To keep my mind from dwelling on the whole thing I cook the chicken anyway and decide to serve it for dinner. I also make myself a special omelette—two eggs, a lot of finely chopped green chilli—and eat it while cooking the chicken. I’ve been having intense cravings for savoury food. Now that I’ve found out I’m pregnant I know exactly why. Thinking of the baby makes me happy again.

I finish the omelette and make myself some ginger chai. I flick through my baby book while drinking my chai and munching on a bowl of Haldiram’s really spicy bhujia. I finish reading the first chapter when the door bell rings again. I hide the book under a cushion—it could be Sid returned—and rush to the door.

Mini’s older daughter, Simmi, is standing outside—she’s been crying—my heart sinks.

‘Namaste didi. Mummy sent me to tell you …’ Simmi hesitates.

‘Is her health okay?’ I ask remembering my last conversation with Mini.

‘Yes she is fine. She sent me to tell you that …’ Simmi seems to struggle with whatever she wants to say.

Suddenly it all irritates me—if Mini’s fine, why hasn’t she been turning up for work? And why is everybody always telling me things. It’s like no one has any consideration for what I might think or want. Like I’m there only to listen and do as other people tell me to. All I wanted was a happy, quiet Sunday with Sid and I can’t even have that because everybody is constantly telling me things. I’ve had enough.

‘The last I saw your mother was when she came here to borrow money, Simmi. It’s been a week since and I haven’t seen her once. I know you’ve come to give me some reason for Mini not turning up for work. I suppose now she wants to know if she still has a job—well she has—don’t you know I’m a doormat?’ I lash out at Simmi.

And just as suddenly my anger dissipates—I’ve spoken what was on my mind, but I don’t feel any better for it—Simmi’s expression makes me feel worse.

‘It’s all right Simmi,’ I say sighing, I know Mini and her family are hard-pressed, ‘You tell your mother that—’

‘Mummy couldn’t come because he—Baba—beat her really bad. And then she got arrested. They took her this morning, the policewallas—’ Simmi says and starts crying.

She doesn’t sob loudly or anything—she simply stands with her head bowed as the tears flow down her cheeks.

I wasn’t expecting this. I pray it’s nothing too bad.