Govinda’s parents ate at the dining table. The food was plentiful: there was a lentil dhal in a stainless-steel bowl, a combination of kale and spinach leaves among other things; deep fried rui, alu dalna and fish in mustard sauce. It was tasty but Govinda said he didn’t like the food.

His father ate dinner quietly. ‘The dhal’s not very good,’ he said, holding up his spoon.

‘The fish is fresh,’ said Gitanjali. She had jasmine in her hair. ‘Have more fish,’ she continued, reaching and serving herself vegetables. ‘Try the vegetables.’

Govinda stopped eating and looked pleased and surprised at this exchange taking place because his father and mother had not been talking of late. His father looked up, nodded seriously, looked down again, and began to finish what was left of his dhal and rice.

As Govinda ate, his mother and father talked about a points system.

‘Ten points for education,’ said his father.

‘Plus thirty points for having relatives in Australia,’ added his mother adjusting the jasmine in her hair.

Govinda wondered what the points might mean. If they were a certain age, they qualified for a certain number of points, and then if they had a degree they qualified for more points. What were his parents talking about? Did he also have to be a certain age? Why did they get points for having relatives in Australia? His father had said you could do anything in Australia; it was a place of unlimited opportunities and ‘Everyone there is equal.’

‘I am not sure I want to be equal,’ Gitanjali responded to her husband’s declaration.

When his mother scoffed at the notion of Australian equality, his father glared. He did not like being challenged. He liked to mould the world around him to fit his liking. A man should be firm in some matters,’ Sunil Seth said, raising his voice.

‘Be calm, my dear,’ Gitanjali replied. Her eyes flashed and her body became erect. She lifted her glass and took a sip of water. ‘Remember a woman gave birth to you. Your very existence is thanks to us.’

Govinda pushed his plate away. He did not like to see his father angry because he found it hard to love him when he got angry. It scared him. Maybe he even hated him a little.

Gitanjali ignored her husband. During the meal she wrote a list to give to Mumbles: asafoetida, radish, pomegranates, peppercorns, cinnamon bark, cloves, saffron, peanuts, socks…

When the meal was over, his father and mother sat for a while. ‘Won’t you rest?’ asked Gitanjali.

‘Can I do that?’ said Sunil Seth as he rose from the table.

Later, the doorbell rang, and his father was heard opening the door and saying, ‘So late again?’ Mumbles entered and went quickly to the kitchen to wash the dishes.