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Piari married, I can see that. Are you studying at college? Or have you finished?'

I had borne with her curiosity and her string of queries in patience. But her last question annoyed me. 'Well, and who are you?' I asked rudely. 'I don't remember ever having seen you before. Why do you wish to know so much about me? Will it profit you anything to know all this?'

Piari did not get angry at this outburst of mine: she merely smiled. 'Are profit and loss the only things in this world? Is there nothing like natural feeling, affection, or love? My name is Piari: but since you cannot recognise me by my face, could you do so if you heard the nickname of my childhood?'

'Where is your home then?'

'No, I won't tell you that.'

'Won't you tell me your father's name?'

The baiji pressed her tongue between her teeth, and said, 'He is in heaven now. Alas, how can I utter his name with this sinful tongue of mine?'

I grew impatient and said, 'If you can't, perhaps you can say how you came to recognise me?'

Piari saw the state of mind I was in, and smiled archly. 'No, I don't mind telling you. But would you find it possible to believe me?'

'Let me hear it first.'

'My evil genius made me recognise you: what else could it be? It is fortunate for me that the sun has