It was 4 am. I really had to turn in now. I know it’s been over a month since I returned from Bolzano, yet my circadian rhythm has not had the opportunity to realign itself with Indian Standard Time. This is not some prolonged form of jet lag. It’s the unintended consequence of nurturing a cross continental intrigue; toying with the fabric of space and distance. My friend from Bolzano said goodnight. I kept my phone away and turned my head towards the window and was startled to find the planet Mars peering down at me. It was an unbelievably warm red; a shade I was lucky to encounter because the night was nigh cloudless, and because my balcony afforded me an unadulterated view of the Dhauladhar range. I reached for my phone, opened Sky Maps, just to ensure I was acknowledging the radiance of the right planet. It was Mars indeed. It was to the right of the Moon. Neptune appeared on my screen, reminding me of what I’d read in my Susan Miller horoscope about the forecasted new moon on July 12, which will be directly opposed by Pluto, and will introduce two golden triangles, "the emblem of the most harmonious aspect you can ever wish to achieve in astrology".

Astral lingo aside, I was already aware of my sheer luck. Within a span of five days; between Goa-Delhi-Dharamshala, I was fortunate to have been able to kick off my birthday month by meeting both my male and female best friend within days of each other. I was to leave Goa on June 29, at 11 pm, and, upon landing in Delhi, I’d decided to go directly to Mona’s apartment in Saket, so we could wake up on Sunday morning and catch up. I hadn’t seen her since we parted ways in Rome. My flight left at 1 am instead. She had no hesitation opening her doors for me at 4.30 am. We woke up around 10 am and spent the next seven hours re-tuning into each other’s lives and revelations over the Italian coffee she’d brought back and gobi paranthas made by her cook, Manohar Bhaiya. Two days later, I took an overnight bus to Dharamshala to meet Partho. I use the word "fortunate" because I hadn’t seen him in almost two years, since he’s been in the States. He has always asserted his presence in my life, though, despite our separation in terms of space, time, and distance. Once I learned he was simply a bus-ride away, I had to travel to see him and his wife.