“I get it. But these fellows who smoke, they are not of steady mind. In an instant, they will drop the Camels and jump over to Horses. And there we are, braving the desert, trusting our Camels . . .”

“Please be serious, Uncle. All you need to do is say yes. You won’t even have to get up from this chair. I will get this done. You’ve got some extra cash. If you put a little of it into this venture, you’ll be supporting ten of our own people. As it is, ‘our’ place here is not secure. If we leave all new ventures to others, they will make sure we are forever selling nothing but soaps and combs and tin boxes. They already look down on us . . .”

“You feel so strongly about this, why don’t you take it up yourself?”

“Uncle, why tease me when you know my situation? If I had that kind of money, I wouldn’t be asking you to do it.”

“Are you really that short of money? Come on, don’t give me that.”

“Look at your loan books again if you don’t believe me. Come on, Uncle. If I take ten or twenty thousand rupees out of the current flow, I will never be able to put it back. You know that, Uncle . . .”

“All right. Do this, then. Go ahead and take the deal. I will give you the money.”

“Are you joking with me?”

“I am not joking at all! Bring me a contract specifying the installments that will work for you, and I will give you the money. Put down an interest rate you can handle—we don’t need to discuss it.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Why do you keep asking me what I am talking about? You said you’d take the deal if you had the money. I’ve told you I will give you the money. Why are you still pestering me about this?”

“We need a place to . . .”

“Right here, this store.”

“What about you?”

“I will move over to a corner! Some business this is. It’s not like I will be losing anything. Everything I have will fit into two trunks. A single coolie could haul it all away.”

Out on the street, Khader felt like he was walking on air. He was suddenly reminded of his father. This must be the result of his endless prayers, he thought. As his father’s face swam across his mind, his eyes welled up with tears.