There was a message from Pooja asking her if they were going to do yoga the next day. Anu sent her the picture of the notice. ‘Do you think we should?’

‘We definitely should. See you at nine tomorrow, aunty.’

Sanju did not show up until after she was fast asleep. The next morning when she was making her coffee, he walked in. He looked stressed and she hoped it was because of work. He quietly made his coffee without a word. When he was about to head out of the kitchen, Anu spoke. ‘You know that they are false allegations, right?’

‘Are they?’ Sanju spun around. ‘Why did you have to do yoga in that godforsaken gazebo? Why did you have to play tennis now when all you wanted in high school was to run away from it?’

Anu stared at him. ‘What happened to you after moving here? Can’t you see right from wrong? Shouldn’t you be supporting me instead of that property manager?’

‘That is Sameer for you, Anu. Whether you are right or wrong, he will jump in to support you. I have brains.’ Sanju shook his head in what looked like part disgust and part distress.

‘That is so mature and kind and—’ The right word came to her after Sanju was gone —modest. Which Sanju was anything but at the moment. Fuming, Anu gulped her coffee and made another tall cup. She needed all the caffeine to get her through the day.

When she showed up at the gazebo, the old folk had already gathered and were warming up. Pooja was there as well with someone who looked eerily like an older and a stern version of her. The woman had her hair in a braid, wore a bindi, track pants and sneakers. ‘Hi aunty, this is my mom. Mom, Anu aunty.’

Oh god. What now? Is she going to accuse me of derailing Pooja? To Anu’s relief, the woman smiled. A nice and friendly smile. ‘Thank you, Anu. You have been a great influence on Pooja. So I thought I would say hello to you before going on my walk.’

Anu blushed. ‘Oh, no. I … well, Pooja is a great kid. You have raised her well.’

‘I saw the note you got from the management. Don’t worry. They are all empty threats.’

Anu nodded. ‘But threats, empty or otherwise, scare me!’

‘Don’t worry. I will meet you after my walk. We will have coffee together.’

‘I thought your mother was here to yell at me,’ said Anu rolling her mat.

‘Well, my mom is happy that I am off the bed before noon and moving my muscles.’ Pooja grinned. ‘She might give you a reward!’

When they sat down for coffee, Anu looked at the tennis court. It held no charm without Pete. She sipped her coffee silently, letting Pooja’s mother talk.