He was wearing a yellow cotton shirt and a dhoti.

“You have some experience?” said Mr. Banerjee. He glanced at his wristwatch, because he had to go out.

“I am working for two years at house in Ballygunge Circular Road as watchman,” said the man.

“Then why did you leave?” asked Mr. Banerjee. Glancing at him, one could see he had been out of work for some time.

“Dadababu, children went to America and babu sold house to company,” said the man.

“What is his name?” said Mr. Banerjee.

“Bhattacharya,” said Jagan.

“Bhattacharya … Where is he now?”

“He moved to flat in Landsdowne Road,” said the man.

Mr. Banerjee sighed and said:

“I will put you to work as mali’s helper on three hundred rupees. If you work, you will get a raise in salary. When can you start?”

“I will start right now,” said the man. “Only, babu, three hundred rupees is too little, I have two daughters in the village…”

Mr. Banerjee waved him away.

“Start now, and we will see.”

When they came out of the house, Bishu walked across the lawn and Jagan followed him. The lawn was green and bright. They came to the outhouse, and Bishu took him inside to a room on the right that was adjacent to the stairway to the first storey. It was a small bare room with sunlight coming through the barred window, and it had a narrow bed. “You’ll stay here,” he said. Jagan put the silver-coloured trunk he was carrying on the ground.

“Where can I have a bath?” he asked Bishu.

“There is a bathroom and toilet near the garage,” said Bishu. “I’ll show you. Do you want to bathe now?”

The man nodded and smiled.

“I’ve travelled a long way and I want to get the dust off my body.”

“Then come with me,” said Bishu.

He shoved the trunk carefully beneath the bed, and walked back with Bishu across the lawn towards the back of the white house. Sunlight was in the air.

“Did Mejda send any message?” asked Bishu.

“He was only asking me tell you that he is well,” replied the man.

“Where were you staying before this?”

“Near Shyambazaar. Very far,” said Jagan, smiling.

When they came to the bathroom near the garage, Jagan shrugged off his shirt and went in.

*   *   *

“NEW MAN IS COME TODAY,” said Bishu to his wife.

He was sitting on his haunches on the floor, with his back to the bed. Uma was stirring something on the stove, and its smell had filled the room.

“Where is he staying?” she asked.

“He is downstairs,” he said. He got up from the floor. “Let me see if he is there. He might want eating some daal.” And swiftly he had gone down the stairs, and he came back slowly after a couple of minutes. “He’s not there.”