I said, my voice shaking with anticipation. He lay flat on his back, looking up at me with wide, glazed eyes. I stood over him, straddling his chest, my saree bunched up at my waist. I looked down at his face, smeared with milk and sweat. “Ye mera sabse pavitra cheez hai,”

I told him. “Ise prasad samajh kar grahan karo.” I let go. The stream was hot and forceful. It hit his chest first, splashing up onto his chin. Vardaan gasped, his body jolting at the sudden warmth.