The little girl peeks over the back of the seat in front of them.
" Are you from India?", she asks bluntly.
Ahmed laughs. He likes her Northern Irish accent and her curious face.
" No. I'm from England, but my parents are from Pakistan."
She seems to need a moment to understand what he meant. Then she points at Chandra.
" And she? Is she from Pakistan?"
He shakes his head.
" No, she's from England as well."
" Oh... And she's your wife?"
Ahmed and Chandra look at eachother and there is an awkward silence. He doesn't know what to say.
" He's my friend", Chandra remarks, and she smiles at the child.
" Your boyfriend?"
Chandra looks at him again, with that questioning gaze in her beautiful eyes. Then she shakes her head.
" No."

" My aunt has a boyfriend", the girl says," but he's a protestant, so they can't marry."
A hand grabs the girl and pulls her down in her seat. A woman voice talks to her in Irish, angrily. Then the aunt's face appears over the back of the seat.
" Please excuse her", she says.
Ahmed tries to smile.
" It's okay."
The woman returns to her seat and Ahmed stares out of the window. He feels how Chandra leans on his shoulder and he puts his arm around her. Northern Ireland, Protestants, Catholics... How is he going to explain to his father that he has fallen in love with a Hindu girl?