As if cradling some treasure of 10 rupees, I made a beeline towards the bael tree, our rendezvous point. It was probably for the best that I found Nimisha now--fast.

I found the evidence of bushy hair peeking from the line of my vision, and I skidded to a halt.

"Nimi this, that. I've been waiting for ages!" Her eager eyes searched mine with a haughty expression. "Ahem."

She stretched her hand out.

My fists clenched tight, I said, "You know what, why don't we hurry to the shop and let Yamza chacha decide?"

A wounded expression and an assurance about my respect for her experience in money spending, we arrived at the dilapidated bookstore, rows of knowledge brimming inside.

A kutta followed as we entered, our scorched feet sighing with bliss. I murmured, "I mean, Americans are growing men...and our school has never seen a handsome American before."

Chacha muttered an 'enthusiastic' welcome, whose eyes, I knew, followed everywhere. I asked Nimisha about 'testicles', but she merely nodded and led me towards a red book on display.

My gaze lingered on the words etched on it. Steaming. Exotic.

Bhagwan knew the sins I was committing when I presented the book to chacha for packing, because his eyes widened and he slowly stooped to our level. "You're growing girls...but this isn't allowed in your religion, you know." But Americans are allowed, I'm sure.

"But mother--"

"She has seen the world of pleasure, beta."

"Hey." Nimisha tugged my hand. "Look! On the book, the word testicles!"

Chacha required few seconds to grasp my mischievous curiosity, and before I could know what was happening, we were sent flying out the shop.

The kutta sulked away at the prospect of no food. Oh well! Now what was I to do?