Sarika Tai smiled at Rajjo.

‘You are ready when you are ready. It’s fine by me. I will let Kuljeet know.’

‘What do you think would happen if I say yes and go with you right now?’

‘What is destined will happen … it’s all in the hands of God, your staying or leaving is predecided by his will.’ Tai smiled benevolently.

Rajjo could hear the pedestal fans whirring in the hall. The lyrical chit-chat of the girls billowed around them, a laugh here, a shriek there. Rajjo heard her voice added to the milieu of sounds. ‘A philosopher argues if God is omniscient he knows not only what people will freely do in the future, but what each possible free creature would have freely done in each set of possible circumstances. If God has knowledge of future actions, then he knows what he is going to do to his followers. Despite praying to him, he looks on, letting them fall and bruise. So if God is the positive force that one looks to for salvation, then he does not exist. He lets you get into a mess, despite knowing all the possible outcomes you would have met with from the choices you make. He does not guide you, he does not come to help you, he does not warn you… He does nothing much. He lets a little boy burn under the sun, get lost in circles of dirt, and go by hungry. God is a sham. This is my choice and mine alone. God has not helped me choose this. I just wanted to say that.’

Sarika admired her eburnine beauty and looked at the soft brown eyes of the girl, with a hint of steel lurking underneath. Her front tooth was slightly chipped, strangely adding to her beauty. There were some scars on her face, near her brow and her chin, which accentuated her flawless skin and cheekbones. She’d heard her one ear was busted and she noticed she favoured her left ear when she was being spoken to. She was one of the most beautiful women Sarika had seen. And she also knew this one wanted the entire sky, not just a piece of it. There was no point trying with her. In her outburst she had revealed an ambition. And it ran deep enough to shape her destiny.

‘She wants you to leave.’ Sarika Tai sighed.

‘I need some time. Please tell Kuljeet I said I want to stay on for Rani Maa’s darshan and then I will be ready to move.’ Sarika Tai nodded.

As Rajjo walked towards her little room the skies broke into a downpour. She could see some men scurrying out to salvage what was left of the stage and the arrangements. Rajjo knew there was no point. The rain would destroy everything. She was going to worry about it tomorrow.

As she entered her narrow room, she realized Asha was not in there. One thing was certain; she had a lover in this compound. The question was who?