She set Dayal down with his toys and washed up the dishes with her eyes on the window; she took in the glimmer of steel on the train tracks, the tall apartment blocks doing their best to block out the sun.

One day soon, they would be away from there. Richard had plans for them – not just as a couple, but as a family.

Her mobile phone rang from the bedroom. She dried her hands on the tea towel and followed the sound. The curtains were drawn and the bed still unmade, with the lingering scent of sweat in the air. The heating bill was too expensive, so she slept in lots of layers and blankets. But by morning, she felt sick from the warmth. She would either lie awake shivering, or wake up dripping; there was no in between.

Neena picked up her phone and froze on the spot. All of her blood rushed to her feet. She sat down on the bed and stared down at the screen through building tears.

Her father was calling.

SEVEN

Friday 24 November, 10:40

With the first class of the day done, Neena took Dayal out of the crèche for some fresh air.

It was difficult teaching yoga to a class of rich women. Whenever she looked up mid-pose to check their stances, she would notice the sparkle of a ring or the gleam of a designer watch. Some women wore workout outfits that cost more than her monthly rent. But she hadn’t even noticed the jewels or designer labels this time; she had been thinking of what her father had said, and what it could mean.

‘Dad?’

‘Something has happened. Come home for six p.m. It will be dark then.’

‘Is it Mum? Is it Kirin?’

‘Just come.’ He paused for a few seconds, breathing down the line. She was almost sure she could smell the tobacco smoke from his pipe. Memories of scents and sounds rushed back to her. ‘Don’t bring it with you.’

‘Dad I—’

She had sat on the bed and listened to the dialling tone for some time, and only when Dayal began to make his way up the hall did she take a deep breath and wipe away the tears.

It, she thought, has a name. His name is Dayal.

She parked the car on a street by the park and strapped Dayal in his buggy. The day was cold but fresh. Orange leaves floated down from the treetops and added to the heaps on the ground.

Her stomach growled beneath her coat, which made Dayal laugh and look up at her with a beaming smile.

I adore you, she thought, watching the flick of his long eyelashes as he blinked, and the small teeth in his smile.