That conversation tipped the whole balance. Anu could feel how the two women degraded her even more in their minds. Anu was as good as dead to them. They spoke about a new Pilates-with-props program that had started in the community Yoga Studio and they made sure to ask only Ginny if she wanted to join in. Then they spoke about a spa they were visiting with their other friends on Tuesday and again they craned their necks and invited only Ginny. Anu was never one to take offence easily but these women were good! They made sure Anu was miserable. Soon, Meena changed the seating arrangements so that Anu was now pushed to a corner. This sort of adult bullying was all new to Anu. The only time she was bullied was in the sixth standard. A ringleader had taken a dislike for Anu and had made sure nobody spoke to her the entire year. Except that, nobody had disliked her this strongly and openly.

Instead of focussing on what was stressing her out, Anu decided to read the menu. The food sounded good and she made a mental note of what she wanted to eat. When the time came to order the main course, only she and Sanju turned out to be vegetarians.

‘No veg food for us, please!’ Meena declared with aplomb and the others laughed in agreement. Since she knew the place like the back of her hand, she offered to order for everyone. Courtesy Meena the Meanie, while the others enjoyed platters and platters of food, Anu and Sanju had to be happy nibbling on a plate of salad and a small pizza. Meena was the ringleader of the group, all right! It was sixth grade all over again. Anu had to suffer debarment having fallen out of the leader’s grace.

Anu watched Meena and her friend gorge on fried fare while waxing eloquently about their fitness regime. Well, clearly, food had won over fitness in their lives.

‘How much is this Pilates program at the Yoga Studio?’ One of the men asked.

‘Some 10K per month. Not much.’ Meena shrugged. Ouch, Anu thought. Not much at all to do something that old Chinese people do in a park! Okay, fine, that was tai-chi. Thank God I hadn’t blurted that and made a fool of myself.

Anu, the one who was seldom nasty to others, changed by the end of the night. Rather, the large Whiskey on the rocks she chugged down changed her. ‘If you eat the “Veg Food” (she made air quotes for emphasis), you won’t need to do the expensive “Pilates” (again she made air quotes). Even Kareena Kapoor turned vegetarian to turn size-zero. You should try, Meena.’

Suddenly a complete silence pervaded all around. The men too had stopped talking and gawking at her. Was she too loud or did she choose that precise moment to speak when there was a lull in the other conversations?