‘There will be! Gowri’s family is hosting it at their house. Come in the pink saree. Gowri thinks her granddaughter is beautiful. I have to show you off.’

In the modern-day lingo, Anu’s grandmom and Gowri were frenemies for five decades. Anu never let her grandmom down when Gowri was involved. ‘I will come dressed like Aishwarya Rai. You dress in a pink saree too. We will go to twinning.’

After the call, Anu pondered whether to go back to bed or drink coffee and chose the latter. As she sipped her coffee in the tiny balcony, it suddenly hit her. She will no longer be a call away to take her grandmother to temples anymore. She shrugged off the thought before gloom started to spread through her.

Sanju soon joined her in the balcony. ‘Hi, Aishwarya Rai.’

Sanju was looking nice and relaxed. That was how he started the day and his job coupled with the Bangalore traffic sucked the life out of him by the end of the day. ‘Dad called. He is bringing jackfruit in the evening. What time are you leaving?’

Anu’s parents-in-law bought jackfruits and watermelons that could serve an army. Watermelon was for Sanju’s benefit and the jackfruit for Anu. Her father-in-law brought it cut and packed three times a week. ‘I will call him to come by before five,’ Anu said contemplating a second cup of coffee.

‘Sanju, if we move, your father cannot drop by like this anymore. That is sad.’ Anu meant it. Not just her father-in-law, her father, mother, mother-in-law, at times even Padma aunty, just dropped by their house to have a chat over coffee. Suddenly, Anu found Padma aunty’s visits endearing too.

Sanju grew serious. ‘I said take your time to decide on the move.’ Well, he didn’t say it like he meant it.

7

7

That weekend Anu came to stay with her parents since Sanju was busy working on some deadline. And over a hot Uppittu breakfast, Anu ended up blurting about the move to her mother and grandmother.

Her mother went silent for a good three minutes, which was very uncharacteristic of her. Then she declared disdainfully. ‘That North Bangalore is not even Bangalore. Aren’t there luxury places here?’

Anu’s grandmother shook her head vigorously to get the water out of her hair. ‘There is a Durga Parameshwari temple somewhere there.’

‘Ajji!’ Anu screamed in despair. ‘Do you think we are moving so that we can live close to the temple?’

Anu’s father walked in and he was briefed as well. ‘The only real luxury in Bangalore is owning a house.’ He said before picking up the newspaper. He was a man of very few words. He practised economy in everything.

‘You people don’t give any concrete suggestions.’ Anu snickered. ‘Tell me what to do. Sanju is very serious.’