Krishna has no real wish to worship the Goddess at Ambika-vana — it is only a pretext to lure the gopis out of their locked homes. A huge festival: rows of stalls selling cloth, jewellery, sweets, paintings, palmists reading hands, astrologers reading stars. "Let us go and look," say the elder sakhis. At one tent sits a woman, a tantra-vidushi, expert in palmistry and the stars. The gopis wonder: what lies ahead for us? We are kept shut in, yet we cannot live without Krishna. They bring Radhika forward and give her hand. "Where is the place of greatest joy? What is the highest happiness?" asks Radhika. "Krishna, in the cowherd land," the astrologer answers. And she adds: "This seer knows even the secrets you hide from everyone." Then, softly: "I wish to tell you something very private. Sakhis, step outside." The sakhis go out. And then the veil falls — beneath it is Krishna himself. Who else could read from your palm the secret you dare not tell even yourself?