‘She is back in India for good now. I’ve been meeting her in Mumbai,’ Sid starts speaking really fast. ‘She cried, Polly, she said she was sorry. She said she hadn’t really expected me to marry. She had always intended to come back and—we are in touch, Polly,’ Sid says.

My head is reeling. I should’ve taken an Ibuprofen tablet. Is Ibuprofen good for a pregnant woman? The baby! Sid doesn’t know about the baby … I look at Sid and suddenly I’m very, very scared.

Something clicks in my head. Did he say Mumbai?

‘Those meetings you’ve been going for—to Mumbai—they are not work,’ I say.

I don’t need to ask him, I know.

‘No,’ says Sid, sitting down at the table again, ‘I’ve been going to meet her.’

‘Do you stay with her?’

‘Yes,’ he says softly.

‘And the nights you’ve been working late here?’

‘She moved—she shifted to Delhi. She’s renting in Defence Colony,’ Sid says.

‘Those jeans you wore, that cologne, that shirt—I’ve never seen that shirt before, have I?’ I ask.

I feel something start seething inside me; I can feel it churning in my belly, round and round and round. I know it’s not the baby—because whatever it is, it’s ugly.

‘How does a shirt matt—’

‘I’ve never seen that shirt before, have I?’ I ask again, mincing my words. Sid flinches.

‘No, you haven’t. I have other clothes that I keep at her place,’ Sid says sighing. ‘I’m sorry. I deserve your anger.’

‘So you’re saying that you’ve—that you’ve—with her—you’ve had sex with her?’ I ask.

Sid looks very puzzled by my question.

‘That’s a rather personal question and—’

‘I am your wife,’ I remind him.

Sid doesn’t say anything. He places his hands on the table—his fingers curl up into fists and he breathes deeply. I can see his jaw clenching; his nostrils flare each time he inhales.

‘You won’t be my wife for long, Polly. I want us to get a divorce. I need to make it work between Lata and me. She is the woman I’ve loved. She is the woman I love. But I will ensure you are looked after. Do you understand that, Polly?’ Sid asks.

I stare at the crumbled biscuit on the table. I haven’t eaten since morning. I need to eat properly for the baby. I get up and walk towards the kitchen.

‘Polly … Polly?’ Sid calls out. ‘Where are you going?’

Sid comes after me and grabs my arm. Why does everyone always grab my arm? Why can’t they just let me be? I feel the churning inside me again. I feel it beginning to spread through my body.

‘Where are you going? Say something Polly!’ Sid shakes me.