The phone call came just as she was dropping off to sleep. Initially, the ring of the cell phone sounded far off and she thought she was dreaming but then the sound became more persistent and she realized with a start that it was her cell phone ringing.

The number was unfamiliar and for a moment the events of the past twenty-four hours came flooding back. The midnight flight to Delhi and then the long journey to and from her daughter’s residential school in the hills. Amit had an important meeting to attend and that meant that they immediately take a flight back to Bombay as well.

The ringing was becoming shrill and she finally picked up the call.

The road was bumpier than she remembered, the recent rains must have caused havoc or perhaps bereft of the sweet nostalgia of her last journey it seemed more tedious. Her nerves were on the edge. She couldn’t remember the last time she had travelled so much in so little time.

Perhaps in the days when she had been a part of the troupe and had performed at five different locations in a week. Those trips with the troupe had been her life for so long and now when she thought of them, they seemed part of a hazy film she may have glimpsed a long time back. She had worked so hard at removing those memories that all that remained were fragments. But some shards nevertheless drew blood as she remembered some or the other sweet word or gesture of her Guru who had abandoned her after using her.

Sunaina stood on the steps of the temple, her hands soiled, her blouse clinging to her. She must have come straight from the fields, Sujata mentally noted as she walked up the steps. Sunaina broke down and started weeping even before Sujata reached her. The pent-up fury and helplessness of the past days poured out in torrents at the sight of a dear friend’s face.

Between hiccups and tears, Sunaina’s plight was soon told. She had begged the grocer to give her the essentials to cook at home for a few days till she could inform Sujata and she could come down. Now that too was over and she couldn’t postpone the inevitable forever. Her shame and grief knew no bounds and Sujata whose own mind was in turmoil over the events of the past few days had to set that aside to gather her wits and soothe Sunaina.

Money was Sunaina’s biggest problem, for Sujata it was the least of issues. What a paradox!

The affair of the bhog was soon remedied and Sujata told the grocer that he was to give whatever Sunaina needed and she would come down every month and pay off the bills.

The matter of Inder disappearing was more delicate and difficult to tackle. Sujata wanted to tell Sunaina to complain to the Police but didn’t know how to broach the topic.

In a village, even the most worthless husband is considered as good as a minor God, and a complaint against him would isolate Sunaina. In any case, chances were that the Police would do little to aid her.

Sujata kept debating with herself the wisdom of disclosing to Sunaina the episode of the strange man who had been shadowing her daughter. It seemed impossible that Inder would be able to find out where her daughter is and then want to trouble her and why should he?

Sunaina’s children were delighted to see Sujata again and each had his or her own story to tell about the missing clothes and their father who had disappeared yet again.

Sujata heard them out while Sunaina made the evening meal. How different were the needs and wants of these children from that of her daughter who spoke of holidays abroad and expensive foreign brands and wanted an I-pod for her birthday, Sujata couldn’t help musing.

These children seemed more mature and yet at the same time innocent. They didn’t cry out loud when hurt rather they bit their lips and carried on. She glimpsed Sunaina’s quiet pride in them. Which God allows small children to suffer so much she wondered yet again.

The cry from the kitchen woke her from her thoughts and she ran, Sunaina stood shocked next to a hole in the wall.

What happened? Sujata almost screamed.

Sunaina stood rooted to the ground for so long that Sujata had to grab and shake her to get a response.

Finally, he gasped, “Your letters are missing too”.