She drove for thirty minutes and landed at the school she had visited with Shwetha. The simple homely building with a sleepy guard on a chair. Vicky walked beside her happily. He was wide-eyed at the play area that looked like his old school. He looked curiously at the kids in the common area sprawled on the floor drawing. Anu walked into the principal’s chamber.

‘Come in, Miss Anu. Sumitra had just called me.’ The principal, Janaki, looked as kind as Sumitra aunty.

‘Hi, Vivik.’ She flashed a wide smile at Vicky.

Vicky smiled and shook his head. Anu felt deliriously happy. Sumitra aunty had told the principal that Vicky gets amused when someone mispronounced his name.

‘Hi, Vivith.’

Vicky shook his head with a wider grin.

‘Hi, Vivek?’

He started laughing but shook his head vigorously.

‘Hi, Vivikth, then.’

He nodded and sprawled on the chair.

‘Anu, don’t apply for TC yet from Indigo. Let us see how he takes to our school. If he is okay, then you can put him in here.’

‘I am sure he will be fine here,’ said Anu and she knew he would be.

‘I hope so too. This school is run almost like Sumitra’s. But what concerns me is the fees. You will be losing it at Indigo and will be paying here again.’

Oh, she hadn’t thought of that! The fee here was eighty thousand, Anu remembered. She mustered her courage and asked. ‘Can you give us a concession? Whatever you can.’ She wanted to dig a hole and crawl inside it. She hated asking for discounts at reasonable places.

‘I will be able to waive the twenty-thousand registration fees. But can’t help with the fee component. I am answerable to the board.’ Janaki truly sounded helpless.

‘It’s more than enough discount, then. Can he attend from today?’ Anu smiled at the friendly woman.

‘Certainly. You be with him until he settles down. Let me walk you to the classroom.’

It was a small classroom with kids working with various contraptions for a maths class. Vicky’s eyes brightened at the sight of those.

‘Pink Tower!’ He rushed inside and settled down next to a child. Soon, Anu was all but forgotten.

Anu smiled at Janaki. ‘I think I will leave. He seems fine.’

‘Tell him and go. He should not panic not seeing you.’

Anu agreed. ‘Vicky, bye, sweetie. I will pick you up later.’

Vicky waved a happy hand without even looking at her. He was busy assembling a tower and chatting with his neighbour.