Rani Maa chose her colours for the day according to her astrological chart. So she was in green today. People bowed out of love and affection for this woman. The place was bustling with activity. Rajjo’s gaze followed Rani Maa to the stage. Was she truly divine? What was it about her that brought all these people to their knees?

The stage had been ornamented with flowers and Rani Maa sat on a seat adorned with intricate gold patterns. Her eyes were closed in divine bliss. There were three to four mikes in front of the table set on the stage. The crowd waited with baited breath.

Rajjo had heard that Rani Maa’s sermons were like unpredictable monsoon spells. Sometimes she talked about God, faith, politics, drugs, family, whatever caught her fancy and people found their answers in her discourse. Rajjo was keen to know what today’s sermon was all about.

The mike crackled and her strong commanding voice took over. ‘Today I want to talk to you. Really talk to you. Usually I talk about life, suffering, happiness, peace. Today I will talk about myself. For many of you will find yourself in me. I want to tell you my story of faith. I was brought up by my elder brother and married off to a man who was more interested in the gold jewels I carried with me in the house from my father’s. I had no children, God did not want me to have any, but they wanted me out of the house, my husband’s family. They tried to murder me in different ways, but I survived.’

Just then Chhoti Maa interrupted Rani Maa on the stage. Sukhmani whispered something in her ear briefly and an exchange of words took place.

Rajjo could see the crowd was mesmerized. They did not mind the interruption. Rani Maa turned towards the crowd and picked up from where she had left off. Her voice washed over the crowd, her honeyed notes drowning them. Soothing sitar played in the background, which added to the ambience of divine submission. Rani Maa continued to connect with her audience. Her gaze roamed to every corner of the room. She connected with each and every person in the hall.

‘My husband’s family performed witchcraft, sacrificed hens. I was bedridden and almost dying for two years. But with the grace of God, I was saved. Finally, unable to take my condition I ingested a poisonous fruit and vomited as my husband looked on. But the will of God was something else. I was taken to the nearby hospital by some kind neighbours where the learned doctors declared I would be dead by 8 p.m. My death was certain. To everyone’s astonishment, most of all the doctors, I opened my eyes and walked back home.’