Anu was flummoxed with the conversation. The police station at night was quite exciting. No wonder that journalist woman was hovering around.

‘Sir, what if the horse was drunk but not the man? Will you arrest the horse?’ She asked out of curiosity but the policeman thought she was joking.

‘Madam, you may find this funny but for us, you are all a big headache.’ He muttered something and walked inside instructing the parrot-cum-horse-man to stay put.

When the policeman had left the scene, Anu asked pointing at the parrot and the horse, ‘Are they both yours?’

‘I am a parrot astrologer, madam. Someone gifted me this horse because my predictions are so good. My ancestors were astrologers at the court of the Mysore Maharaja.’ That was another thing in the Bangalore-Mysore area. Everyone cited some or the other connection with the Mysore Maharajas. Some were his poets, some taught him or his queens something, some tended to his stable or garden.

‘Can you predict my future?’ Anu extended her palm.

‘I am a parrot astrologer, madam. Not a palmist.’ The man gave Anu a look of disdain. ‘Wait. I will tell you.’

He sat down on the steps and asked Anu to do the same. The horse was now tied and doing some crazy eye movements.

The astrologer spread some cards facedown, muttered things, and let the parrot out of the cage. It daintily walked towards the deck and picked up three cards. Handing the last card to its boss, it pirouetted and then walked back to the cage. Anu found that little green bird so cute, she picked it up. When the astrologer screamed at her and the parrot pecked at her, Anu, all panicky, let the bird fly. At that very moment, a camera flashed. That was the journalist.

‘Come on, madam. Stand in front of the horse and unleash it.’ The journalist called excitedly.

Anu followed the journalist promptly and untethered the horse with aplomb, though she had no clue why she was doing what she was doing. The beer had that effect on her. The animal now stood on two hind legs and neighed. That was the next photo the journalist shot.

‘Your name, madam?’

‘Anu … Anupama Rao.’

‘Anu darling, you will be a star tomorrow. Read Times Today.’ The journalist zoomed off on her moped.

Now the horse was still neighing standing in place. The silly thing hadn’t realized that it was free to run. The astrologer was running behind the parrot that was now walking instead of flying. Kavitha was furiously taking pictures of the astrologers’ cards. ‘I will interpret these cards, Anu. I can do it. I just need these pictures.’

‘Put my cards down. You … you … I will curse you.’ The astrologer still ran in circles but was screaming at Kavitha. The parrot now perched on the horse, making it run.