Since the proposal, Dhara had been thinking about marriage. She couldn’t explain to Priya what she feared about it. She thought about her Amma who had been dependent on her Appa’s life and destroyed by his death. Her parents had loved each other. They had disobeyed and fought with their families to be together. They had never truly been forgiven for their decision. For a moment, she allowed herself a memory of her father, with his quick laugh and safe embrace. She didn’t want something in her life that could be so hard won but so easily lost.

•

The proposed marriage to Dr Rajan’s daughter was a big opportunity for Siva, and he knew his parents couldn’t turn it down. When they entered the driveway, his heart leaped a little. It was a magnificent house, elegant without being imposing. He had heard that Dr and Mrs Rajan had designed it themselves, and on his previous visit he had tried to identify which parts had been designed by him and which parts by her. The oversized, ornate mirror in the hallway was definitely her. The grandfather clock was apparently him, his one willing concession to colonial furnishings.

The Rajan family had not been to their house yet. Siva had heard his mother, Radha, talking to his father about borrowing cane furniture for their visit.

He looked at his gift with excitement. He thought it was perfect, but his mother wasn’t sure.

‘Mahan, take something more conventional for your second meeting. The Rajans are originally from Jaffna, but they’ve lived in Colombo for many years. They’re from Colombo 7 now—not Wellawatte where people might appreciate your thoughtfulness.’

His parents had recently moved to Colombo for his father’s work. They preferred Wellawatte with its middle-class Tamils. It was comforting, although it wasn’t always safe. Whenever trouble occurred in Colombo, the Sinhalese mobs knew where to find them.

He listened to Amma respectfully, but he was adamant about the gift. His bride-to-be would love it. He smiled with relief when he saw Nala.

‘Hello mahan.’ Nala reached forward and kissed Siva on both cheeks. She ushered him into their drawing room with Radha.

‘Hello Aunty, how are you today?’ he asked, his eyes trying not to search the room for Priya.

‘I am very well, thank you, mahan,’ she replied as she reached forward and kissed his mother. ‘I’m very sorry to hear Kesavan won’t be joining us today, I’ve made some of my butter cake for you all.’