To walk as a group, their pace must match the slowest. To walk as a group, Salma needed to curb her enthusiasm, Iman to become more patient, Moni to exert a bit more effort. It occurred to Salma that the best tactic would be to engage Iman in conversation. In that way, Moni could concentrate her efforts on the walk itself while Iman could be distracted from the need to hurry.

‘You haven’t sung to us for a long time,’ she said to Iman.

Previously whenever Salma made this observation or some variation of it, Iman would break into song. Now she was silent.

‘What’s wrong?’ Salma could not hide the nervousness from her voice. She reminded herself that Iman was the same person, with or without her hijab; nothing had changed, nothing could change. She needed these reassurances.

Iman shrugged. ‘You didn’t stand up for me. You didn’t take my side.’

Salma was taken aback. ‘When?’

‘In every situation I can think of.’ Iman lowered her voice. ‘When Moni was mean to me in the car, you were silent.’

Salma could not remember Moni being mean to Iman in the car. The whole car journey seemed a long time ago.

‘See, you don’t even remember,’ said Iman. ‘It’s nothing to you.’

Salma was lost for words.

Iman went on, ‘I’m not going to move in with you. I can’t live in your house.’

‘Don’t be silly. You have nowhere else to go.’

‘See. That’s your response. Is that all you can think of saying to me? Is that the best you can do?’

‘Half of your things are in our garage. Remember. I told Ibrahim to give them to David.’

‘I will get my things, Salma. Don’t worry. I won’t burden you with my rubbish.’

‘It’s not a burden. Why are you talking like this? We’re sisters. We’ve always been. I want you to move in with us. Is that what you want me to say? Of course I do. Why should you even doubt it?’

‘I am over doubting it. To you, I would always be young—’

Salma interrupted her. ‘But you are younger than me. It’s a fact. I didn’t invent it.’

Iman sighed. ‘You always think you know better. And I’m tired of this. Of being told what to do. Constantly.’

‘Because you don’t know what you want. You’ve told me yourself, time and again, you’re not sure what you want.’

‘I want to be independent.’

‘But how practical is that, when you can’t support yourself, when you don’t have a job? Be reasonable. And it’s not as if I ever stopped you from being independent. I was furious when you quit your job at the supermarket.’