It is time for Lakshmamma to board her train. Smita thanks her for the meal and promises to pray to Vishnu for her and her sons. She watches as Lakshmamma walks away along the platform, holding her youngest son in her arms, and his brother by the hand, with no luggage but a flimsy bag knocking against her back. As she vanishes into the crowd of travellers, Smita touches the image of Vishnu beneath her sari and prays for him to accompany and protect Lakshmamma on her journey, and in her life of exile. She thinks of the millions of widows who share her condition, abandoned, destitute and forgotten in a country that has scant regard for women, and suddenly she feels thankful that she is Smita, born a Dalit, but whole, upright, and with the promise of a better life, perhaps.

I wish I had never been born, Lakshmamma told her, before she left.

Giulia

Palermo, Sicily

When Giulia announced to her mother and sisters that the workshop was bankrupt, Francesca began to cry. Adela said nothing – she showed that typical adolescent indifference to the entire world, as if nothing could possibly affect her. Mamma sat in silence, then broke down. She who was ordinarily so pious, so devout, accused heaven itself of turning against them. First her husband, now their workshop … What crime had they committed, what sin, to deserve such punishment? What was to become of the children? Adela was in her last years of school, Francesca had made a bad marriage and struggled to provide for her little ones. As for Giulia, she knew nothing but the trade her father had taught her. The father who was no longer even there.

Mamma spent long hours crying that night, for her husband, her daughters, the house that would be taken from them – she never cried for herself. With the first rays of the dawn, she had an idea: Gino Battagliola had been in love with Giulia for years, everyone knew he longed to marry her. His family had money, hair salons across the country. Besides, his parents had always shown true friendship to the Lanfredi. Perhaps they would take on the loan Papà had secured against the family house? It wouldn’t save the workshop, but at least they’d keep a roof over their heads. Her daughters would have somewhere to live. Yes, Mamma decided, Giulia’s marriage would save them all.