Mary

Biodata

Background / History

Childhood and separation

Mary is Solomon Cohen and Sara’s only child. War separated Solomon from his wife and daughter. Mary remembers visiting her father’s shipping company in Mumbai when she was six, when he held her by an office window and told her that the ships below belonged to him. After Sara’s health declined, mother and daughter remained in Israel and did not return 28 38 48.

Mary grew resentful of Solomon’s absence, particularly when he failed to return after Sara’s death. Solomon was unable to leave India: he had neither a passport nor a nationality, and his activities existed in a legal gray area. Gravely ill and fearing Mary would refuse contact, he asked Aditya Mishra to find her, sending a letter and childhood keepsakes she would recognize 28 29 40.

Meeting Aditya

Aditya finds Mary at her home in northern Tel Aviv. She invites him inside after learning that Solomon sent him, then discovers that her father is bedridden and may not survive the month. Aditya gives her Solomon’s letter, a silver bracelet, and a copper pendant. Although undecided about visiting India, she offers Aditya a room while she considers his request 35 36.

Mary takes Aditya to Sara’s grave, where she reveals that her mother had told her not to hate Solomon if he could not return. There, Mary decides to visit him on Sara’s behalf. Aditya arranges an expedited Indian visa through a bribe, and Mary helps him shop for gifts before they leave Tel Aviv via Dubai for Mumbai 37 38.

Reunion in Varanasi

Mary finds the journey through India distressing. Mumbai’s heat, intrusive crowds, and smells overwhelm her, and the crowded train to Varanasi leaves her exhausted. Aditya guides her through the crowds and helps her board; Mary declares that she intends to leave India as soon as she has seen her father 39 40.

At Solomon’s bedside, Mary confronts him about his absence after Sara died. He explains why he could not return and acknowledges having failed them both. Mary stays with him, later telephoning Aditya when Solomon’s condition worsens and he asks to see him 40 44.

Rakhi and inheritance

Solomon initially proposes leaving Aditya 70% of Cohen Shipping Services Company and Mary 30%, believing Aditya’s local standing will help protect the business. Aditya instead insists that Mary retain the controlling 70% share. The transfer names Mary chairwoman and Aditya executive director, responsible for daily operations 45 47.

Solomon also asks Mary to tie a Rakhi on Aditya so that she will have someone to stand beside her after his death. Mary objects to pressuring Aditya, saying she already trusts his promise to help. Aditya voluntarily accepts, and Mary winds red-and-white thread around his wrist. Solomon dies after the transfer documents are signed 45.

With Aditya’s help, Mary buries Solomon on Mishra family land beside the Ganges, with his body facing Jerusalem. She then sorts through his belongings and travels to Mumbai to settle the company’s affairs, still deeply affected by grief 46.

Taking responsibility in Mumbai

The company’s managers accept Mary and Aditya’s authority. Mary inherits Solomon’s Mercedes-Benz and Malabar Hill villa as well as her company shares, and decides to retain the villa’s maid, Nagina 47.

Despite exhaustion, Mary reviews client lists and shipowner contracts with Aditya, identifying two months of unpaid agency fees owed by Rajput. Their immediate business problem is the delayed dock concession renewal. While Aditya handles the port authority with lawyer Kulkarni, Mary agrees to remain at the company, meet its employees, and reassure the staff 48 49 50.

At the villa, memories of watching harbor lights with Solomon change her understanding of their separation. She realizes that, rather than being the daughter sent away, her father was the one trapped far from his family 49.

Appearance

Mary is tall and slender, nearly Aditya’s height, with fair skin and chestnut-brown hair 35 36.

• Eyes: Pale golden-green, also described as olive-colored 35.
• Facial features: High cheekbones, a high nose bridge, and full, pale-red lips 35 39.
• Clothing: First appears in a white cotton shirt and long dark-blue skirt; later wears jeans, T-shirts, and blue kurtas 35 36 37 45 50.
• Recurring accessories: A blue gauze scarf and sunglasses, which she uses to cover her face during travel in India 39 46.

Personality

Mary’s guarded manner conceals strong attachments to her family. She resents Solomon but cannot stop caring about him; Aditya compares her to a ripe coconut, hard outside and full of water within. Her decision at Sara’s grave marks her willingness to act on that affection despite her anger 37.

She is hospitable and considerate, offering Aditya accommodation before deciding whether to accompany him and including Aisi at their farewell meal. She also insists on repaying the visa expense, rejecting the idea that money from her father automatically counts as her own 36 38.

Mary speaks firmly when she believes someone is being pressured or treated unfairly. She defends Aditya’s freedom to refuse Solomon’s Rakhi request and openly condemns the officials taking unrecorded payments from the company. As she becomes more comfortable with Aditya, her reserve gives way to teasing, smiles, and sharp retorts 38 45 48 49.

Abilities & Skills

Languages

• Hebrew: Speaks with a Tel Aviv shopkeeper and mutters in Hebrew during the train journey 38 39.
• English: Converses with Aditya and answers immigration questions 35 39.
• Hindi limitation: Cannot understand Aditya’s discussion with the Indian consular official 38.

Business Administration

• Reviews client lists and shipowner contracts alongside Aditya 48.
• Identifies Rajput’s overdue agency fees 48.
• Takes a visible leadership role at the company while Aditya manages outside negotiations 48 49 50.

Possessions & Assets

• 70% of Cohen Shipping Services Company — Inherited controlling stake; Aditya holds the remaining 30% 45 47.
• Malabar Hill villa — Solomon’s former Mumbai residence, inherited by Mary 47 49.
• Black Mercedes-Benz W123 — Inherited from Solomon and driven by Aditya during their Mumbai stay 47 48.
• Silver bracelet and copper pendant — Childhood keepsakes delivered by Aditya; Sara said Mary wore them before she was seven 29 36.

Relationships

• Solomon Cohen — Father. Their estrangement ends in a bedside reunion before his death; Mary subsequently inherits control of his company 40 45.
• Sara — Mother. Her request that Mary not hate Solomon helps persuade Mary to visit him 37.
• Aditya Mishra — Her father’s emissary, travel companion, Rakhi brother, and business partner. He supports her through bereavement and takes charge of company operations 35 45 46 47.
• Aisi — Tel Aviv housekeeper and affectionate confidante. Encourages Mary to see Solomon and asks Aditya to look after her during the journey 37 38.
• Kulkarni — Lawyer handling the inheritance and company transfer; briefs Mary and Aditya on the business’s risks 45 46 47.
• Nagina — Maid at the inherited villa. Mary retains her after Solomon’s death 47 49.

Notable Quotes

“I'll go back to India with you. My mother wanted me to go back. I'll see him for her.” 37

“Don't pressure Aditya anymore. He said he would help me, and I trust him.” 45

“I always used to feel like I was the one who'd been sent away. Now that I'm back, I realize he could see these lights every day. He was the one who'd been sent away.” 49