‘She has three daughters officer and a fourth baby on the way and the husband’s a wastrel,’ I start speaking very fast. ‘If you lock her up then who will—’

‘In that case madam I will go by your word that she is a good woman and let her go. I will also have a word, or more, with this husband and ensure he doesn’t trouble her,’ the officer says and finishes the rest of his tea. He stands up.

Mini and Simmi look as stunned as I feel—we all stand up as well.

‘Thank you Officer,’ I mumble not sure if there’s anything else I should say.

He pulls out his wallet from his back pocket, opens it and pulls out a visiting card.

‘Please keep this card, madam, and if her husband or anyone bothers her, kindly do not hesitate to give me a call,’ he says and hands me his card.

‘This way please,’ he says directing all of us towards the exit. ‘I hope I don’t see any of you any time soon.’

The three of us walk out of the station. The cows are gone. All the vendors look at us curiously, it seems Tokas has been talking.

‘Do I still have a job, didi?’ Mini asks me and for the first time today I see that she is scared.

I quickly reassure her.

‘Yes, yes, Mini, your job’s there. This was not your fault, it was just some—’

‘I am so sorry to drag you into this, particularly in your present condition,’ Mini says and joins her hands in a traditional thank you.

I am about to assure her it’s nothing when I realize what she’s said.

‘What do you mean “present condition”?’ I ask her.

‘You are going to have a baby,’ Mini states matter-of-factly.

‘How do you know about the baby?’ I ask shocked. I haven’t told anyone!

Mini smiles at me, ‘I’ve had three and the fourth is on the way, didi. Your body has been changing, your hair is better and so is your skin; you glow, you eat more but you vomit in the morning—all signs of pregnancy, didi. Hasn’t bhaiya told you how beautiful you look of late?’

Mini’s question touches a raw nerve in me and suddenly I feel very tired. I would really like to talk to someone, ask for advice, but I don’t think I can do that with my maid, even though I’d like to very much.

‘I—I am not beautiful—bhaiya doesn’t know yet. About the baby—’ I say.

‘He will be so happy when he finds out,’ Mini says, ‘Don’t wait any longer to tell—Didi! What happened, didi?’

I can’t hold back any longer and, despite trying, my tears flow uninhibited.

‘I—I hope he does get happy Mini, I so hope,’ I manage to say.

Mini’s expression hardens.