Bala squinted her eyes at Laila, looked back at Deepa, and then to Laila again. She glanced at the line ahead of her. “Don’t go far, beta. I promised your parents I’d keep you in sight at all times. From here, I’m going right over there to buy the rice.” She pointed to a stand a few meters away. “Meet me there.”

Deepa pecked her on the cheek. “I’ll be quick.” She hurried toward the flower cart, where she found Laila.

“Laila, I’m so glad to see you. Are you well?”

“Come.” Laila shot out in front, disappeared around a corner.

Deepa turned back to look for Bala. She was engaged in an animated conversation with the woman standing in line behind her. Both women flung their hands up, flicked their fingers, complaining, most likely, about the prices at the market. Perhaps Bala wouldn’t notice Deepa’s temporary absence. She resumed following Laila.

When she turned the corner, she bumped into Amir.

“Oh,” Deepa gasped. “Amir. Hello.”

His starched white shirt was unbuttoned at the top. Rolled up cuffs exposed his strong forearms. His eyelashes were long and thick. She imagined them fluttering against her cheek. His wounds had healed nicely, but his face was pale, as if he hadn’t slept in days. He laid a hand on his sister’s head.

“Laila, be a good girl,” he said. “Go sit down over there. I need to talk to Deepa.”

Laila scrunched her face, propped her hands on her hips in protest.

“Please, beta. It won’t be long,” he said. “It’s important.”

She sauntered away with her basket toward a trail of flower petals.

His voice lowered. “This wasn’t something I could write in a note.” His eyebrows knitted together. The confidence that he had projected a few days ago, upon leaving her house, had evaporated.

“Amir, are you in trouble? Are you hurt?”

“I started working for a lawyer a few days ago. He’s Hindu and lets me file his cases in the back room to keep me safe. But I can overhear the conversations with his clients who come by. They make me worry for your family.”

“What do you mean?” she asked.

“Hindus aren’t just targeting Muslims. They are making lists of other Hindus,” Amir said, “lists of Hindu families who are hiding Muslim families and who are watching over their homes and belongings until they can return to India. There are lists of Hindu businesses that serve Muslims. They call these Hindus traitors to India, Deepa.”