I wasn’t so sure, but Baby didn’t cry, and looked relaxed. After massaging Baby, Gangabai would put her down on a quilt by the window, where the morning sun rays were streaming in, before giving her a bath.

After Baby’s bath I wanted to hold her and drink in all the softness and eat up all her sweet smell, but Nimita got Baby. I still couldn’t take a bath because, while Nimita nursed Baby, Gangabai washed Nimita’s and Baby’s clothes in the bathroom. Before leaving, Gangabai would wrap Baby in a blanket and put her back in the cradle. Baby would sleep for three hours after that.

By the time Gangabai left, Pappa would be ready for his bath and I’d have to wait until he was done.

One day, before leaving, Gangabai said to Nimita, “Remember to do the exercises I showed you at least three times a day. It’s important for your marriage.”

“I’ll do them,” Nimita said.

“What exercises?” I asked as soon as Gangabai went out the door.

“After-delivery exercises.”

“She said it would help your marriage. What did she mean by that?”

“When you have a baby your body changes. Things get all stretched out. These exercises help everything get back to their original size.” She stopped, stared at me for a second, and continued. “Do you know what I mean?”

“Of course I do.”

“It’s important for our pleasure.”

I didn’t know what to say, and picked up my towel and clothes for my bath.

While taking my bath I thought of the time when Girishji didn’t let Nimita come watch the movie with us. He was strict, demanding, and unreasonable. At that time Nimita was timid and afraid. All had changed now. Now they both seemed to want to please each other. After their marriage they had slowly and steadily fallen in love. I wondered if Mohini and Anoop were falling in love, too.

Girishji came every evening and ate dinner with us. Having extra people around made me want to run to a cave deep in the mountains. At night, when Nimita got up to feed Baby, I woke up too. Chiraj and Vivek had moved into the living room with Pappa, and both of them slept through the night like Himalayan bears.

But worst of all was the amount of work I had to do. The unending caravan of visitors that came to play with Baby only added to my work, because I had to serve them tea and snacks. I had no time to go to Sarina’s house and no excuse to see Neel. I missed him so much, one day I asked Mummy if I could go to the Hanging Gardens.

“With your pappa?”

“No.”

“Then who? Sarina?” Before I could answer her she added, “Call her. If she’s free, you can go.”

“I will.”

Mummy stood there waiting for me to call.