By late morning the smell of spices began to fill the quiet haveli. Gauri stood naked in the large kitchen, her freshly washed body still glowing from the bath. Her long wet hair was tied loosely in a simple bun that kept falling. Soft breasts swayed every time she moved from the stove to the counter. The light marks from last night were still visible on her fair skin.

Shekhar and Rishi sat on two wooden chairs they had carried into the kitchen doorway, opposite each other, so both could watch her without obstruction. They had not touched her since the bathroom. They only looked.