The house was large, with many halls and rooms but with very little furniture. There were carpets everywhere. When I reached the house I was still scared, wary, but they were kind to me. But they were also often thoughtless about my comfort. Once I had no tea to drink for three days. I kept reminding Bossa madam that there was no milk and tea in the house. No one paid attention to me. One morning I was washing the clothes when I felt dizzy and faint. I came out of the bathroom and sat on the floor with my head in my hands. Then they quickly sent for tea. Bossa madam said: ‘Ah, you feel faint because you did not have tea. Tea is bad for you. You will die soon.’

But what was life worth if I could not have even a cup of tea? What else was there for me, what pleasure could I have there even with money, living with strangers who did not care, really care, about me? What about the others who stayed on, and who remained behind? Some of them went mad, or committed suicide or even murdered their mistresses. When they returned they found that their men had taken other women. They, too, because of loneliness, became friendly with other men who were equally lonely.

Abba came back soon although there was nothing to complain of in the house she lived in. There was very little work but she was bored. She felt that the house was like a hira kuduwa, a prison. The house was large but walled in. You could not see beyond those walls. In that house crates of apples were brought in regularly. The children used to play with them, rolling them across the floor like bright red balls.

Abba’s sister has come and gone back now for many years. She hopes to open a pharmacy with the money she has earned. She has learnt the Arabi language too and can speak it fluently. But the separation is bitter and the loneliness great when wives and mothers leave their husbands and children and the men leave their families. The climate is difficult, the food is strange. Many get sick because of the unbearable heat during the day when they have to work out of doors, and the chill at night.

Gamini’s young wife left him and their baby and went to Saudi. Gamini had no future in Mahawa after he had married out of his caste. His parents would not accept him. First the couple stayed at loku mahathmaya’s estate as caretakers but then the wife got a chance to go and so she left. Then Abdeen, who was also the watchman at the estate at one time, went to the Middle East. His wife had been there for some time and she was earning well. Now they have returned and bought property and a house that had belonged to loku mahathmaya. They are prospering.