Meanwhile his eighteen-year-old nephew Manmohan, to whom he has handed over his business, has recently begun his career as the resident istriwallah. In Ramprasad's entire career, nobody has had occasion to complain about his work. Manmohan is expected to carry on this unblemished tradition. He is young. Ramprasad does not think it wise to trust the new generation, so he keeps an eagle eye on him while he irons.

Haridas is obliged to answer Ramprasad when he asks, ‘What's this you’ve got?’ So he settles down on the platform next to Ramprasad and places his work of art in his hands.

‘I made it in Goa. Do you like it?’

‘It's okay.’ Ramprasad sounds doubtful.

‘Keep it if you like.’

‘What will I do with it, sa’ab?’

‘Blow it. Other people blow trumpets. You can blow a horn.’

Ramprasad laughs torrentially, thereby avoiding responding to Hariprasad's offer. Painter sa’ab is a strange man but straight. He must take care not to hurt him.

An elderly couple walks into the wadi. Ramprasad casts an angry glance at them. ‘These people are buying a flat in the new building.’

Haridas is surprised at the irritation in his voice. ‘What's your problem if they are? I should have a problem. That building is going to block my light and air.’

‘They’re Sindhis.’

‘So?’

‘They’re from there.’

‘Where?’

‘Pakistan.’

‘Sindhis left Pakistan when it became Pakistan. Because they were Hindus. Like you.’

‘Like me? Not like you? Who are you then?’

‘If you knew who I was, you’d be very unhappy.’

‘Come on, sa’ab. You’re not a Mussalman, or an untouchable. You have Brahmin friends. Why should I not be happy?’

‘Never mind, Ramprasadji. I could be anybody. But Sindhis are Hindus.’

‘We don’t accept that. What kind of Hindus could they be, living amongst Mussalmans? Their bodies smell different. See. I’m older than you by many years. Before our country became independent, Gandhi, Nehru and all those people misled you.’

‘How?’

‘How? With their talk about all religions being the same. They didn’t believe in caste, think about that. That's going right against our scriptures, against what our rishis and munis practised. They say these Sindhi people lived like brothers with those Mussalmans.’

‘You mean you don’t believe Hindus are Hindus no matter where they live?’

‘Of course I don’t. That's why we always prohibited Hindus from going to foreign lands in the old days. If they still went, we put them through penance when they came back. Otherwise they were not Hindus. Now look at these Sindhis. Where all have they not been to make money? They are polluted. How can we accept them as Hindus? We don’t do that in our family. We are devotees of Ram. Shri Ram even rejected Mother Sita for the same reason.’

‘She wasn’t in Pakistan?’