The naming ceremony took only half an hour. We said a prayer to Lord Ganesha first, and then Foi wrapped Baby in soft cotton. Mummy spread the silk blanket on the floor. Chiraj and Vivek each held one corner, and I held two corners on the other side, turning the cloth into a cradle. Foi laid Baby in it, and we gently swung her, singing:

“Oli Zoli pipal pann,

Foi’a padyu ‘Nupur’ nam.

(Baby) swings on the leaf of a pipul tree

Foi gives her a name, Nupur.”

Mummy gave Foi a coconut, a silk sari, and a pair of gold bracelets for naming Nupur. It was nice to finally have a name for her. I was so tired of saying Baby this and Baby that, I decided that I’d name my children on the day they were born.

The lunch lasted a couple of hours, and by night I was worn out. Even though Nupur got gifts of six silver rattles, three silver cups, a silver plate and bowl set, and some cotton dresses with embroidery, she wasn’t pleased. That night she cried and cried. I thought it was from seeing so many people, but she continued to wake up and cry until two in the morning every night. Nimita slept in the morning while Nupur took a nap, but I couldn’t. I was exhausted.

When Nupur was twenty days old, Nimita went back to her house. Mummy wanted her to stay longer, but Girishji insisted they come home. As they walked down the steps, Girishji carried Nupur in one arm and kept one arm around Nimita. He was proud, happy, excited, and all his emotions were rolled into one grin that filled half of his face. I wondered how many sleepless nights it would take before his grin was replaced by a red-eyed, worn-out look.

After Nupur and Nimita left, Mummy said she didn’t like being in an empty house. She started going to temple twice a day and told me all the things she wanted me do while she was out. I was willing to help her, until I realized that she’d dumped all the cooking on me.

Our servant, Naran, did the dishes, laundry, and cleaned the house, but we had no cook. For breakfast I served leftover rotli with milk, which was easy.

Lunch was a big headache, though. Soon after my bath, I cut the vegetables and cooked them, adding ginger, red pepper, turmeric, cumin, and coriander. I washed the lentils and rice and put them in the pressure cooker, and then made dough for the rotli. After the lentils were cooked, I added spices and let them simmer for a while. I rolled the rotli and cooked it on the stove.

As I rolled the rotli I thought of Mohini. It was difficult to roll and cook without her. It was strange to work silently for two hours. It was impossible to stop missing her.