The road is quiet. A gentle breeze blows through the car window. It stirs the loose wisps of hair around Sharada’s face. She undoes the knot of hair at the back of her head, pulls the wisps back in and, with two twists of her wrists, reties the knot. Looking at the curve of her neck, Shekhar says through clenched teeth, ‘And what did he finally want? Just the body. You were thinking love. The way he looks at you even now. Men have a certain way of looking at bodies they have known. You’re busy arguing experimentation in art and he’s gobbling up your body with his eyes.’

Shekhar steers the car in through the gates of Ganesh Krupa.

‘You’ve decided to say nothing. It’s an old strategy. You have to demonstrate how unfair and idiotic I am and how long enduring you have to be. There’s enough life in your relationship with him for you to argue heatedly with him. But why bother to argue with me?’

Shekhar gets out of the car and slams the door shut.

‘Shall we walk on the beach for a while?’ Sharada asks.

‘Why? Let’s go upstairs and relieve Ai of our son. She’s getting on after all.’

‘But if she sees you like this, she won’t sleep the whole night.’

‘What does “like this” mean?’ Shekhar squares his shoulders.

‘Upset.’

‘She knows the reason.’

‘She used to. She thinks you got over it after Shantanu came.’

Shekhar kicks at a stone near his foot. The stone somersaults into the gutter.

‘Then you go up. You aren’t saying anything anyway. I’ll go for a walk.’

‘Alone?’

‘Why not? I was alone in the car. I’ll be alone on the beach. What’s the difference? If I have to talk to myself, I might as well be by myself, so I don’t fool myself that I have a companion.’

Shekhar strides off without looking at Sharada. Sharada’s body is heavy as stone. She drags it up three floors and opens the door with her key. Ai is pacing the floor with Shantanu on her shoulder.

‘Good heavens! Isn’t he asleep yet?’

‘No. Aji, let’s do this, let’s do that, and where’s Mamma and where’s Baba.’

Sharada takes the drowsy Shantanu from Ai.

‘Where’s Shekhar?’

Sharada fumbles around in her mind for a fib. She glances at Ai. Won’t wash.

‘You’ve had an argument.’

‘He’s made himself miserable.’

‘I thought he had got over that. He has to try and let it go.’

‘He still can’t.’

‘I expect you said nothing as usual.’

‘Yes.’

‘Why?’

‘What do I say? Whatever I say turns out wrong.’

‘But you should still say something, dear. It makes people feel less alone.’