“We know you’re resistant to changing your lives. You’ve grown accustomed to only thinking about yourselves. But trust me, children, you don’t want have any regrets. I didn’t want to have to mention it, but there’s an elderly woman who comes into the shop nearly every day, a sad little thing, she is. Lives on her own in one of those fancy retirement residences, which I’m sure sounds like a luxurious old age, but let me tell you, despite all her money, she’s as lonely as sin. It’s absolutely heartbreaking. I suppose it’s her own fault for being selfish and short-sighted, really. But, because I care, I wouldn’t want that to happen to you.” Mrs. Stone pauses, briefly, a thoughtful smile on face. “I can’t wait to be called Dadi,” she continues. “Dear me, I’m getting misty just thinking about it.”

“The little nipper shall call me Grandpa Stone.”

“What? Not G-Daddy?” Maya smirks, then she lets out a wistful sigh. “I suppose I could tolerate being called Auntie M. Oh no, will it have an horrible American accent and all?”

“Canadian, my darling.”

“Uh, what’s the difference?”

“Well, Kavita dear,” Mrs. Stone says, leaning in. “Don’t leave us in the lurch. Tell us about your plans.”

“Yes,” her father-in-law says, offering a rare smile. “Out with it, spit spot.”

“Mary bloody Poppins,” Maya mutters, thumbing at her mobile.

Kavita looks sidelong at Nirav. Somehow, miraculously, he hasn’t lost his appetite amid the barrage. As he tears into a roti, she nudges his legs under the table.

“Wha?” he barks. She blinks at him. He’s gone very London all of a sudden, dropping the “t,” which only happens when he’s in a particularly surly mood.

She opens her eyes wide and begs him, wordlessly, for help.

“Bloody hell, can’t we eat in peace for once?”

“Now, now, there’s no need to get cross, darling.”

“We haven’t talked about having kids, all right?”

“Don’t you want a family, Kavita?” her father-in-law asks. “You know, a woman isn’t really a woman until she’s given birth.”

“Yes, exactly,” Mrs. Stone agrees. “You’re probably worried about losing your independence. But really, you won’t be losing anything at all. You can’t even imagine what you’re going to gain.”

“Yeah, like, three stone,” Maya laughs.

The collective weight of their stares crush Kavita’s voice. She glances at Nirav but he keeps his eye on his plate. “I need some more water,” she manages to blurt beyond her shock, grabbing her already-full glass and escaping into the kitchen.

“Wah-der,” Maya mimics behind her back.

Kavita runs the tap, rests her glass on the counter, and holds the rim of the sink. The chatter in the dinning room falls behind the roar of the torrent.