Weeping at the Lake Palace

Elizabeth was working at the same nonprofit, and was also doing research for her Ph.D. I started translating for her when she interviewed villagers. Sitting beside her and producing the Hindi equivalent for “green fertilizer” or “microclimate,” I felt the force of her intelligence. I used to watch her bike to and from work, her blond ponytail bouncing behind her. She had blue eyes and was often laughing.