Anyone with that kind of spy device wouldn’t care about her actions. She only needed to hide this from her family, friends, and agent. Nithya removed her lenses and jewels and put them away. She tore the envelope open.

Inside were color-coded tablets and instructions for taking the medications, fully chemical, nothing pill-like about the process. Expect cramping and heavy bleeding, the text said. Use pain pills or drugs as needed. Contact your doctor in case of complications. The yellow tablet came first, then the four white ones a day or two later.

Nithya had miscarried once, fifteen months before getting pregnant with Carma. Her body’s misery kept her curled up in bed for two days. This seemed like it would be a similar experience. She could consume or recycle the evidence before Luis came home. Damn it, Welga, you shouldn’t put me in a position to lie to my husband.

In this situation, it seemed better to ask forgiveness than permission. If he found out the truth, what would he do, leave the marriage? Her chest clenched at the thought. She didn’t want a different husband. She didn’t want to drive Luis away, either, but he would never see reason about this pregnancy. Tell him you miscarried. He’ll never have to know, and you can spare him the Catholic guilt.

A knock at the door made her jump.

“Amma? Why aren’t you answering? I need the toilet!”

Nithya cast about for a lie. “Sorry, my jewelry didn’t charge properly! I’ll be out in one minute.”

With a silent apology to Luis, Nithya swallowed the yellow tablet. She folded the instruction paper around the others, tucked the package behind the cleaning supplies, and opened the door.

“I’ve been calling and calling on our channel. You should tell me if you’re going off-line,” Carma scolded.

Nithya smiled and kissed her daughter’s head. “Yes, you’re right.”

Carma sighed in exasperation and disappeared into the bathroom. Nithya gazed at the closed door with a twinge of regret. Her daughter had grown so fast. Would it be so bad to give up her work and have another baby? Brambles of regret lined both paths, and her choice seemed the less thorny one, but she couldn’t help traversing the other in her mind. With the slightest tremble in her fingers, she ordered a half day’s worth of flow from the kitchen.

Nithya’s eyes wouldn’t stay closed. She’d been trying to sleep for over two hours. Luis lay next to her, snoring softly. He had visibly squelched his suspicion when she mentioned bleeding. Guilt stabbed her, but at least her tears were genuine. She’d pled illness to explain her bedridden state to Carma.