Radha hesitated. ‘Akka, I am not coming for a week from tomorrow. I had told you last month.’

‘Oh, right. You go and have a good time. The maid is not coming either for a week,’ said Anu wearily looking at the dirty dishes.

‘Akka, I would have washed these if you had told me about the maid. Now I have to run. My bus is in an hour,’ Radha sounded genuinely sorry.

‘It is okay. I will manage.’ Even as Anu said the words, she kicked herself mentally. Why couldn’t she be more organized? All she had to do was tell Radha to help with the dishes.

Then she decided that from then on, her life was going to be different. She would lead it with the precision of a military man. She would make a to-do list and remember everything. How nice it would be to get ready ten minutes early! Anu dreamed—she could drink coffee, wear fancy footwear, keep a water bottle, play catch with Vicky because they were ready too early.

Deciding to execute the plan of not being late or rushed, Anu resisted picking up the book she had just started. That would melt away hours like ice-cream. Instead, she went into the bedroom to pack an overnight bag to stay at her mother’s house. While she packed, trying to be mindful as Supriyaji always insisted, Vicky walked in looking dazed and plopped right on the clothes she had just folded.

‘Popeye the sailaaa man …’ he hummed sleepily. Well, kids his age watched Doraemon and Shinchan, but Vicky liked the old-world ones like Popeye and Tom & Jerry, thanks to his father. When Anu looked at him, he was trying to do the Popeye wink. He was so adorable—Anu kissed him and picked him up. Then her heart sank a bit—watching cartoons with Vicky was Sanju’s thing. If he was having an affair, what would happen to his equation with Vicky?

Anu shrugged off the thoughts and walked to the kitchen, with Vicky trying to sleep on her shoulder. She had told her mother that she would be there by seven. Since it was already six-thirty, it was humanly impossible to keep that time; punctuality had to be postponed. But she was going to be efficient nonetheless. She took a small notebook and wrote.

1. Wash the dishes – 30 minutes

2. Get Vicky ready – 30 minutes to 300 minutes

3. Get ready – 30 minutes

‘Vicky, here. Chocolate Horlicks and Nutella toast. Eat and drink fast, okay?’ Anu made an offer to Vicky he could not refuse. Chocolate on chocolate was his thing. But not that day. Not on a day when she had made a firm resolution to be on time.

‘I want strawberry milk and cheese toast.’

‘You have this now. I will make what you want later.’ Later his eating would be her mother’s headache.