And as she heard the front door close and the car drive off leaving her alone in the house, it all but died. * * * The sunlight pierced through the w...ite shades of her bedroom window and felt warm on Zoe’s skin. She groggily raised her head off her pillow and realized that she had fallen asleep. Glancing at the clock on her nightstand she noticed that it had only been an hour since her father stood behind her door. Bored, curious, and well aware that she had the house to herself for at least. He knew only that his wife was on the other side, in a room with five men, completely at their mercy. He couldn't help but knowing that the men would make Susan undress and inspect her naked body. The least he could hope for is that they would do nothing worse. It was painful enough to realize that his wife was probably nude on the other side of the door, the men seeing everything; but he was experiencing an even worse feeling. It was the feeling of being shut out, of being the only one. Like any mid-range room there's one chair and the bed to sit on. She sat on the chair, leaving me no place other than the bed. As soon as she sat down she got back up again offering me a glass of champagne. Working the cork she said, "I'm so glad you came. I was worried. I didn't know if you'd still be mad at me for the way things went down all those years ago." "All is forgiven and nearly forgotten," I lied. She sighed with relief but her face still bore her anxiety. She took a drink, a gulp. I moved my hand around her neck without further ado and lifted the golden Mangalasutra (the sacred thread symbol of marriage).I removed it by slipping above her head and looking at her. She was looking at me preciously and at what I was doing?Mom: Take that thread on the plate and tie it.I saw that there was a yellow thread with a piece of turmeric tied at the center. It was on a plate of flowers. I took it and tied it around the neck. As I tied the three knots of the thread around the neck, I.