The next morning, the hustle and bustle was immense. Kuljeet was not too happy with Rajjo’s decision and it was obvious time was running out for Rajjo. She spent most of her day with Gurbaksha and his team, making sure the last-minute arrangements were perfect for Rani Maa’s visit. However, there was something peculiar in the arrangements made this time around. She was intrigued that a few rooms were being prepared for a VIP visit and there was some scotch smuggled in as well. Treats were kept separately for the VIP guests and the back entrance had been spruced up to welcome them. Some of the sewadars were put on security duty to man the crowd and make sure VIP areas were out of bounds. All these covert arrangements were being done under the close supervision of Gurbaksha, Arjan and Kuljeet, ironically the most devout sewadars in the ashram. Rajjo smothered a chuckle that threatened to spill over in a hysterical laugh.

Men of God, reading scriptures, smuggling scotch, serving food to the poor. There were multiple narratives in these godly stories but Rajjo struggled to find divinity in anything she saw and witnessed around her.

Intrigued by the secrecy, driven by the need to peel back another layer, Rajjo deliberately started working closely with the people appointed to cater to the VIP section. Arjan had earmarked a room with five chairs. Rajjo wondered what was going to happen in there. As the evening drew near, the excitement in the air spiralled.

The girls had all dressed up in saffron saris and were seated on stage singing verses. The crowds had started to filter in. The music and the chants had taken over. A group of three priests sang shabads, with their beards flowing, their eyes shut in divine bliss, their hands moving in time with the harmonium and the musical notes.

Only there was no sign of Rani Maa as Rajjo and everyone else waited endlessly. Just then a car stopped outside the back entrance, followed by much movement in the compound amongst the workers. Rajjo ran out to greet the guest and it turned out that it was Sukhmani, Chhoti Ma. She alighted from the car alone. She had a beautiful face, with a flawless milky skin and waif-like features.

A worried look was exchanged between Arjan Singh, Kuljeet and Sarika Tai. An unsaid fear was conveyed between them as Chhoti Maa walked up to the stage. Shortly after, another car arrived. A thunderous looking Mehtaab alighted and headed straight into the VIP room without exchanging a word with anyone.

Sukhmani started the sermon on stage and hundreds of devotees looked on with reverence. Rajjo witnessed another drama unfold behind the scenes. The key players scurried in different directions and it seemed like Rani Maa was not going to turn up for the sermon after all.

Finding the whole thing odd, Rajjo sought Raahat out to fill her in on the situation, only to find him high as a kite. All he could coherently tell her was, she had to find a way to stay back!