BEGUM SAHIB: (Hobbles about the room double-checking that everything is in its proper place) Fine. (She removes one crutch from under her arm, leans over to set it against the arm of the sofa in order to sit down, but then changes her mind. In doing so, her hand leaves a mark on the shiny surface of the arm-rest. She uses one corner of her dupatta to remove it, then puts her crutch back under her arm and addresses the maid:) Asgharil ASGHARI: (Facing her) Ma'am? BEGUM SAHIB: (Forgetting why she had called ASGHARI; NOW what 'was I going to say? ASGHARI: (Smiling) . . . that you weren't satisfied. I feel the same way. Begum Sahib, really. The bride is very beautiful. All the room's decorations will pale before her. (She looks at the bride's portrait, garlanded with decorative silk lace, in the center of the mantlepiece.) BEGUM SAHIB: (Smiling, slowly moves to the mantlepiece and looks thoughtfully at her daughter-in-law's portrait; beams but then suddenly wavers.) Asgharil ASGHARI: Ma'am? BEGUM SAHIB: I've been feeling out-of-sorts since this morning. ASGHARI: Of course. Amjad Miyan is coming with his new bride. BEGUM SAHIB: (Lost in thought) Yes. He should be along soon. Kamal's taken the car to the station. ASGHARI: Next year get Majeed Miyan married, too. The house will really brighten up. BEGUM SAHIB: God willing! God willing that will come off too. (Under her breath) God willingi ASGHARI: (Looking at the bride's portrait, obviously impressed by her beauty) May God protect her from the evil eye. BEGUM SAHIB: (Gasps) Asghari! ASGHARI: (Startled) Yes? BEGUM SAHIB: Oh ... oh nothing. When does the train arrive from Karachi? ASGHARI: I don't know. Begum Sahib. BEGUM SAHIB: (To a servant) Look, Kareem. Call and find out . . . but the train reached Rawalpindi yesterday. . . . Majeed's telegram said so. KAREEM: Yes Ma'am, it did. BEGUM SAHIB: And which station did I send Kamal to? . . . (Confused) God knows what's wrong with my head. . . . Amjad was going to stay overnight in Rawalpindi with his 12