It soon dawned on Virk that everything outside the village was new for Bibi. She had never stepped out of Tunda and needed Virk’s guidance at every step. He was surprised to learn that Bibi had never travelled by train. There was childlike excitement on her face when Virk told her that they would take one to his home town, Delhi. She sat next to the window, and throughout the journey, she gazed dreamily as the picturesque scenery flashed before her. On many occasions, dust hit her eyes, but she refused to shut the window.

Virk watched her in amusement. He was travelling with his entourage and had booked the entire compartment. His assistants were eagerly waiting at hand to help if they needed anything. This made him more relaxed.

As the night set in, she climbed up to the upper berth, even though there was an empty lower berth, and waved at Virk who laughed at her delight. However, in the middle of the night, she climbed down and sat next to him. He woke up, startled by the movement. ‘What happened?’ he inquired.

‘Nothing. I can’t sleep. By the way, you haven’t told me who all are there at your home. Will they accept me?’

Virk laughed out loud. The assistant came running, thinking he had been called. ‘All okay, Sahib?’ he inquired. But seeing them sitting close to each other, he rushed back to his seat in embarrassment.

Virk held her by the arm and pulled her closer. Shy, she hid her face in his nightshirt. ‘Stop it, please. What will people say?’ she said, trying to wriggle out of his grip.

‘They will say that a husband is talking to his beautiful wife because she can’t sleep. Now let me tell you about my parents. I am surprised I haven’t told you anything about them. They live in Delhi. I haven’t told them that we are married. So when we reach home, it will be a big surprise for them. My mother will throw a fit. She’ll scold me, shout at me and will be very, very angry. But not with you. She will protect and guard you and hold you close to her heart. In her, you will see your own mother. My father is just like me, or I’m like him. He is happy to see me happy. And that’s that. By the way, even he didn’t inform his parents when he married my mother. And this was when such things were unheard of.’

This made Bibi even more anxious. ‘You haven’t told them? What if they don’t like me? What if your mother gets angry with me? What if she doesn’t let me in? Where will I go?’