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Essentially, we keep ourselves safe, find other people with powers, and then we make the world a better place. People will try to stop us, we find out who they are, find good people on their side, and find ways to beat them. This whole secret-base-in-Kashmir thing is all very well, we need to stay on top of that or we will probably get killed, but that’s not what interests me.”
    “That’s good to know. What does interest you?”
    “Powers. Using them. Fixing the world. If we have to run around avoiding superpowered murderers, we will. But that’s not what we’re here for.”
    “Right. Well, my answer is no. I’m not going to be a superhero,” Uzma says. “So if you’re planning some sort ofteam costumed avengers thing, just count me out.”
    “No costumes.”
    “I don’t care. Count me out.”
    “But-”
    “No, Aman. I don’t know you at all. I don’t know if you’re telling the truth — I think you are, but this is all so weird! I came here — see, I have a plan too. A plan for my life. Powers or no powers, that’s who I am. I don’t want to be Everybody-Likes-Me-Girl, part of your World-Changing-Super-Squad. I don’t want to change the world. I think it’s fine the way it is. These powers suddenly arrive — and what if they suddenly leave? I can’t turn my life upside down for this.”
    “I don’t think you have a choice,” Aman says. “Yes, these powers change everything. Yes, they might go away tomorrow. It’s all the more crucial, then, that we do the most we can with what we’ve been given in the time we have. These powers came as answers to our dreams. Tomorrow, they’ll just be technology. Like Jules Verne thinking about going to the moon —”
    “Aman, focus,” Tia says.
    “Sorry. Uzma, all we have is a head start, and we have to find out how to use it best. There are thousands of Bollywood actresses. There’s only one you.”
    Uzma stands as if she is about to walk out that very minute.
    “This is ridiculous! How do I make this clear to you? I’m not going to be a superhero!”
    “We’re not asking you to do anything,” Tia says. “But you needed to know this, didn’t you? If you still think you should leave, of course you’re free to leave — though we all hope you’ll stay, because we like you very much. Obviously.”
    “I just wish — I wish someone had asked me before giving mesuperpowers, you know? I didn’t want this!”
    “It’s all going to be all right,” Tia says as Uzma fights back tears with great ferocity. “Don’t be afraid. We’ll help. We’re all just trying to figure out what to do. Aman’s trying to sort things out his way, but you can just ignore him. This is really the kind of thing we should spend a few years thinking about — but we might not have any time.”
    Uzma looks around the room, at Aman staring intently at her, at the Tias’ melting eyes, at Sundar, completely oblivious to all the drama, wielding a screwdriver like an orchestra conductor’s baton. She nods quickly, sharply, not wanting to think.
    “I’d like to stick around for a while, if you don’t mind,” she says. “But I don’t think I can help you.”
    “Aman, it’s been a terribly long night, Uzma’s just had her world turned around, and we’ve talked for far too long. Now everybody get up, go straight to bed and sleep through tomorrow, and that’s an order,” Tia says.
    “Sure. Uzma, just — think about what I said, okay? And, Tia? You need to be up by lunchtime,” Aman says.
    “Why?”
    “Because Superman flew into town this evening. And we’re meeting him for lunch tomorrow.”

CHAPTER FIVE
    If Vir had asked a passing bird above the AQ Khan nuclear facility for directions to Coffee Day, Carter Road, Pali Hill (assuming that this bird spoke English and knew its way around the hip coffee joints in Mumbai), he would have been told: “Fly straight to the Arabian Sea — pick up some mutton kebabs and beef samosas in Karachi, they’re super —