Chapter15My soul is like the oar that momently
Dies in a desperate stress beneath the wave,
Then glitters out again and sweeps the sea:
Each second I’m new-born from some new grave.
—‘Struggle’ by: Sidney Lanier (1842-1881)
After an age of despair, the day had finally come when hopes started breathing again in Aashi’s heart and her lost smile had found its way.
Raj was back, and she was to go to his birthday party. And that, of course, was an event momentous enough to require Aashi to spend full two hours before her mirror, and then ten minutes more to make sure the two hours had been well spent.
When Aashi was sure she had done all there was to do with her face, dress and accessories, Aashi rushed to elicit from Priyam some reassuring comments about the success of her labour.
‘How
