One day Shahanna comes to my room, bearing a cup of tea and a leftover heel of bread. She slips a small plastic package into my hand.
“Don't let Mumtaz see this,”she whispers.
“What is it?”I ask.
She checks to make sure no one can hear.
“A condom.”
I don't understand what this condom is and why it must be kept so secret.
Shahanna explains.
“Ask the men to use it, so that you do not get a disease,” she says.
“Most of them will say no; they will threaten to go somewhere else if you insist.”
I nod.
Shahanna turns to lock the door.
“Do not insist,”Shahanna says.
“Or Mumtaz will beat you half to d**h.”