‘You’re not old,’ said Moni. ‘You are fit and healthy. And yes, you are young.’

‘These are platitudes, Moni. Forty is the new thirty. Fifty is the new forty. These things that are said so that people can be cheerful. When people are cheerful they get on with their lives better. They go to work, they shop. That’s what it’s all about. Then, at a certain point, sooner or later, they drop dead. And it goes on and on. One generation replacing the other, making a mess of things one way or another.’ She was talking about this, but she would have preferred to talk about Iman. To untangle her mixed feelings. But Moni was so sure of everything, so black and white, she would never understand.

Moni said, ‘Maybe you’re tired, Salma. You do too much. You’re always pushing yourself. Maybe you’re just exhausted and need a break. There is nothing wrong with that. A lie-in. You certainly deserve it.’

Salma nodded, ‘Thank you, Moni. Maybe I could have a cup of tea.’

‘Sure,’ said Moni and she went to the kitchen to make it for her.

When she came back, Salma was sitting up in bed. She had smoothed down her hair and tied it up in a scrunchy. ‘Have you seen her in public, Moni?’ She was talking about Iman without her hijab.

Moni sighed. ‘Yes, briefly. I almost didn’t recognise her. I don’t know why she wasn’t content with our garden here which is secluded.’

‘I saw her,’ said Salma. ‘I was walking back from the monastery and I came across her talking to Mullin. It was a shock, seeing her standing there with her hair showing. If she had the hood of her rain jacket up, it would have looked natural given the weather. But there she was, as if she was being defiant. I didn’t know what to do. I dodged away from them. I just couldn’t face her.’

‘I wonder what Mullin said to her,’ said Moni. ‘Or if he even noticed.’

‘Of course he noticed.’

‘But people here never comment on appearance. They’re very polite.’

‘It doesn’t mean they don’t notice,’ said Salma. ‘My mother-in-law loves a good gossip. She doesn’t interfere though. She wouldn’t say why are you wearing this or that, not even to her own son, there is a distance. But she does notice things.’

Moni shrugged. ‘It’s pointless talking to Iman. She’s made up her mind. We have to accept it.’