If it isn’t going to be my apartment and she is not going to let me come to her room, where in Delhi can we find a place where we can do what we are heading for? The initiative has passed out of my hands to hers. But I am determined to bring matters to a head. If she says no, I will drop her.

Our third rendezvous at the Centre is on a warm October afternoon. I give her yet another Ganapati—this one made of ivory. ‘How many Ganapatis are you going to give me?’ she asks as she kisses me on the lips. We drive away towards Purana Qila.

‘You know what I’d really like to give you?’ I ask her in the car.

‘No, tell me.’

‘What I’d really like to give you is a baby.’

She does not bat an eyelid but keeps looking straight ahead of her. After a while she replies, ‘That may take some doing as I had my tubes sewn up when I had the third child. But there is no harm in trying, is there?’

How does one cope with a woman like this one? I flush with embarrassment. I grab her hand and kiss it. We do not bring up the subject all afternoon as we trudge round the monuments. On the way back she asks me to take her to the INA market to buy fruit and provisions. ‘You stay in the car.’ she orders. ‘I won’t take very long.’

I know she doesn’t want to be seen with me in the market which is frequented by government officials and armed forces personnel. She comes back after a few minutes followed by a coolie carrying apples, tins, biscuits and cheese in a basket. He dumps the basket on the rear seat. This time she asks me to drive to the mess. ‘I can’t carry all that stuff up to my room.’ she explains. ‘You can have a quick drink with me.’

I carry the basket and follow her up the stairs and down a verandah. She has the last room. She unlocks the door and switches on the light. I can see she is relieved that no one has seen us come in. ‘I don’t mix with my neighbours.’ she says. ‘They are a nosey lot.’

I dump the basket in her kitchenette. She puts some of her purchases in a tiny fridge and others on the shelf. ‘I am afraid all I can offer you is army rum. Can’t afford anything else. With soda or water?’

‘I’ve never had it. Give it to me on the rocks.’