At school I told Sarina I was going to visit her on Sunday. She asked, “Can you stay for lunch?”

“No, I can’t.”

“I’ll ask Neel, too.”

“You’re tempting me.”

“That’s the idea.”

“Somehow, I’ll have to convice Mummy,” I mumbled.

On Sunday, I dressed up in a chiffon silk salwar-khameez and opal earrings, to deliver the invitation to Sarina’s house.

The judge opened the door and raised his eyebrows, “Are you sure you want to come to our place dressed up like this?”

“Why? What’s wrong?” I looked at myself, wondering if I’d forgotten my dupatta at home.

“You look like a pink lotus. You should be surrounded by blue water.”

Why did I always get flustered when Sarina’s pappa or uncle teased me? Why couldn’t I come up with a witty response?

“Pappa, if you give Jeeta a hard time, she won’t invite you to the wedding,” Sarina said as she walked into the living room.

“Is Jeeta getting married?”

“Don’t talk about Jeeta’s marriage yet. She’s going to become a lawyer first,” Mrs. Judge hollered. She was watering her bonsai plants on the balcony.

I handed the judge their invitation. “Mummy wanted to come, but we have so little time to prepare.”

“We’re glad you’re here,” the judge said.

“Come in my room,” Sarina said. Her eyes were darting, dancing, as if she couldn’t wait to tell me something.

I waited until the judge and Mrs. Judge read the invitation. “We’ll be there,” Mrs. Judge said.

“Mummy and Pappa will be happy,” I said.

Sarina stood there tapping her foot.

“Go, go,” the judge said. “Sarina can’t wait to tell you about a boy she met yesterday.”

“Who did I meet?”

“Didn’t you? Maybe you’ll meet him today.”

“Sure, Pappa.”

“What boy?” I asked as soon as we were in her room.

“No one. Pappa’s teasing me because I couldn’t wait to talk to you.”

“Oh!”

She sat down crossed-legged on her bed, hugging a pillow. “Neel and I were wondering if you could go on a picnic, just the three of us.”

“I don’t know if Mummy will say yes.”

“Why not? It’ll be after the wedding. Ask her. We’re planning to go to Vihar Lake, so it’ll take a while to get there. If we leave by nine-thirty we’ll have a full day there. I promise you complete fun for your time.”

Sarina was so excited that I hated to remind her, but I did anyway, “I still have to ask Mummy. I’ll call you.”

“Make sure she says yes.”

“Are you ready for lunch?” Mrs. Judge called. “Neel will be here any minute.”

While we were eating, the judge asked Neel, “Are you staying for a while?”

“Yes, I am.”