Rajjo went back to observing Akash work with reverence and quiet devotion. He had first removed his shoes, washed his hands and said his prayers before he had started work on the cutout.

Did he know they had stashed so many of these discarded cutouts in the tacky godown and the birds were shitting on them?

However, Rajjo walked up to the man, who was sweating profusely in the sun. He smelled of expensive soap. He kneeled in front of Rani Maa, as if he was worshipping a deity. It was clear to Rajjo that if the cutout asked him to jump into a well, he would do so happily.

Rajjo was dying to know how and why a feeling this intense could be aroused and sustained. She hesitantly asked about his devotion to the spiritual commune. The man immediately went into a stupor of emotion and gratitude. ‘She changed my life. She gave me hope. I gave up drugs and took over my father’s business – I am forever indebted to her.’

Rajjo was taken aback by his earnestness. She felt something rise up in her throat like a serpent. The fact that Rani Maa aroused such divine devotion plagued her. Rajjo moved away, wanting to clear away the bad taste in her mouth. Her scurf of indecisiveness had fallen away. Her desire had taken seed, the roots curled in her heart. Rani Maa’s throne beckoned. All she needed was to find a way.

Dark clouds started gathering and people started whispering as the day progressed. Raahat came and squealed in Rajjo’s ear, ‘The deal for the ashram is done with the local panchayat in a neighbouring village. Rani Maa’s actual birthday gift is half a village from Mehtaab!’ Raahat winked as he carried a giant slab of ice back to his kiosk to keep the sweetened drinks chilled.

Rajjo followed Raahat and pressed him for more information. She was shocked to learn that according to some villagers, the ashram’s deals were unfair and illegal usurping of land, encouraged by the local politicians and businessmen. Raahat continued in the same tone as he broke the ice into smaller pieces with a hammer. ‘However, now the land belongs to the ashram or Rani Maa. Ostensibly, it was partly donated and partly subsidized using various legal clauses. Now they will formalize it by making an official request to Rani Maa to bless the village with an ashram. After some time, workers will go there, take the land and build an ashram in the middle of it. You can go there. So Kuljeet won’t send you away!’

With a loud thud a giant block of ice broke into half as Rajjo yelped. Thin slivers of ice landed on her face and neck.

Rajjo looked at the young Raahat accusingly, rubbing her face.

‘Tell me one thing…you believe Rani Maa can change destinies?’ The ramble of the devout fixing tiny fairy lights on Rani Maa plagued her.

‘I believe believing in her gets me food and clothing.’