Difficult Daughters by Kapur Manju

Author:Kapur, Manju [Kapur, Manju]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780571267798
Publisher: Faber & Faber
Published: 2010-12-08T18:30:00+00:00

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On her arrival back at her room Virmati immediately dived for her bed, the rumpled quilt waiting as she had left it, the sheets now clammy. She lay there, her limbs too heavy for movement, drifting uneasily in and out of a dazed sleep, when at nine the door swung open with a bang, and Swarna came in, humming, with all the brightness of a woman who has come from a fruitful engagement with the world.

‘Oh, Viru! Why didn’t you wait for me?’ she exclaimed. ‘I thought we were coming back together. You could have met auntie also,’ she went on, taking off her shoes, and flinging herself next to Virmati to tuck her icy-cold feet under her quilt. ‘She invited us all for tea, and Mary and Sarla made pakoras. We also had an impromptu meeting, that’s why it took so long.’

Virmati shifted her feet away from Swarna’s. She was feeling too ill to respond.

‘I almost got into trouble with the warden, you know,’ continued Swarna chattily. ‘Coming late, and all. Fortunately the weather was enough excuse. And she knew about the Women’s Conference meeting. The press was there too. Did you notice?’

‘No.’

‘It’ll be out in the papers tomorrow. I’ll read them in college, next to the fire. I love doing that.’ Swarna laughed happily. ‘There is bound to be a picture of auntie. Shall I get you one on my way home?’

This roused Virmati somewhat. ‘If I start spending one anna on the newspaper, my mother will kill me.’

‘I’ll buy it for you.’ Swarna leaned over and rumpled her hair, looking at her affectionately. ‘Don’t look so upset. Now go to sleep. For the first time today my feet are warm!’ With this she slid off the bed to her corner of the room, putting off the main light and switching on her small table lamp.

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