I hadn’t. Not for lack of trying, of course. I had acquired the habit of scanning every room I entered, alternating between apprehension and hope. It was to no avail, however. The liveried kept trailing champagne around cocktail hours and dinners and receptions until, finally, the suspended week celebrating the wedding drew to a close. I had averted my eyes from the carcasses of the last party as we drove away from the fort, taking the executive decision to not spoil a happy illusion with images of dark, wiry men pulling down colourful canopies and dead fairy lights, exposing the splintery beams beneath.

‘Nope. Didn’t spot him anywhere. He must’ve left.’

‘So, what? That’s it? You’re just never going to meet him again? And that’s that?’

‘Well, he gave me his card and told me to call or email him if I ever needed help, or just to talk.’

‘What did you say?’

‘I think I said I would, but I don’t really remember.’

‘La-ame. Give me more details. Where’s he from? What does he do?’

‘Delhi. Don’t know what he does, but the name on his card is Vijay Dhillon.’

‘Woah, wait. Is he one of the Dhillons? Dhillon Paints and Fans and whatnot?’

‘I think so. Simi didn’t know jack. All she said was that he’s a friend of her sister’s and had just graduated from Princeton. Her mum’s been bugging her to ask him to help with her college essays.’

‘That’s it, then! That’s what you should do!’

‘What? Bug Simi? You know she doesn’t even want to go to college—’

‘God, you’re dumb. Ask him for help with your essays!’

‘I don’t need help with my college essays.’

‘You haven’t even started on one yet! I heard that Zarine bitch bragging about how she’s already done with all of hers.’

‘Seriously? Fuck. Fine, I’ll ask for help. He’ll probably be good, too. Seemed like he was super smart. Quoted this philosopher person and everything.’

As we approached the library, Button stopped short. ‘Dammit. I hope Basu doesn’t go off nipping to Roshan after class.’

‘Shit. Yeah.’ It was an unwritten pact between us that however much we pissed off every other staff member, we would never bother our vice principal, Dr Roshan. Mrs Basu was quite a good sort, but rules were rules, and The House had nothing in as much abundance as it did rules.

We looked at each other, concentrating. Button bit her lip and I scrunched up my eyes, both of us following the path of our conjoined thoughts without words. For a second, I dwelled on how infinitely better my life was with her in it, and I think now that sometimes we recognize moments of true happiness only after they’ve passed us by.