Anu cancelled all the three rides and requested the auto driver to drop Yashoda aunty to her destination. Yashoda squeezed Anu’s hand. ‘Thanks, Anu. You help me like a daughter.’

Anu smiled back. ‘Make sure to include me in the will, aunty. Now get going!’

‘You are a princess. What can a pauper like me give you?’ Yashoda aunty was a retired English teacher, so she quoted from the classics. And, she loved it that Anu got her.

Smiling, Anu headed back to her flat, stopping at the children’s play area. Vicky loved playing there even though it was such a basic one. Two yellow ducks, a swing and a slide. But all in working condition. Not just the playground, but their apartment complex was a basic one—elevators with manual doors, corridors without CCTV and a security guard who sat on a plastic stool and snoozed. No tennis court, swimming pool or gym. It even had a very basic name; not lake-view, valley-view, air-view, or any such. It was called the Ramesh Apartments, named after the owner who had razed a coconut grove to build it.

But it had residents who were exceptionally nice and friendly. Since her paternal grandparents had lived there for close to a decade, Anu knew almost every resident of the fifty houses. After his parents had passed away, Anu’s father had rented out the place for a few years and then he had gifted it to Anu. So no EMI or rent, which was a sweet deal!

‘Hi, Anu! Same pinch, ya. We are wearing the same kurta today!’ That was Kavitha who was a huge admirer of Anu since high school. Yeah, they too went to the same KLE school. Though twice Anu’s weight and half her height, Kavitha had been mimicking Anu’s wardrobe since forever.

‘You look nice.’ Anu waved a hurried goodbye. If Kavitha got talking, Anu would not only miss her lunch but also dinner.

‘Anu, wait. Where did you buy the white shirt you were wearing yesterday? I looked at both Amazon and Myntra but couldn’t find!’

‘Kavi, stop buying the clothes that I buy. I will help you choose a wardrobe for you, okay?’ Anu meant what she said. Not that she was a supermodel or anything, but Kavitha had a body type that was well, not Anu’s.

‘No, ya. I like what you wear. Tell me where you got it.’

Luckily for Kavitha, Anu was too cheap to be a designer babe. ‘Jayanagar. The store next to Motilal.’ Anu sighed and gave away the source. This time a tad reluctantly. That shop was her find.

‘What shade of lipstick are you wearing?’ Kavitha came to a kissing distance.

‘I will WhatsApp you the shade.’ Anu hurried before she could get scrutinized for her innerwear.

‘Anu, but we can go shopping. When? Tomorrow?’ Kavitha’s eyes lit up in eagerness.