‘Where do I even sit here? It looks like a haunted house.’ Sanju’s voice held despair as he glanced around.

Radha quickly removed the newspapers from the sofa, and Anu shoved the plates and cups underneath it. Then she smiled brightly. ‘Here! Sit now.’

To her relief, a smile played on Sanju’s lips. ‘Very clean now. Where are you going all dressed up?’ He asked, stretching on the sofa. ‘Where is Vivikth?’

‘Daddy! Find me … find me!’ The joy in Vicky’s voice from behind the door was unmistakable.

Sanju picked him up. ‘Hey Champ, what are you doing?’

Vicky wiggled out of Sanju’s arms, ‘Daddy, play hide and seek with me.’

Anu intervened. ‘Vicky! Daddy has just come. He will play with you later. Now go play with Radha aunty.’

Radha handed them both a cup of tea and took Vicky out. Remembering that she had to cancel with Yashoda aunty, Anu picked up her phone.

‘I have just come, and you are all ready to head out.’ Sanju flashed a look of disapproval.

‘Nope. I am cancelling my date with Yashoda aunty.’ Anu snuggled next to Sanju.

‘So you thought I can still get a girl for an affair? I am quite flattered.’ Sanju put an arm around Anu pulling her closer.

‘Well, you are a sugar daddy now. You have your appeal with the young.’ Anu smiled. ‘Sanju, if I die, will you remarry?’

‘Hmm … if I am still young and dashing like now, I will. If I am old and gnarly, I won’t. You?’

‘Just the opposite. If I am still young and dashing, I won’t settle into a marriage. If I am old and gnarly, I will.’

Sanju began to laugh. ‘I won’t die ever then!’

Anu felt good. It was nice to have Sanju back. In a way, she even liked the discipline he forced into her life. But though he was laughing and having a good time, his moodiness in the last few days bothered her. She was tempted to shoot her volley of questions at him right away, but decided to wait. Why spoil a good moment?

But Sanju’s good mood was short-lived. He was back to being sulky and snappy within no time. The bedroom was a mess, she had left the laptop plugged in, the bathroom had too many of her clothes—he was testing Anu’s patience. Sanju had borderline obsessive compulsive disorder but he never got this irritated with things around him.

Anu decided to let him sleep on it. When she couldn’t fall asleep up until midnight, she texted Shwetha. ‘Call Sanju’s phone in the morning. If he doesn’t answer it, I might have murdered him.’

‘Done. Hide the evidence.’ Replied Shwetha.