He said he had taken care of everything. Their driver Vijay had been instructed to take Nala every day at eleven o’clock from Kandy to the village.

‘It’s only a thirty-minute drive, but you would never know the village is there—it’s on the other side of the main plantations.’

The servant girl had been instructed to cook and fill two tiffin carriers, as well as four canisters of water from their kitchen pump.

‘Do not carry the canisters—let the driver do that, Nala. You must be careful not to strain yourself in your condition. Wait in the car. Don’t accept any food or water from the family—even cooked food—just say that you’ve already eaten at home. Or eat the food you’ve brought, if you have to. But don’t wash your hands there.

‘I’ve already given the family a box of sterile dressings and napkins. All you need to do is accompany the driver and make sure the family gets the food and water. I’ve told Mr Thambiah what to do if his daughter develops a fever, but he may need help. That is the only time you should get out of the car. He’ll be afraid to use the syringe, so I’ll need to teach you.’

Rajan spread a cloth on the dining table and carefully placed a glass syringe, a needle, a glass of water and a plump aubergine in front of him.

‘This needle needs to be boiled every time you use it, even if you’re using it on the same person. Please wash your hands and use my rubber gloves before you do anything. Now, attach the needle to the syringe. Listen for the click.’

She leaned in closer and pushed the needle gently onto the nub of the syringe. Her heart was beating so loudly she wasn’t sure she’d be able to hear anything.

‘There. Good, Nala,’ he smiled proudly. ‘That’s the hardest part—people are usually afraid of sharp objects.’

‘You’re a sharp object,’ she replied.

‘True,’ he laughed. ‘Now, insert the needle into the glass of water and imagine you’re loading it with penicillin—draw the syringe slowly and fully. If you see air bubbles, raise the syringe vertically, needle facing upwards. That’s it. Then slowly press the syringe and let the air out. Stop when you see the liquid at the tip of the syringe.’

She did as he instructed.

‘Good. Now for the easy part—imagine that aubergine is the buttocks of your patient, and push it in. One quick stab and push and you’re done.’

Gluteus maximus, he called it. For a man of few words, he used complicated ones. Nala had done many things to an aubergine but never that; injecting it with pretend penicillin was much easier than cooking.

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