Both Lakshman and the Amme knew this was against the rules – the rules the new women had made after she took control of the house. But they understood each other, the old cook and the boy, He squatted down opposite her, watching her. Although he was nine he was small for his age – small, but strong. He wore an old shirt and a too-small pair of washed-out blue trousers.
For some time he watched the Amme in silence. Then, in his rather high little-boy’s voice, he asked, ‘Where is the bloody woman?’