Suddenly, the air was still again, as though the ocean had held its breath, and the kite plummeted into the waves. Nala shouted and ran towards it, desperate to retrieve it. Mohan had worked so hard to build it. She would get it for him. She couldn’t swim. She remembered this as she inhaled the caustic salt of the water all around her, inside her. She tried to cough but swallowed more water. She tried to cough again but she was crying too hard. She tried to call for Mohan but realised he was right there already, his arms wrapped around her waist, pulling her up and against his small strong body.

‘Hold on to me, Mohan, hold on to me,’ she whispered, crying.

She opened her eyes and saw Rajan watching her, sadly.

CHAPTER 5

Priya sat cross-legged on her mother’s bed, quietly watching her sleep. Her beautiful face was whiter than usual, as though someone had drained the pinkness and laughter from it. At home, Nala laughed in her sleep but here in the enormous white bed, strapped in by stiff sheets, she only whimpered, her hands resting protectively over her belly.

On the bedside table, Rajan had left Nala’s powder, toothbrush, comb and kunkumam bottle. Priya carefully opened the bottle and took out the nail that was resting inside. She licked the head of the nail the way she’d seen her mother do it, and dipped it into the vermillion powder. She carefully pressed the nail to Nala’s forehead, placing a red sun to watch over her pale moon face.

Nala stirred.

‘I’m sorry, Amma, I didn’t mean to wake you.’

‘No, it’s fine. Where’s Appa?’ Nala asked.

‘He’s seeing patients. He said he’ll be back soon.’ She held on to the cold railing and adjusted herself on the bed, careful not to lean on Nala or the baby inside.

‘Come, slide next to me,’ Nala said, pulling back the sheets and making space for her. Priya fit her small body to the warm curves of her mother and closed her eyes for a moment.

‘When are you coming home, Amma?’ she whispered.

‘Soon, I promise. Appa wants me to stay here until the baby comes, just to make sure there are no problems this time. What have you been doing at home? Not fighting with your cousin or making trouble for Ayah, I hope?’ Nala’s voice smiled.