Shah says he has been practising for the past year and has understood the intricacies of dastangoi, thanks to his long association with the stage.

They are scheduled for two performances — on June 7 and 8 at the Asia Society Lila Acheson Wallace Auditorium. Farooqui would have been thrilled if they weren’t the only Indian performers.

“I thought it was awful that we were the only ones. India is the biggest centre for Islamic art and culture in the world, yet we look towards the Middle East as a Muslim hub,” he says.

The trio hope that the English subtitles will help bridge the gap between the Urdu dialogue and a largely English-speaking audience.

“Even in India and Pakistan, most people are not aware of the stories. They are as ignorant as a western crowd about the setting and context of these stories,” says Hussain.

He will have to rely on an ancient skill to spellbind the audience. Just like it used to be long ago in Delhi when dastangos gathered on balmy evenings.