‘He's come here to work. From America. His parents live in Palghar. They’re old. He's come to look after them.’

‘So what does he do in Surgaon?’

‘He gives free health care to the adivasis all over the district. He feels deeply for them.’

‘He comes to see you? That means you are not well.’

‘Why should I not be well? But I’m alone. The kind man thinks he should visit me.’

Anima takes a deep breath. ‘You know you don’t have to live alone here. I have a place . . .’

‘I will not live in my son-in-law's house.’

‘But your poor son-in-law . . .’

‘All sorts of people come and go in your house. I’ve lost the habit of putting up with all and sundry.’

Anima bows her head. She's quiet for a few moments. ‘Come, let's go in,’ she says.

Dinner is brought to the table. Ai breaks the uneasy silence. ‘You’re silent. But something's brewing in your mind. I can see it.’

‘The vegetable is delicious. Did it come from next door? I haven’t been to see Shantaram for ages. When I hear the buffalo lowing to be milked in the morning, I’ll know I’m home.’

‘When the buffalo lows? Not when you see your mother?’ She pauses. ‘Has Bachchu Kaka been to see you lately? He frowns when he sees Dr Bhaskar here. Let him. I know what it is to be alone. Does either of you care about that?’

‘Ai, please. Don’t I plead with you to come and stay with me every time I’m here? I just did that.’

‘Has Ashesh ever asked me?’

‘He lives alone, Ai. And he's not the type to say it.’

‘He should come and stay here. He only makes daubs on paper. He can do that here.’

Anima is silent. This conversation has no end.

‘If he won’t come here, let me live the way I want to.’

‘Do we stop you from doing that?’

‘You wouldn’t dare. If you did, you’d have to take responsibility. So let's just agree. You live your life, I’ll live mine.’

The grandfather clock is preparing to strike. It whirrs, coughs and strikes eight in its low, resonant tones. Before its echo fades away, Ai says, ‘There's lots of Anna's stuff in the steel cupboard upstairs. Books. Files of newspaper cuttings. I don’t want to be responsible for all that now. Take it away.’

‘But I’d stored all the stuff neatly in his room.’

‘I’ve moved it.’

‘Why?’

‘Am I in the dock? It's my house. I’ll do what I like here.’

‘But of course, Ai. I only asked why you did it.’

‘Because I’ve given the room to the doctor to run a free health clinic. Anna would have been happy to have his room used for good deeds.’