It took Randhir and Sanyukta a change of trains and an hour and half for their trip to reach the temple in Flushing, Queens. Fortunately they had started early and neither the trains nor the temple was too crowded. Randhir had warned her that because it was Sunday a large number of people would turn up to attend the religious service. As custom dictated they left their shoes outside before entering the temple. Sanyukta was surprised to see the carved granite structure built in the South Indian architectural tradition complete with a Gopuram gateway, right in the middle of New York. The city was filled with grandeur and impressive modern buildings, being home to people of diverse backgrounds, nationalities and faiths. However this was her first visit to a Hindu temple after having arrived in the country.

She felt a sense of calm as soon as she entered, it was like being inside a mandir somewhere closer to home, making her nostalgic. Randhir informed her that it was the first Hindu place of worship constructed in North America, firstly consecrated in 1977. The main shrine held the idol of Lord Ganesha while shrines of other deities were placed around the temple. Randhir and Sanyukta offered prayers and some fruit which they had remembered to carry along. After the Darshan they took aarti at the sacred lamp presented by the priest and partook of prasad. Sanyukta helped herself to some vermilion, filling it in her hair parting, a symbolic mark of a married Hindu woman.

They settled themselves in a quiet corner to spend some time within the consecrated space. The place began to fill up with immigrant Indians, mostly families with adults and children dressed in traditional attire. In a foreign land far away from home shores the pull of the roots was felt more poignantly, and Sanyukta smiled to see little tots joining hands during the rituals. Some parents hoisted up their toddlers to give them a better view. There were also several devout youth, probably professionals who had made New York their home recently. The ceremonies at the temple kept them connected to their native culture even when they belonged to different parts of India and spoke diverse languages.

"Do you remember our visit to your clan Goddess temple Randhir?" Sanyukta asked him. "How can I forget, it was our first double date along with Vidushi and Parth! And you were scandalised to see them making out in the backseat of the car." He replied with a grin. "How can one let lust rule the mind on the way to a holy place?" She wondered aloud. "Hello, don't forget that we worship the yoni-lingam or cosmic fertility symbols inside our temples. And our erotic sculptures in ancient shrines are very famous." He added. He could see that her mood had lifted visibly, perhaps the short pilgrimage had been worth the long journey.

"Actually you forgot that our first meeting was in a temple in Kolkata when we were mere toddlers.  You had dropped your silver anklet and Didima kept it safely with her through all these years! We were destined to unite, don't you think?" He smiled at her. "I could not agree more Randhir! Even though my parents have distanced themselves from me, we were meant to be together. Devi Maa and Didima's blessings shall make our bond enduring over time!" She expressed sincere hope. "I asked for strength to overcome any odds we may face, I think it will be a worthy investment!" He said in a lighter vein. "Mandir mein bhi business talk Randhir?" She asked, noting that he was being calculating. 

"Why not, fortune favours the brave and the gamblers alike!" He said loftily. "This temple is dedicated to Lord Ganesha who is the remover of obstacles. We are in the right place to ask him to assuage our worries." She said, her eyes filled with anticipation. "I know it is important to have faith Sanyukta, but remember that chaos offers a powerful motivation. Also while we plan to leave our troubles at the feet of the deity we believe in, this temple's history is proof that conflict and strife are part of life. Six plaintiffs had taken the temple management to court in order to ensure that members be elected democratically. The incident caused a minor crisis, dividing people's opinion over the issue until the court ruled in the plaintiff's favour."

 Anyway, let's head downstairs, they have a cafeteria that serves South Indian meals in the basement. If we linger it will become crowded and noisy" He led her downstairs before the place filled up completely. They ordered a masala dosa, bisibele baath besides a Sunday Special Kannadiga vegetarian thali and waited at the table until their order was announced. Sanyukta looked around, she could see many non-Hindu American visitors with whom the cafeteria fare seemed popular. Everywhere people were tucking into dosa, idli, vada, upma, pongal or sipping mango lassi or coffee.

"This food is great, the flavours are so authentic, the sambhar and chutney are one of the best I have eaten." Sanyukta paid the meal a compliment. "Frankly, I think the food draws more people here than does spirituality! I will come back every time I crave Dakshin cuisine. The prices are unbelievable! Wifey, let's visit another temple next door after this, they sell Gujarati snacks and delicious Indian sweets there!" He remarked enthusiastically. "All you can think of is food!" She noted, rolling her eyes. "Actually, both food and sex, but there are too many people around, Sanyukta!" He grinned at her wickedly and she laughed.

"They run devotional and Indian language courses here, along with conducting yoga and music classes which are popular with immigrant parents who want to ensure spiritual and cultural education for their kids. When we settle down in the US let's enrol our little Shekhawats here too!" Randhir teased her. "Delhi abhi bahut dur hai miya!" She reminded him that it was too early to make any plans for their future kids. By the time they left the basement cafeteria the temple was packed with people. They left from there, walking the short distance to the neighbouring temple. After taking darshan they visited the shop selling foodstuff, buying some delicious Indian mithai like kaju katli, burfi and mohanthal.

They were feeling cheerful after their little excursion out of Manhattan. Fortunately they managed to get seats on the subway as they headed homeward. Randhir played games on his phone while Sanyukta was lost in thought. She had sincerely prayed for her mother's emotional well being. With her father and brother on their guard conversation between mother and daughter would gradually be suppressed. Her mother was unfamiliar with email and other modern forms of communication. Her father's tirade would haunt Sanyukta for a long time but at least she had Randhir to offer her solace while poor Anju had nobody to turn to.

 Sanyukta hoped that after Ankit's child was born her mother would have something to smile about. That her own path would be lonely without her family to back her up was quite obvious, it was a price she had agreed to pay to live life on her own terms. A reconciliation was highly improbable at the moment. But the future held hope and she was willing to wait patiently. She wanted to do so much for her parents, but under the circumstances there was nothing she could do but focus on her short term goals like finishing college and embarking on a promising career. "Sanyukta, come on, we have to get off at the next stop!" Randhir's voice brought her back to reality and she quickly rose to her feet. She had managed to find the man she was in love with, she would try to achieve the rest, albeit gradually.