano was tired of life. Rajjo had entrusted the task of running the trust to her and the young man Kesar. Rajjo left enough for them to manage and keep busy. She watched a kite floating in the sky without a tether and the kids running barefoot, gleefully trying to catch the thread. The crazy, spirited kite, reminded her of Rajjo. It escaped all attempts to be captured, disappearing into the clouds, leaving behind sadness and a promise. Rano stood and watched the pale red kite disappear in the blue empyrean. They had watched many a kite pass away, hand in hand. Wearing overused frocks, Rano and Rajjo had stood together looking up at the wide blue expanse. Sisters who knew they were there for each other. Rano could jump the highest to catch the thread and go for the kite because Rajjo was two steps behind her. She remembered the pride on her face when Rajjo would snatch the kite and run away. They would meet at the sweet shop as always. They were a team. They trusted each other. But in her last days she looked at her sister with a jaundiced eye. Their eyes never met in the same wide-eyed trust. It pricked her heart, it made her bleed. If only she could hold her hand one last time.

Rano sat next to her old ailing mother who stared on with empty eyes. She finally looked at her daughter Rano and smiled. They were one in their grief, they were one in accepting destiny and they were one in letting her go.

‘She called out the weather, she was always right. If she was here tonight she would tell me to gather the clothes and cut the fields, tomorrow it will rain. The heavens will open and the skies will fall.’

On that ominous note Saroj closed her tired eyes. Rano sat in her courtyard hearing the crickets. She heard someone come in through the front door. She knew Karam was back. Harsh’s news had brought him back. Karam sat next to her with a sigh. Rano took in the beard of grief and despair on his face. He had aged. Rano offered him the glass of tea she nursed. Karam sipped the tea and sighed like a traveller who was home after a long journey. ‘She may be alive after all. Devi is nowhere to be found. There is no way to ascertain that the woman who died was Rajjo.’

‘Devi,’ smiled Rano.

‘She wants to be dead. Leave her be.’ That was Rano’s final decision and it was evident in her tone.

Karam knew it was the end of the road. Either the stream was going to perish, eaten up by the rocks and mud or find a way to reach the sea and become one with it. He was not going to perish. They sat huddled together drawing comfort from each other.