The Crow Eaters by Bapsi Sidhwa

patiently and with sympathy.
    Then Jerbanoo made the fatal mistake of according the entire credit for their halcyon relationship to Mr Toddywalla. Soonamai could not bear it any longer. She subtly suggested that it was she who did so much for her son-in-law; in fact the happy state of affairs had been brought about by her.
    Jerbanoo did not take the hint.
    Then Soonamai, angered by her dense, unfeeling friend’s chatter, took to giving Jerbanoo pointed little tit-bits of advice. It was their duty as women to win over their menfolk. Naturally, men were tired and irritable after a hard day’s work, and it was the little things that mattered: like her fixing Mr Toddywalla’s breakfast with her own hands, pressing his shoulders of an evening, handing him his tea in his room – agreeing with his views. Jerbanoo ought to try a little tact … she might try to do those little things men liked so much … save choice bits of food for Faredoon, show him special deference, consider him before her daughter and herself in everything. After all he was the breadwinner …
    At last Jerbanoo realised what her friend was up to. She, Jerbanoo, was being blamed for not getting along with Freddy! She was astonished.
    ‘You want me to dance to the tune of that infernal toad?’
    ‘Well, why not. If it keeps everyone happy,’ said Soonamai.
    ‘You may be a hypocrite and a toady – that is your lookout and your family’s concern – but don’t expect me to join you!’ said the forthright and indomitable lady. The two women sat in glum silence, avoiding each other’s eyes, until Freddy fetched Jerbanoo home. They had not spoken since.
    As soon as the children had eaten, Putli bustled about getting them ready for the outing. Freddy generously poured more wine into Jerbanoo’s glass. Jerbanoo was almost nodding at the table. Freddy glanced at his watch. It was ten past one.
    ‘We’re ready,’ announced Putli, ushering the children before her towards the staircase. ‘You’d better get to bed before you fall asleep right here,’ she told her mother.
    ‘Yes, I feel I could sleep for ever,’ agreed Jerbanoo.
    ‘Now now, that’s no way to talk on an auspicious day,’ admonished Putli affectionately.
    Freddie’s hair prickled all the way from the base of his neck to his ankles. The damn woman was uncanny! He rubbed his hand on his spine to erase the hairy caterpillar and stood up.
    ‘Carry on. I’ll be down in a minute,’ he said to Putli, and Putli instructed the children to go down and wait in the tonga.
    Freddy washed his hands and tying neat bows on his coat, followed the family downstairs. At the landing he beckoned the servant boy and between them they hauled the two cartons into the front of the tonga.
    ‘Got to make this delivery today,’ he explained.
    The servant boy jumped on to the cases. Two of the youngest children sat in front, next to their father. Putli, snugly holding the baby in her arms, sat at the back of the tonga with Hutoxi. The horse swished his tail and a few bristles, escaping over the wooden dashboard, tickled the children in their faces. They squealed with delight. Freddy leaned over to smooth the tail down.
    The wind stung fresh against their faces and brought them the fragrance of flowers blooming all over Lahore. Fifteen minutes later they arrived at the Toddywallas. The children ran to join their friends in the garden and Mr Toddywalla led the Junglewallas into his study. A group of friends were already gathered around the large circular table, playing cards. Freddy and Putli were greeted effusively. There was a lot of scraping and shifting as two more chairs were fitted into the expanded circle. Freddy seated Putli on a chair and standingbehind her, lightly placing his hands on her shoulders, said, ‘I’ll join you a little later. I’ve got to make an urgent delivery. The cases are lying in the tonga.’
    ‘Oh, come on now,’ said Mr Toddywalla taking Freddy by his arm and leading him to a