Everything is still fine between us. Why else would Sid have suddenly wanted us to go out together? We are also going to have a baby together—so what if we didn’t go out today? It’s just a little change of plans, it’s not the end of the world. I need to brace up and make dinner just in case Sid comes back early enough to eat it.

Cooking dinner when you had planned to go out to a restaurant really sucks.

I’ve paced around the house for the last thirty minutes, hoping Sid would perhaps message back to say our plans are still on. I’ve had no such luck. Yet I am still sitting in my nice sari—I couldn’t bring myself to change, not after all that effort I put into the make-up. I am doing a very bad job of positive thinking and I want to cry—I really don’t want to make dinner or stay home alone.

I am startled out of my self-pity when my phone beeps again. I quickly say a prayer and hope it’s Sid with good news.

I’m sorely disappointed to find it’s a text message from Ragini.

‘You should see N’s place, the biatch even has branded doormats and her dog has his own beautician. Bet she thinks she’s Paris Hilton. At least she’s got the slut-act down to perfection. It would have been fun if you’d been here. Sorry I’ve been a bitch. Good luck for the evening, what’s the itinerary then, movie first or dinner?’

Unlike many people I know, Ragini doesn’t use shortened words in SMS—it often makes her text messages as long as emails. She doesn’t get it that typing ‘POA’ (plan of action) is much faster than typing ‘itinerary’.

Ragini’s message marginally uplifts my mood—so sweet of her to think of me when she’s at a party. If it hadn’t been for the plan with Sid, I would’ve gone to Neelima’s party and enjoyed with—Oh!—but I’m not going out with Sid!

Suddenly I am very glad Ragini messaged. Since Sid’s coming home late, I can go to Neelima’s party for a little bit. I don’t have to stay home alone.

9

Sleepless in New Delhi

Ragini was right. Neelima’s house looks straight out of some interior decoration magazine—it’s done up beautifully.

It’s a two-storey house with the dining room, kitchen, drawing room and a largish study on the ground floor. The top floor I’m told—I haven’t been up there yet—has three bedrooms with ensuite bathrooms in each and a huge terrace.