‘I know I’ll be fine.’ Sindhutai puts extra energy in her voice. ‘All this is to satisfy my children. You must also come to Surgaon on Dussehra day. We’re inaugurating a magnificent Ram mandir in front of Home.’

Later Haresh tells Anima and Ashesh nothing much can be done for Sindhutai. ‘I could operate, but there’s always some risk in that. If I felt sure it would give her a couple of years at least of normal life I’d have advised you to take the risk. But with the metastasis . . . I’ll prescribe some painkillers for later, but right now coax her to eat as much food as she can take and she must have lots of rest and happiness. Of course, I could operate if you want me to.’

That night Ashesh tries to explain the situation to Sindhutai. He and Anima have agreed that she must have the chance to decide whether she wants surgery or not. But she refuses to believe them. ‘There’s nothing the matter with me. I was feeling fine with Bhaskar’s medicines. You forced me to come here.’

The following morning Anima asks her in a casual voice, ‘Ai, did Anna tell you why he was going away before he left?’

‘Why are you asking me this after all these years? Who’s been telling you things?’

‘Nobody. We just needed to know. It was so unlike Anna to just up and go.’ Ashesh’s voice is carefully mild.

‘He said all sorts of things.’

‘Like?’

‘Why are you tormenting me?’

‘We aren’t, Ai. Tell us only if you can bring yourself to.’

‘Bring myself to?’ Sindhutai smiles bitterly.

Ashesh leans forward and takes her hand. ‘Ai, we’ve been in the dark for ten years. We never dared to ask you about it because you were so angry with Anna. But now you are doing what you want to do with the house and the Gandhi mandir. Now you can tell us if you know, or can guess. Why did Anna go away? Where did he go?’

‘How do I know where he went? He was selfish, that’s all. Always did what he wanted to.’

‘That isn’t true, Ai. You know that. He did so much for others.’

‘Others. But not for me or you. Weren’t we his people?’

Sindhutai is short of breath. Anima gets her a glass of water. She rejects it.

‘He went off to live for strangers. “I can’t do what I want to unless I break away from my attachments,” he said. He asked me to go with him. Ridiculous.’

‘But he did ask.’

‘Was there any sense in it? Just something to say. He himself didn’t know where he was going. And I was supposed to go with him?’

Ashesh and Anima exchange glances. ‘Why didn’t you tell us about this?’

‘Why should I? Why didn’t he tell you?’