The subject of Howard’s nickname came up quickly when Henry referred to him as Chit. When Viola asked about it, Henry explained that Howard’s middle name was Chitworth and he’d been called Chit practically from his infancy. Since Howard and Henry had known each other nearly that long, Henry never called him anything but Chit except in the case of formal introductions. Oliver then clarified that he far preferred a lack of formality—especially at such informal gatherings. The visitors agreed, and Amala recognized her father’s customary way of giving permission for given names to be used in his home. Amala had seen people respond to his declaration with varying degrees of shock and disgust; it seemed that for some people anything less than formality in all matters was practically criminal. Amala had realized years ago that such people were rarely invited back into their home. Her parents far preferred the company of people around whom they could all be more relaxed and comfortable. It was evident these two men fit easily into that category.

Amala and Kat mostly listened while the others talked of India, sharing their memories and discussing their reasons for going there and enthusing over the strangeness and beauty of the place. Amala felt deeply fascinated with the conversation, since she’d never heard her homeland discussed in such detail before. She even heard things from her parents she’d never before heard them say about their reasons for living there and the things they’d loved about it.

Amala sensed that Kat was mostly bored. Kat’s memories of India were not favorable; she’d apparently never liked it there, and she had no interest in talking about it. Amala had often wondered if Kat’s memories included difficult things she didn’t wish to be reminded of. She’d once asked Kat if that was the case, wanting to understand why she felt the way she did. Kat insisted otherwise, declaring that she simply hadn’t liked it there. But Amala wondered to this day if Kat had some hidden reason for disliking India. Either way, India was a topic that had become taboo in conversation between the two sisters. They could talk about anything and everything—except India. Amala respected Kat’s wishes to avoid the subject, except that she doubted Kat had any idea of how Amala sometimes felt the need to talk about it, to explore her memories, to indulge in the reality that for all that she was devoted to fitting into English life each and every day, she only had to look in the mirror to be reminded that she was and forever would be Indian.