“Right, well, out with it now,” Mrs. Stone continues. “Kavita, Nirav: we think it’s time the two of you started a family.”

For a few beats, Kavita forgets to breath at all.

“I know, I know, you think we’re out of bounds. But you’ve been married for over a year and the honeymoon can’t last forever, you know. By the time we were your age, we already had both of our children.” Mrs. Stone flicks a critical eye in the direction of Kavita’s lap. “We trust everything’s all right in that area, yes?”

“Hold up, yeah?” Maya interjects. “I’m too young to be an aunt. I only just started uni!”

Mrs. Stone gives Maya an indulgent smile. “This isn’t about you, my darling.” Then she fixes her eyes on Kavita again. “What this family needs is new life, Kavita. It’s been a dreadful year, what with my mother passing so unexpectedly. A baby would surely sweep away all of our sorrows. One of the ladies who comes in to the shop regularly just had a grandchild. The other day, she brought in pictures of the little cherub, all snuggled in a pink blanket she had knitted herself. I was positively bursting with envy!”

“Stretch marks,” Maya says, pulling a face. “Rank.”

“Oh, don’t listen to her. It’s all worth it in the end, isn’t it? Stretch marks are a privilege! Just like motherhood. That’s the problem with girls today. They care more about their careers and their figures that their duty to their families. It’s all terribly selfish, isn’t it?”

Maya snickers.

“But you know, dear,” Mrs. Stone continues. “There are some serious things to consider. It may not seem immediate to you now, but the reality is you aren’t getting any younger. You’ll never be healthier than you are now. Pregnancy only gets more difficult with age. And let’s be honest, at this point, you don’t even know if things will go smoothly in that department, if you read me. The truth is, you and Nirav aren’t even really a family yet, not without children. Isn’t that right, George?”

“Yes, quite right. Children are a family’s raison d’être, isn’t it?”