A Fine Balance

Beggarmaster transports the tailors to Dina’s apartment in the middle of the night to verify that Ishvar and Om really work there. Maneck and Dina are overjoyed to vouch for them, and Beggarmaster departs. Dina finally allows the tailors to sleep on the verandah, fearful that if they sleep on the street, the police might take them again. They’ve been gone for three weeks, and there’s much sewing work to do.

Dina also suggests they use her bathroom to wash up rather than wasting time going to the train station. Also, if they stay indoors, the nosy rent-collector won’t be suspicious that she’s running a business from her flat. Eventually, Dina even allows them to share meals in the house. Ishvar and Om are adept cooks, and mealtimes become an enjoyable experience for the whole group. The four people fall into a harmonious routine, never getting in one another’s way:

The pattern of each day, thought Dina at the end of the first week, was like the pattern of a well-cut dress, the four of them fitting together without having to tug or pull to make the edges meet. The seams were straight and neat (382).

The Family Planning Commission has fired

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