Omar looked surprised. ‘What set-up?’ he asked, before he realized, ‘Oh, you mean Parvine’s daughter? I didn’t think that was a set-up.’ He added, ‘Really, Amma, there was no need to argue with Nanu about that. I honestly don’t mind hanging around Dhaka with someone my own age for a day. If she’s anything like her mum and Shameela, I’m sure she’ll be very nice. Besides, I’m sure I can protect myself from her; I’m sort of off the market, anyway.’

Shona felt her sober mood lightening. Here at least was some good news. ‘I thought you looked particularly happy since you’ve come back from college. Who is she?’

Omar held his finger to his lips. ‘Shh, it’s a secret,’ he said conspiratorially. He took her arm as they left the house. ‘You know, I’m luckier than you, I think.’

Shona looked at him suspiciously. ‘Why’s that?’ She wondered if he was going to compare his new relationship with the state of her own less than happy partnership with his father.

‘Because I’ve got a much nicer mum than you have,’ he explained, kissing her on the cheek.

Shona felt much, much better, and squeezed her son’s arm.

A Performance, a Bookmark and a

rastic Decision

SHONA AND OMAR dutifully went to the performances of Trial by Jury and The Mikado that Henna performed on consecutive nights with her drama group. Although the audience numbered at least a hundred, they were without exception family and friends of the cast and backstage crew. They used the hall in Dhaka University, and Shona was reminded of her school production at Christmas, which had been slightly better attended. When they sang, ‘She may very well pass for forty-three, in the dusk with a light behind her,’ Omar nudged his mum. ‘When was your birthday again, Amma?’ he asked.

‘Shut up,’ she said good-naturedly, feeling a little bit old and worn-down compared to her glowing, all-singing, all-dancing mother, who with heavy make-up and under the stage lights, could have easily passed for her sister.

The next night, at The Mikado, Shona was amused to notice that her Amma, who despite her age must have had a secret yen to play the starring role of Yum-Yum, had to make do with Katisha. She had deliberately resisted making herself plain enough to carry off the role, apparently allowing the make-up team to do no more than put a high, dramatic flush on her cheeks, and to make her brows heavier. Nor did she deliver the line about not having a beautiful face with much sincerity, although she made up for it with her comic timing and wide-eyed candour when she added, ‘But I have a left shoulder blade that is a miracle of loveliness. People come miles to see it.’