The night before, she had had very little sleep. That too had been a restless one. Now, as the radio played soothing music, her eyes drooped.

She was startled by the telephone ringing away. She opened her eyes and noticed the tiny phone in a corner of the room. Dipa switched off the radio. It must be Debashish calling. After a moment’s hesitation, she picked up the receiver.

‘Hello.’

The voice at the other end asked, ‘Dipa, do you recognize my voice?’

Dipa’s heart beat faster as she answered breathlessly, ‘Yes, I do.’

‘Is there anyone else in the room?’

‘No, I am alone.’

‘Fine. Have you told your husband about us?’

‘Yes.’

‘And?’

‘Nothing.’

‘Did he bother you last night?’

‘No.’

‘Did you sleep alone?’

‘Yes.’

‘Good. Carry on this way for a few days.’

‘For how long?’

‘Just for a while. Don’t you worry; everything will sort itself out. Do you remember the vow?’

‘Vow?’

‘You swore in the Lord’s name never to disclose my identity to anyone, remember?’

‘Yes, I remember.’

‘Your husband may coerce you into revealing my name.’

‘He doesn’t want to know and even if he did, I would not tell him.’

‘Good. I’ll call you from time to time in the afternoon when your husband isn’t home.’

‘All right.’

Dipa hung up and came back to her seat. She felt drained of all strength.

Debashish came back from the factory at five p.m. Nakul answered the door. Dipa had heard the doorbell from upstairs and waited with bated breath.

Debashish came upstairs and found Dipa sitting by the radiogram in silence. As soon as he entered the room, Dipa turned her startled gaze on him and rose to her feet. Debashish approached her hesitantly and stood before her. Neither of them had a word to say to each other. But how long could they stand there facing each other? Finally, Debashish asked, ‘Has Nakul been looking after you?’

Dipa nodded and answered, ‘Yes.’

‘Have you had tea?’ Debashish asked her.

‘No,’ she replied, shaking her head.

Once this exchange was over, Debashish was at a loss for words. Meanwhile, Dipa was trying her best to offer something effortlessly casual by way of conversation. But what could she possibly say? What had she left to say? Finally, a thought occurred to her. She looked up at Debashish and asked, ‘Where do you have your lunch?’

‘There are good arrangements for lunch at my factory,’ he replied. ‘All the staff and workers have lunch at the canteen there. I do the same.’

Dipa simply said, ‘Oh.’

‘Well, give me a minute to change,’ Debashish suggested, ‘and then we can have tea.’

‘Sure,’ Dipa replied in a voice laced with uncertainty.

As Debashish was making for Dipa’s room, he asked her, ‘May I carry on using your bathroom?’

At the door, he stopped short. Coming back into the room, he lowered his voice and said, ‘There’s one thing I thought I should point out. It looks