Once her initial euphoria died down, Anu’s memory returned. The money was from her father. Well, he had started some yearly investment for Vicky and every year he deposited money into her account. That amount got auto-deducted a few days later and vanished.

Except for this year, Anu thought, if she could stop that auto-deduction, the money could be hers! For the time being, of course. She knew nothing about either the investment or where that money went. She thought of calling her father casually. But the two of them hardly spoke on the phone. It would be too suspicious if she did so now.

Where was her bank statement? She remembered all those emails she got from the bank telling her how to open the attached statement. Well, she deleted them all. She liked a clean inbox.

How about going to the bank? But her account was in Vijaynagar and the manager knew her father too well. Could she go to their branch here? She felt the itch to call Sameer but he would not help her with the bank. He would simply give her the money, somehow. She could not let that happen.

She had worked in the bank after all. Well, for a year where she mostly sent people to wait in a queue. But she should still be able to handle a simple affair like this.

‘Hey Anu, what is the deep thought?’ Sanju shook her gently. He had parked his car five feet from her and Anu hadn’t even noticed.

‘Oh, nothing. Go on inside. I will make coffee.’

‘Anu,’ Sanju hovered around her in the kitchen. ‘Do you have any money in your account?’

‘What!’ Anu jumped back in horror. Did he read her mind? ‘I don’t. I have nothing.’

‘Calm down! That is why I asked. You will need some for your expenses, right? You don’t have your job now. How much do you need?’

How about seventy thousand? Anu was tempted to ask. But then, she was also really touched by Sanju’s gesture. ‘I don’t know …’ She trailed off. She had never asked him for her expenses so far. Whatever she earned, she spent.

‘I will transfer five thousand. I know it is less than what you made. But you know how it is now.’

Anu handed Sanju his coffee and asked gently, ‘How are you doing money-wise? This is a crazy month.’

Sanju said weakly. ‘I am fine. When is the next instalment of Vicky’s fees?’

Anu had another wicked thought. Could she take that fees money from him and pay at the other school? God, this was how criminals and frauds were born!

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