An urge rose in her to use it and soak the printed sheets red and end it all.

No. It was not time yet. She stared at the mango tree and noticed some sparrows fluttering in the branches. It was late afternoon. Tired and exhausted from the last few days, Rajjo fell into a deep, disturbing and exhausted sleep. Thankfully her husband was still out in the market square managing the rally. As she fell asleep, a thought repeated in her head that gave her hope to wake up from the afternoon nap.

She was going to be an oak.

Rajjo was woken up frantically Kesar. ‘Seth-ji is very angry and he is asking for you! There is chaos out there, because there is a sudden shortage of food packets and food packets and everything is chaotic, they need more hands…’

Rajjo grabbed her dupatta and ran out. She came back in and grabbed the deity from her bedside.

She felt bad for leaving a job assigned to her midway.

Dusk had settled, and she could hear the receding noise of the chopper. Her heart sank. How could someone she did not know affect her to this extent? How could he make her feel these emotions when he did not even know her name?

It was strange.

She was not going to think about the stranger who had disappeared in the skies. She started handing out packets to the disgruntled villagers who wanted more food. Some complained they were promised liquor and that next time no one from their village would turn up if they did not live up to their word!

The little plastic packs contained some bread and a few vegetables from the mandi. The villagers were also handed water to drink, along with a threadbare blanket. People were sitting back in the vehicles assigned to them; tractors, buses, cars and were heading off in various directions.

Rajjo was glad the day was ending.

She caught sight of her husband looking at her, sitting in a chair with a smile on his face as he gestured to her.

‘We have the local MLA coming over to our house in the night for dinner tomorrow. Prepare something nice – we have to entertain him. He is impressed with your work. He saw you on stage! And he will help me set up the cable TV business. So be ready for tomorrow.’

Seth-ji smiled at her. Rajjo knew she was supposed to be the perfect host and she rushed back home to start the preparations for the following night.

Seth-ji came home shortly afterwards. He simply hugged her and slept. In the early morning, he reached out for her and this time, Rajjo willingly gave herself to him.

As he lay spent he looked at her lovingly and muttered, ‘Be good tonight.’ Rajjo nodded as he turned over to sleep some more and dream about the handsome Harsh Vardhan.

December 1991: New Year’s Eve