20 March

Inder Lal’s mother and the Englishwoman became friends (p. 54- 56)

The young woman tells us that she and Inder Lal’s mother have become friends after the night they had to calm Ritu.

They meet each other regularly and their conversations become better and better. Although Inder Lal’s mother is a widow, the Englishwoman has the impression that the best part of her life is now. She also seems to be very close to her son and is proud of him, because she does everything for him (in contrast to his wife Ritu).

Inder Lal’s mother, herself about 50 years old, spends a lot of time with her friends who are also widows. They have much fun together and „joke and giggle like schoolgirls“, which confines her from Ritu, who spends all the time at home.

The narrator enjoys being with Inder Lal’s mother and her friends who are gay and friendly as well. She tries to integrate herself in their conversations and singing.

One day Lal’s mother takes her to the suttee shrines, where the mother worships the women who gave their life for their dead husbands and shows much respect and greatest reverence for them. The last shrine they visit dates back to 1923, Olivia’s time.