The agent flashed another fake polite smile. ‘Yes, ma’am. I was going to get to that. As I was saying, it is a six-crore rupees house and costs two-lakhs in rent. But the owner is relocating to Kuwait, and he is in a hurry to rent it out. So,’ he paused dramatically. ‘I can’t even believe what he is willing to accept.’

Anu got up to leave; she had had enough of the man’s theatrics. Sanju could handle the rest of the drama. The agent blurted sensing Anu’s determined steps. ‘He is willing it to rent it out at one lakh! I can’t believe it myself!’

Anu looked at Sanju, who had a silly smile plastered on his face. She genuinely hoped it was the smile of refusal. ‘We will take it.’

‘Sanju! It is a lakh a month! What do we eat after paying the rent?’ Anu didn’t care anymore that the agent was around. ‘We can’t—’

Sanju cut her off quickly. ‘Ma’am is nervous for no reason. We will take it. Please draw up the papers, and we are ready to move in by the first.’ The first was only ten days away!

‘Excellent decision, sir. You are the first one that I have shown the house to.’

‘Why did you do that favour, sir? Why did you choose to like us so much?’ Anu asked the agent sarcastically. ‘Do we have a past life connection with you? For you to bestow this favour on us?’

She knew the agent was doing his job, and she was being a complete bitch, but it was too big a shock to digest. How could Sanju decide on the spot without even talking to her in private?

‘Ma’am, I showed you the place because Dave sir referred you to me.’ Now the agent sounded pissed. So, was he going to withdraw his grace on them? She sure hoped so!

But there was no such luck. The agent turned to Sanju and started explaining. ‘Sir, there is a small maintenance fee of twenty-two thousand a month.’

Oh, that is very small! But Anu said nothing. All she wanted was to get out of there, settle on her cosy sofa in her small apartment and watch Friends. Why should everyone dream big? There is nothing wrong with small and easily achievable dreams like buy ice cream and watch TV.

‘Anu, I know it is a bit of a stretch for us. But I can manage. It is such a beautiful house. We deserve to live there. We will not be able to save much, but we can live a comfortable life.’ Sanju was now almost pleading.