The Space Between Us

Sera is relieved that she is picking Bhima and Maya up at the bus stop and not the slum they live in. She remembers her last visit there when Bhima was sick with typhoid. The slum is only 15 minutes from Sera’s apartment yet felt like another world entirely. When Sera entered the slum, a growing crowd of people directed her to Bhima’s house. Despite Bhima’s serious illness, Sera is given a grand reception; Bhima sends Maya to buy Sera her favorite fruit drink, while someone finds Sera a chair to sit on. Sera was overwhelmed by the “generosity of the poor” (115).

Sera took Bhima and Maya home with her to help Bhima recover. Bhima was forced to sleep on a thin mattress on the balcony, with Maya next to her on a bedsheet. Sera blamed Feroz for this, but in truth was too repulsed by the sights in the slum to allow Bhima to sleep anywhere else, despite Bhima’s excellent personal hygiene.

When Sera spots Maya and Bhima at the bus stop, she feels a rush of affection for Maya, whom she has not seen in months. Maya briefly worked at Banu’s house to bridge the gap between the day nurse and night nurse. She suddenly stopped coming, around the same time she became pregnant. Maya is withdrawn, and Sera wonders if she is forcing the girl into the abortion. Sera decides it is the best way out. She hopes to convince Maya to continue her education afterward. Sera tells Bhima to collect the house keys from the neighbor, and Maya makes a spiteful comment about Sera trusting the neighbors more than Bhima. Bhima chastises Maya, and Sera wonders why Maya is so angry.

At the clinic, Maya is scared and asks Sera to accompany her inside the room. To Sera’s relief, the doctor forbids it. As Sera waits, she reassures herself she is doing the right thing; the abortion is the only way for Maya to have a future.

Sera is eventually called in, and Maya says, “All of you will be satisfied now. My baby is dead” (123). Sera consoles Maya. While Maya recuperates, Sera steps out to buy some fruit, tonic, and a new dress for Maya. When Sera offers to take Maya back to the Dubash house, Maya refuses and demands to be dropped off at the bus stop near the slum.

Two months after the abortion, Maya has still not returned to her usual self. She refuses to resume her education or find work, and it is too late to get her job back at Banu’s house. One evening, Bhima suggests they go to the seaside to get some chaat (small, savory foods), and Maya lights up.

As they walk along the beach, Maya asks Bhima for stories about her parents. Bhima tells her about the Afghan balloon seller. Bhima and Gopal always chatted with him about his business, but they never asked about his life or how it felt being away from family. Bhima regrets not doing so, as she thinks he might have been able to help her learn to live with loneliness. A weeping Maya apologizes for being one more burden in Bhima’s life, but Bhima gruffly brushes this off.

Maya asks what things were like when Bhima came to Delhi to get her. Bhima is reluctant to talk about it, but Maya reveals she knows that her parents died of AIDS. Bhima explains that Raju and Pooja moved to Delhi because Raju was a good truck driver and got a lucrative job. Maya asks why Amit and Gopal didn’t attend Pooja and Raju’s wedding, and Bhima confesses Pooja didn’t want them there. Maya expresses her gratitude for Bhima taking her in after her parents died, and Bhima is overwhelmed by love for Maya.

Bhima recalls the telegram that arrived from Delhi, informing her that Raju and Pooja were sick. Sera gave her funds to leave immediately. The doctor in Delhi told Bhima that Raju and Pooja had AIDS. The doctor was upset when he discovered that Bhima did not know what AIDS is. He told her to say goodbye to her daughter and son-in-law, as they didn’t have much time left to live.

Bhima almost passed out, and a young man named Hyder came to her rescue with water. Bhima hesitated for a moment before accepting the water, as Hyder was Muslim. Hyder explained AIDS to Bhima. He hypothesized that Raju became positive by sleeping with sex workers, then passed it on to Pooja.

Hyder kept Bhima company while not attending to his dying friend at the hospital. He was with Bhima when Pooja insisted on visiting Raju in his ward. Pooja consoled Raju, promising that he wouldn’t die alone. Bhima wondered what crimes she committed in her past life to witness her daughter dying. Bhima questioned how Raju became positive, and Pooja brushed the question off. Pooja stated that Raju treated her well until they both fell ill.

Bhima consoled the dying Raju that she would take care of Maya. Shortly after, Raju passed away, and was cremated on a pyre. Bhima wanted to jump into the pyre herself, but stayed alive for Maya’s sake.

The next day, Bhima brought Maya to visit Pooja. The young girl cried over her mother’s health. Bhima stayed by Pooja’s side for weeks. She did not tell Gopal about Pooja’s condition.

One day, Pooja miraculously perked up. She asked Bhima to explain to Maya that Pooja wouldn’t be coming back from the hospital. She gave instructions on how and where Bhima could access all of Pooja and Raju’s savings. She reminisced, wishing she had never left Bhima alone in Bombay (current Mumbai). Pooja passed away later that day. Three days later, Hyder saw Bhima and Maya off at the train station, reminding a teary-eyed Bhima to keep faith.

Sera, Viraf, and Dinaz visit Sera’s friends, Pervez and Aban, to celebrate the engagement of their youngest child, Toxy. Aban’s house is where Sera met Feroz for the first time, during her 28th birthday party. Sera observes how Aban has aged badly, while Sera has managed to maintain her appearance. Sera is envious of the deep and enduring love between Aban and Pervez. Aban notices Sera’s expression and assumes Sera is missing Feroz; Sera is unsure of what to say, as she doesn’t miss the beatings, but misses the dream of marriage she once had.

Aban reminisces happily about a trip the two couples once took together, which brings up a different memory for Sera. After three months of marriage, the couple were out for dinner. Feroz began the night happy and quickly became withdrawn. Once home, he accused Sera of flirting with the waiter and embarrassing him in front of his friends. Sera verbally defended herself before Feroz punched her. She began crying at the thought of spending the rest of her life with Feroz, declaring no one had ever treated her this way. Feroz grew remorseful and apologetic, professing that his love for her made him anxious, as he is an older man. He convinced her that he did not mean to hit her; she got in the way when he raised his hand.

Remembering the incident, Sera wishes she had left him then. She wishes she hadn’t worn a long-sleeved shirt to cover her bruise. Dinaz notices Sera’s mood and asks if she is okay, and Aban comments that Sera has not been the same since Feroz’s death. Dinaz seems to know about the abuse. Dinaz quickly asserts that Sera is just tired, as there is a lot going on at home, especially with Bhima. Aban insists that Sera shouldn’t treat Bhima so well or she will take advantage of Sera; other guests chime in, with stories of old Parsi women who have been mistreated by their domestic workers. Dinaz furiously defends Bhima, to Aban’s amusement.

Aban complains about her domestic worker Jaya’s behavior while asserting that she treats Jaya better than she does her own children. Sera points out that Jaya is still quite young herself, and Aban asks if Sera is a communist. The conversation turns to politics, with numerous guests asserting that the Parsis are being targeted in the country. People wouldn’t dare do the same to Muslims. Someone suggests that Parsis ought to start their own political party, like the Hindu population has done.

Sera changes the topic by toasting Toxy’s engagement. She reminisces with Aban about when Toxy was born. Aban thanks Sera for being present for all the important moments in her life. Sera has never felt close to Aban, but verbally reciprocates Aban’s sentiment. Sera is drained after the party and reflects on how she became reclusive after Feroz’s death. Dinaz noticed and suggested she and Viraf move in. Sera was outwardly cautious, not wanting them to experience friction at living with in-laws. Dinaz brushed off this concern.