ABSTRACT
The sun set at the end of the dry field in a haze of dusty light and suddenly it was cool. It was almost the end of winter. Shipra wrapped a shawl around her shoulders, a yellow one, the colour of spring, and called at the next house for her friend. Together they walked into the village and joined the crowd waiting for the reading of the Gita to begin. Shipra laughed and chatted with the other girls, occasionally joining in the singing of the sacred words, and then turning back to the animated huddle of friendly gossip.
