Amrita Padma Vibhushan Forgotten Pritam

Her companion Imroz, always by her bedside, says ‘‘each day she reminds me to get cyanide but I tell her isme milawat hai (it’s adulterated), you won’t die… there’s a law against mercy killing, I am helpless.’’

Imroz is disappointed that no one has bothered to personally honour his muse. ‘‘But she does’t care. She is happy the way she is.’’

According to Rashtrapati Bhavan sources, the President of India honours awardees after their presence is confirmed by the Home Ministry. It’s the Home Ministry that scrutinises the awardees before the President invites them to the Rashtrapati Bhavan on a designated date.

But the cold bureaucratic communication bothers Imroz as he surrounds himself with memories and photographs of his companion and recalls their association.

They have lived in this double-storeyed house for years, built from the Sahitya Akademi prize money. She was the first woman writer to receive the prize in 1956.

‘‘We bought the land from the prize money of Rs 5,000,’’ says Imroz. The Jnanpith award came in 1982.

Left to himself, Imroz is willing to bid her goodbye as he strokes her head, willing her to sleep. Her contemporaries seem to have forgotten her.

‘‘Writers and artists are vain people,’’ says Imroz, adding ‘‘you know, we never said I love you even once.’’