‘Anu! Welcome. So good to see you!’ Anu enjoyed the welcome, the hug, and the familiar smell of Pond’s powder emanating from Sumitra aunty.

‘Good to see you too, aunty.’ Anu sat down. ‘You won’t believe who I ran into!’ Anu narrated in a single breath the incident with Meena.

Sumitra had a hearty laugh. ‘Anu, such impossible things happen only to you! A parent did email me today asking why the teachers are pulling their kids out of the school! Your friend has a quick network.’

‘Aunty, I am so so sorry. I will ask her to stop this gossip-mongering.’ Anu had an urge to shake sense into Meena’s head. What does she know about the efforts and ideals of Sumitra aunty? She had quit the job of a principal in an esteemed school to start Dew Drops. ‘What is happening with the parents of the fourth graders?’

Sumitra took off the glasses and rubbed her eyes. ‘Not very good news, Anu. Almost half of the parents have given letters to withdraw their kids. The coming academic year, we will have a single section.’ Sumitra paused and added hesitantly. ‘You know how I bought high-end Montessori materials for that class. Now, half of that is a waste. The seller is refusing to take it back. It is almost five-lakh rupees worth of stuff.’

Anu felt a jolt. This should not happen to someone as good as Sumitra aunty. Anu’s head whirled when her mind generated a million thoughts a minute to make it better for Sumitra aunty. She spoke after a pause. ‘Aunty, new parents will come to you in due course. But for now, I will help you get the money back. We must create a demand for these products so that the seller comes crawling to you for a buyback.’

‘Thank you for caring so much, Anu. Don’t take too much trouble over this. Now tell me, how are your new house and new life?’

Anu smiled dryly. ‘Aunty, that place is for top Bollywood actors or ultra-rich politicians! We must be the poorest in that neighbourhood. The schools charge six lakhs for LKG! I don’t know that to do.’ Anu poured her heart out to Sumitra aunty.

‘Anu, this is India. There is no place where only the rich can exist. I do know a school in Hebbal, run by a friend. I don’t know how far it is from your house.’ When Sumitra aunty dawned that I-will-solve-this-for-you face, Anu started to relax.

‘Aunty, will you ask if I can also work there? Being at home is snuffing the air out of me.’

‘First things first, Anu. Let us now take care of Vicky. You relax in your new place for a while and settle down.’