Savita was not a moody person, and Lata knew it. She looked at her sister affectionately, and said: ‘Do you love Pran?’ This suddenly seemed very important.
‘Of course I do,’ said Savita, surprised.
‘Why “of course”, Didi?’
‘I don’t know,’ said Savita. ‘I love him. I feel better when he’s here. I feel worried about him. And sometimes I feel worried about his baby.’
‘Oh, he’ll be all right,’ said Lata, ‘judging from his kicking.’
She lay down again, and tried to go back to her book. But she couldn’t concentrate even on Wodehouse. After a pause, she said: ‘Do you like being pregnant?’
‘Yes,’ said Savita with a smile.
‘Do you like being married?’
‘Yes,’ said Savita, her smile widening.
‘To a man who was chosen for you – whom you didn’t really know before your marriage?’
‘Don’t talk like that about Pran, it’s as if you were talking about a stranger,’ said Savita, taken aback. ‘You’re funny sometimes, Lata. Don’t you love him too?’
‘Yes,’ said Lata, frowning at this non sequitur, ‘but I don’t have to be close to him in the same way. What I can’t understand is how – well, it was other people who decided he was suitable for you – but if you didn’t find him attractive –’
She was thinking that Pran was not good-looking, and she did not believe that his goodness was a substitute for – what? – a spark.
‘Why are you asking me all these questions?’ asked Savita, stroking her sister’s hair.
‘Well, I might have to face a problem like that some day.’
‘Are you in love, Lata?’ The head beneath Savita’s hand jerked up very slightly and then pretended it hadn’t. Savita had her answer, and in half an hour she had most of the details about Kabir and Lata and their various meetings. Lata was so relieved to talk to someone who loved her and understood her that she poured out all her hopes and visions of bliss. Savita saw at once how impossible these were, but let Lata talk on. She felt increasingly sad as Lata grew more elated.
‘But what should I do?’ said Lata.
‘Do?’ repeated Savita. The answer that came to her mind was that Lata should give Kabir up immediately before their infatuation went any further, but she knew better than to say so to Lata, who could be very contrary.
‘Should I tell Ma?’ said Lata.
‘No!’ said Savita. ‘No. Don’t tell Ma, whatever you do.’ She could imagine her mother’s shock and pain.
‘Please don’t tell anyone either, Didi. Anyone,’ said Lata.
‘I can’t keep any secrets from Pran,’ said Savita.
‘Please keep this one,’ said Lata. ‘Rumours get around so easily. You’re my sister. You’ve known this man for less than a year.’ As soon as the words were out of her mouth, Lata felt bad about the way she had referred to Pran, whom she now adored. She should have phrased it better.
Savita nodded, a little unhappily.
Although she hated the atmosphere of conspiracy that her question might generate, Savita felt that she had to help her sister, even guard her in some way.
‘Shouldn’t I meet Kabir?’ she asked.
‘I’ll ask him,’ said Lata. She felt sure that Kabir would not have any reservations about meeting anyone who was basically sympathetic, but she did not think he would enjoy it particularly. Nor did she want him to meet anyone from her family for some time yet. She sensed that everything would become troubled and confused, and that the carefree spirit of their boat-ride would quickly disappear.
‘Please be careful, Lata,’ said Savita. ‘He may be very good-looking and from a good family, but –’
She left the second half of her sentence unfinished, and later Lata tried to fit various endings to it.
3.16
EARLY that evening, when the heat of the day had somewhat died down, Savita went to visit her mother-in-law, whom she had grown to be very fond of. It had been almost a week since they had seen each other. Mrs Mahesh Kapoor was out in the garden, and rushed over to Savita when she saw the tonga arrive. She was pleased to see her, but concerned that she should be jolting about in a tonga when she was pregnant. She questioned Savita about her own health and Pran’s; complained that he came over very rarely; enquired after Mrs Rupa Mehra, who was due to come over to Prem Nivas the next day; and asked Savita whether either of her brothers was by any chance in town. Savita, slightly puzzled by this last question, said that they weren’t. Mrs Mahesh Kapoor and she then wandered into the garden.