He could feel himself physically lift with every step and soon Rita was completely expunged from his mind, gone – buried somewhere in the too hard pile, next to the not quite right pile, in with the too boring pile and all the other piles of misadventure that had never quite worked out in his life. And in her place a brilliant scene was emerging as surely as the sunrise – a bright, lively scene, full of friendly people – all very happy to share a smile with a stranger.

Mate….

This is more like it.

9.4

Rita’s long, delicate fingers reached out…

9.5

A soft pink hue hung like a gigantic curtain over the scene, turning the mirror-calm water ink blue.

In some ways it reminded Max of home but… something was different. The light was much more vivid – strikingly colourful. It seemed to reach out and touch him – as if a switch had been turned on in his eyes.

“This place called Colaba – best place in Mumbai,” Padam said proudly. “Maybe… best place in all India!” he added.

9.6

Rita reached out further, her fingers anxious, seeking…

9.7

A swirling sea of hundreds of people parted for them as they walked onto the jetty and out towards India Gate.

“This big attraction.”

“Mmm – it sure is!”

“People coming from all India to see this.”