The soap was cold against his skin, but when he felt the blade scrape his cheek he suddenly knew its danger. Small, even strokes. She could cut him on a whim and draw blood. It was in her power. He drew in a breath to calm himself. A small muscle under her collarbone flexed and moved. She breathed softly, intent on her work, concentrating on this spot on his face, the tender area under the jawline, her gaze fixed on him but not meeting his eye. He stared at her intently.

When she was finished, she tipped his chin up toward her. “You are very handsome,” she said. He reached up and grasped her shoulders, pulling her toward him, with strength, kissing her full on the mouth. She had violated him, hadn’t she? Played with him as he sat, helpless? She kissed back, hard. If he hadn’t heard Esperanza return outside, her shoes scraping the gravel, he would have traced his hand up the back of her thigh, and, he knew—she would have been completely willing.

KARAK RODE BACK TO THE FARM and from a distance, he saw Leela hold her arm up and point, and run back into the house, perhaps yelling. By the time he had arrived, others had come out too: Ram, Kishen, Amarjeet. Now he felt a sudden sadness, a knowledge that what had been done could not be undone, even if he had wished. He did not wish, he told himself. If they blamed this on the girl, he thought, he would not be able to contain himself; it was so much more than the girl. He dismounted without a word.

Jivan was the last to appear. When their eyes met, Karak said only, “Bhai-ji.” Jivan turned and walked to the packing shed. Karak could feel the weight of Ram’s gaze, cold and judging, as he followed Jivan inside. When Karak entered, he realized Jivan was dressed for the wedding but he was bent over the work table, hammering to assemble a crate.

“She did not ask me to do it,” Karak said.

“No,” Jivan said. “She would not. She is too mild.” He looked Karak in the eye, as if to say I know it was a decision only you took. So that Karak could not be absolved through Rosa.

“There are many pressures, bhai-ji.”

“Yes.”

“I ask your pardon.”

Jivan did not say anything. He looked down again at his work, but something in his manner suggested forgiveness, so much so that Karak stepped forward and said, “When we are before the judge, I will need two witnesses. Will you agree?”

Jivan closed his eyes and nodded.

“There is a position of honor in carrying the ring before I give it to Rosa. Will you do so?”

“Find someone better suited to that task,” Jivan said.