A widow may touch a child or animal, as both cases are innocent. Similarly she may speak with and elderly gentleman (forty years or over) if required. This is because the fact that the question of lustful tendencies that can arise through touch as explained by Shastras does not necessarily hold for a young child or elderly person explains Shatanand. 'Lustful tendencies arise mostly during youthful age (Yuva-Avastha)', explains Skanda Purana. Thus, those aged between fifteen and forty are most susceptible to lust.