‘Well, you’re right about that. But they’ve been awfully persistent, so I said, why not? And of course, the only reason I would tolerate staying with Humaira’s wonderfully annoying sister is if we get to watch some cricket. I think Pakistan will be playing a few matches in England soon.’

Humaira harrumphed.

‘There he goes again—always finding fault with my poor sister. And what about your family, huh, Habib? Each more annoying than the other, if you ask me,’ she said, airily.

‘Well, if you both are keen, I can start making the bookings,’ said Irfan.

‘Arree, what will two old pensioners do on our own there, Irfan? Habib will drive me up the wall and round the bend with his imaginary aches and pains,’ said Humaira.

Habib at this point looked genuinely pained at the allegation. ‘Those aches are not imaginary, if I may say so,’ he said. ‘My little toe does throb rather painfully after a bath.’

Humaira raised an eyebrow in an I-rest-my-case expression. ‘We need you youngsters around, Irfan. Inaya and you must come along as well. Inaya’s holidays will be starting shortly, and you haven’t taken a break for God alone knows how long. One would think that the entire world rested on your shoulders.’

Irfan smiled but shook his head.

‘It’s going to be very difficult for me to ask for leave, Ammi. We’re undergoing a restructuring, and my job is . . . well, it’s not on solid ground. But I’ll make the bookings for you.’

Inaya was watching this entire scenario playing out with bated breath—latching on to every syllable, as if her life depended on it.

‘Do you think you can get away, Inaya?’ asked Irfan. ‘Don’t you have your board exams coming up?’

‘Tsk, her board exams are at least a year away, Irfan,’ said Humaira.

‘I think I can take some time off, Abba,’ said Inaya, trying her best to sound nonchalant. ‘I’m up to date with all my schoolwork.’

‘Yes, and she has also been doing all these extra classes in the mornings,’ interjected Habib with a straight face.

‘Hmm. Okay. In that case, if everyone is keen, I’ll start making the arrangements,’ said Irfan. ‘This should be interesting. Especially if we do well in cricket, right?’

Irfan looked at his father for validation. But someone behind him was nodding her head vigorously.

‘Yes, yes! Especially if we do well in cricket!’ thought Inaya, almost jumping with joy.

She blew a big kiss to Humaira behind her father’s back and mouthed, ‘You’re the best. Thank you, Daadi.’

Humaira winked, beaming from ear to ear.

Winging It

New Delhi, India

‘Jai! Hey, Jai!’ shouted Rustom, as Jai walked to the bus stop after school. ‘Oi, look at this.’ He ran up to Jai, his eyes shining.

‘What’s up, Rusty?’ said Jai. ‘Have you won the lottery or something?’

‘Just look at this,’ repeated Rustom, pointing to his phone.

‘New phone?’

Rustom threw up his hands in exasperation. ‘Not the phone, Jai. The message—read it.’