The crowds in Chandigarh are gathered around a small roadside stall.
Kanjira: My dear guest, which of these cards is the queen of spades?
Three playing cards are laid out face down on a cardboard box between Kanjira and Ajar.
Ajar: It's ... the one in the middle!
Kanjira: Argh, you've got me again! This is indeed the queen of spades.
Ajar: Haha, I've been watching like a hawk!
Kanjira: Here are the 30 rupees, well-deserved it is, too!
Ajar: How about another round?
Kanjira: Have mercy. You've already bested me three times.
Kanjira: I will not gamble with you again. Not everyone is so clever like you.
The two pretend to be mere strangers, waiting for a victim.
Ajar: Alright then. Maybe you'll make your money back from someone else?
Kanjira: Trust not luck, but your eyes. Anyone interested play cards with me?
Newsboy: Count me in, then?
Kanjira: Welcome, welcome. Please come forward, my dear guest.
Kanjira: The rules are simple. Three cards, one is the queen of spades, and the other two are diamonds.
Kanjira: Keep your eyes glued to the queen. Don't be distracted by the two "little guards."
Newsboy: I've got it all. Just begin.
Kanjira: I like your confidence! The celebration for Dīpa Festival's Eve coming. What do you say ... we make a larger bet?
Newsboy: How large?
Kanjira: 100 rupees a round.
Newsboy: You're on. Hurry up and shuffle the cards.
Kanjira: Can't wait to win big? Then, keep your eyes peeled.
Kanjira: Watch the queen, and fortune shall follow!
Punji: Hiss
Kanjira's nimble fingers move the three cards so fast that they almost leave images of themselves in their wake.
Kanjira: Well then, which card is the queen of spades?
Newsboy: …
Kanjira: Looks like you always stares two cards on the left.
Kanjira: Is it the one in the middle, or the one on the left?
Beguiling the audience with words is much more important than sleight of hand, whether it be on the streets or in the palace.
Newsboy: Neither.
Kanjira: Eh, how can that be? These two cards on the left, I moved them most often.
Newsboy: They are just guards. They patrol here and there to confuse me.
Newsboy: This card on the right is the big one—the queen behind the scenes.
Kanjira covers the card with her hands, as if ready to flip it over.
Kanjira: Are you so sure? This is your last chance. Are you sure?
Newsboy: Yes, flip it over.
Kanjira: Ahem! Er, alright then, you win.
Kanjira doesn't flip the card over, as the loss is in the cards.
Kanjira: You won fair and square. Here, 100 rupees.
Kanjira: Ah, what a bad luck day! That's it for the day, folks.
Kanjira: The show's over, everyone. I don't planning to go broke today.
The crowd laughs and disperses, leaving Ajar and Kanjira behind.
Ajar: Hey, hey! Boss, that wasn't what we rehearsed!
Ajar: Didn't you already use the Three-Card Monte to swap the queen out?
Kanjira: Hmph, kid. Your patience could use a lot of improvement.
Punji: Hiss
Kanjira: Great job, Punji!
Kanjira: That kid didn't find the queen.
Ajar: Then what card was it on the far right?
Kanjira: The guards walk walk to confuse him. The queen has long fled the palace with her king.
Ajar flips over the card on the far right to reveal seven of diamonds. Beneath it is another card with a brown back.
Kanjira: Hm? A small card with some pattern? This looks like a limit edition card, from a picture book.
Kanjira: U-T-T-U ... Is this a real word? Ms. Sherjah did never teach me this.
Ajar: Is this really worth 100 rupees?
Kanjira: Hmph! You is so short-sighted! This is just bait to reel a big catch in.
Kanjira: Come on, keep up! I want to see what this "UTTU" is up to.
