“I think so,” Arun said, “if we hurry.”

“Are you coming?” Laurie asked Arun, as she stood and tossed her napkin on the remains of her sandwich. She also put out more cash than necessary for the lunch.

“I’m having more fun than I’ve had in years,” Arun said. “I wouldn’t miss it.” As he stood up, he reopened his phone and reconnected with his travel agent. “Thanks for the sandwich,” he mentioned to Laurie while his call went through. As they walked to the elevator, he gave instructions to get them three business-class tickets on the flight to Varanasi and two rooms at the Taj Ganges. He gave Jack’s and Laurie’s names.

When they got to the van, Arun had just finished the arrangement and said he’d meet Jack and Laurie at the Indian Airlines counter at the domestic airport. Then he rushed off to his car.

Jack, Laurie, and Neil piled into the van, Jack behind the wheel. He even left a little rubber in the Queen Victoria driveway, but the rapid driving stopped abruptly at the street. They had forgotten the noontime traffic.

“When we get to the hotel, I’ve got to take the time to give myself the HCG trigger shot,” Laurie said. She was sitting in the front passenger seat.

“Oh, right,” Jack responded. “It’s good you remembered. I’d totally forgotten.”

“You’d also better remember to take along these syringes here on the backseat,” Neil said. The bag with the sterile syringes was next to him, wedged between the seat and the seat back.

“Good point,” Laurie said. “I might have forgotten them, which would have left us high and dry. Hand them up here!”

Neil passed the bag to Laurie.

“Sorry you and Jennifer can’t come with us,” Laurie said over her shoulder.

“That’s okay. I’ll use the afternoon to start looking into booking our return flights. I think the sooner Jennifer is out of here, the better.”

“Have her decide on what to do with her grandmother right away,” Laurie said. “And then call over to the Gangamurthy Medical College and get it arranged.”

“She’s pretty well decided on cremation, so we’ll do that right away.”

With Jack and Laurie keyed up about their upcoming trip, conversation lapsed for the twenty minutes it took to get back to their hotel. Even when they arrived, they didn’t speak as they hurried into the lobby.

“You head upstairs,” Jack said to Laurie. “I’ll arrange transportation to the airport, then be up.”

“You got it,” Laurie said, and she rushed off.

“And we’ll see you guys sometime tomorrow,” Jack said to Neil. “You heard where we are staying in Varanasi, and I know Jennifer has Laurie’s cell phone number, so keep in touch and keep her here in the hotel!”

“Will do,” Neil said.