‘You made an Atif Aslam playlist for me!’ Anu touched her heart. ‘Touched, my friend.’

‘Don’t flatter yourself, I am a fan of Aslam too.’

‘Right. But I introduced you to him.’

‘You are my entertainment guru, Anuji. Now tell me what do I watch on Netflix? Done with Breaking Bad, loved it, so the drinks are on me.’

‘Glad you accept my superiority. And the drinks should forever be on you for the amount of gyaan I give you. Watch Better Call Saul, then watch Lethal Weapon on Prime. Both are your type.’

‘What is your type lately? Into sad romances because Sanju is not in town?’

‘When Sanju is not in town, I am into naughty, Mister Old-Fashioned.’ Anu smacked Sameer’s hand on the gear. ‘Why do you think I have to mope and cry when my husband is enjoying his married bachelor days?’

‘Fair enough. But your naughty is movies rated 18+. They don’t qualify as naughty.’ Sameer squeezed his large car into an impossibly narrow space, which only he could do. As they climbed the steps to Drink and Dine, Anu felt a rush of familiarity wash over her. Anu and Sameer’s evenings out were always the same—the same restaurant, the same table, and the same sips (Smirnoff with Fanta for her, Old Monk with soda for him) and dines (Peanut Masala and Egg Pakoda). They used to do the same routine along with some weird club dancing with a gang of friends on Brigade Road a decade ago, but now there was no charm left in either the drive or the dance.

‘Hey, Sanju sounded very down and out when I spoke to him. Wonder why,’ said Anu as casually as she could. She did not want Sameer to pick up that she was worried. He would either tease her for years to come or get over-protective.

‘Because he has to come back home. Give up his married bachelorhood.’ Sameer remarked wickedly. ‘Why would he be happy?’

‘That would be you if you ever get married. Sanju is into home and hearth.’ Anu retorted before asking the next question. ‘But why do you think he is upset?’

‘Maybe he misses Kshama,’ Sameer said seriously making Anu almost jump.

‘Where is she now? In the US? He never told me!’ Anu almost sprung out of the chair. Kshama was Sanju’s old flame. Well, he had chosen Anu over her but who knew about them being together in New York!

Sameer began to laugh. ‘Got you, babe. Kshama is right here and almost about to pop a baby. I was only messing with you.’

Anu bent forward and hit him on the head with her empty glass. ‘That was a crass joke. I will get even, buster.’

Sameer stared at her intensely. ‘You already did—six years ago.’