By the time they reached the restaurant (a fifteen-minute walk in the sun), Vicky was asleep on Anu’s shoulders. Sanju settled him on a couch and the three of them took a quick look at the menu. Anu’s heart stopped. It was more expensive than a five-star restaurant! She was not cheap but having to pay five times the regular price for everything seemed highly illogical. She raised a brow at Sanju who was quickly placing an order without meeting her glance. She looked at Sameer who was pretending to be looking all around. He became a different person when Sanju was around, treating her like a stranger.

Anu took in the scene around her. The waiters almost tiptoed and sophisticated-looking patrons talked and laughed in hushed voices. So it did look like a five-star resort. There were hanging pots, standing pots, statues of all kinds of Buddha, a small waterfall of recycled water flowing down like a curtain of white linen. To complete the look, the restaurant overlooked a gleaming blue pool with nobody swimming in it. She looked at the fellow lunchers—with the number of white folks all around, it almost felt like they were in a foreign land. The few Indians sat looking very posh and suave. Anu felt depressed for not dressing up a bit more. Then again, who expected this level of sophistication in a local restaurant!

Anu tried to focus on what Sameer and Sanju were discussing. Something about mutual funds. Sameer was quite an enthusiastic investor and Sanju was still thinking about it. Finding their conversation utterly boring, Anu focussed on her drink. For having paid so much, she might as well enjoy it. The food was good too. She slowly started to forget about the uprooting of her life and began to unwind.

When Sanju excused himself to the restroom, Sameer smiled at her. ‘Feeling better?’

Anu nodded. ‘For now! Because of alcohol.’

‘It won’t be too bad, Anu. Once you settle down, you will like the place. It is like living in a resort.’

‘I liked my economy hotel of a house,’ Anu sighed. ‘But I will try not to make Sanju feel bad. He is already punishing himself for having to pay for all the nonsense here!’

‘You never make anyone feel bad, kid.’ Sameer patted her head from across the table. A few drinks later Sameer became a tad emotional. ‘You don’t object to things out of ego. Only out of your discomfort. People get that.’

Anu smiled contentedly. ‘So you are saying I am egoless but self-centred.’

Sameer raised his mug to hers. ‘Something like that.’ Anu clinked it.

They walked back towards the house with Vicky still asleep but now on Sanju’s shoulders. Sameer had bid them goodbye right after lunch. He had paid for the lunch before they even had a chance to look at the bill. But that was Sameer for you—generous in both kind and cash.