‘Both of you were born in that hospital. The Brahmins of the town refused to go there. It was really for the Warlis, and they have destroyed it themselves. Now, what Bhaskar gives them is medicine, what he sermonizes is dharma.’

Bachchu Kaka sighs. Anima takes the tea things in, mechanically.

‘The nurses went to the hospital the next morning to pick out whatever was saved. Not much. Just odds and ends.’

‘What was Soma doing? How did he allow this to happen?’

‘He knew what was coming when the people of his pada went to the next pada for the bhagat. That pada celebrates Dussehra these days. They get brand new clothes from the people of Surgaon. They burn Ravan’s effigy with loud celebrations. Half the ten faces of Ravan are made up to look like mullahs and the other half like padres. Soma alone in his pada has objected to the celebrations. He was asking for something like this to happen. It has. A stick was thrust into his hand too, to beat Girji. That’s the custom. He didn’t touch it. By custom this meant he was an accomplice in Girji’s witchcraft. He knew they would soon find a way to kill Marli and then him. So he absconded with her the night he took Girji to the hospital. He came to me. I’ve found him a safe home for the moment. But they can’t hide there forever.’

‘I don’t suppose the police showed their faces while Girji was being beaten,’ Anima asks bitterly.

‘They came after. They’ll file a case. The village has decided who is to confess to the killing. It has also decided that nobody will bear witness against him. Our laws are built on the floating foundation of individual freedoms and rights. Our real foundation is tradition, where the clan calls the shots. Individuals are nothing without the clan. How are the two ideas to meet?’

Bachchu Kaka joins Anima for a simple lunch of poli-amti-bhaji. Anima says, ‘Let’s go.’

‘Where?’

‘Don’t ask. Wherever it is, I’ll get you to your train in time.’

‘Do you have saunf or something?’

Anima holds out a small jar of pounded masala supari.

‘Is this from Sindhutai?’

‘Last year’s.’

‘Meaning?’

‘She didn’t have any made this year. No supari and no banana flour.’

‘She’s lost interest in these things.’

‘She looks tired.’

‘Can I have a nap?’ He settles down immediately on the floor.

‘Kaka, please sleep on the bed inside.’

‘Rubbish. The floor’s good enough. We’ll go wherever you want to take me in twenty minutes.’

Anima sends an SMS to Haridas. ‘Can I bring Bachchu Kaka over for a little while?’

He replies immediately: ‘Of course. But the old bastard hates me.’

‘He does. But he has news for you. Try not to go out of your way to shock him.’