We exit the Bhool Bhulaiyaa and go down the stairs to the Imambara. Fortunately, Baarish’s friends came alone, otherwise we would have had to scream once again. We pile into two vans, previously used by the middle worlders. One of the vans is driven by Tabassum Naaz and the other, Paheli. Whether either of them have driving licenses is not a question anyone wants to risk asking.

Half an hour later we are at the banks of the river.

“It’s not a complicated process,” Tabassum Naaz says. “I just need to immerse all of myself into the river and submit to its magic.” She turns to us. “Just be my witnesses.”

We watch as she pulls off her shoes and walks into the river. She continues walking, each step taking her a little deeper, the water covering a little more of her body. She walks until her entire body is submerged in the water. We wait for a long moment, not knowing what to expect. Then, inexplicably, the river gets choppy. Even though it’s a hot day with no breeze, little wavelets appear on the surface of the river as if it’s in the middle of a storm. Before Tabassum Naaz reappears, the river sings.

Or, more accurately, the magic within the river sings. When Tabassum Naaz walks out of the river, as dry as the moment she walked in, we flock over to her. Her eyes have changed. They look exactly like Baarish’s did except less creepy.

“Do you feel any different?” Paheli asks.

As a reply, Tabassum Naaz reaches out and hugs Valentina, squeezing her tightly. Valentina gives her an affronted look, but the smile on her lips is wide. We could get used to a smiling Valentina.

“I feel like I drank an entire liter of coffee,” Tabassum Naaz replies. “I know that what waits for me in the very near future is likely to be painful, but I am ready for it. Mostly. I can call on you if it gets too much for me, can’t I?”

“We’ll send you Valentina,” Areum says generously. She grins, unrepentant, at Valentina’s quelling look.

We abandon the vans at the riverbank and find an uninterrupted wall nearby. When we enter the Between, Taraana suddenly sinks to the ground.

“What is it? Does it hurt too much?” Paheli kneels by him.

“No, I just thought that I would never travel the Between again. I thought my time was up,” Taraana says after a long pause. He shudders.

“I’m sorry. It’s my fault that you’re hurt,” Paheli replies. She yields her spot to Areum and takes a step away from Taraana.

“That is not true,” he protests. Paheli shakes her head.

“I will accompany Tabassum Naaz to Agra. The rest of you, take Taraana to New Orleans. Have Eulalie patch him up.”

“I can go by myself,” Tabassum Naaz says.

“I will take you,” Paheli says firmly.