Shwetha quickly clicked a few pictures of the building. ‘Show these to Sanju and ask him what he thinks. You should put Vicky in a proper school.’

19

19

‘Sanju, the school that Sumitra aunty suggested is nice. Vicky will like it there,’ Anu broached the topic tactfully when they were in the middle of a good pasta dinner. Rathnamma’s daughter, Geetha, was Master Chef calibre.

Sanju, obviously pleased with the food, looked at Anu and smiled. ‘If Vicky is going to like it, then it cannot be good.’

In a way, Sanju was right. But he and his family were the kinds who expected kids to know tables till ten by the time they turned two. Well, Vicky, on his good days, could count till ten.

‘Anu, please put him where all the kids here are going. If it is six lakhs per year, so be it. Education is important.’ Sanju said firmly. ‘No more mom-and-pop school for Vicky.’

Anu glared at him. ‘Don’t insult Sumitra aunty’s school. Also, I am not a genius in maths, Sanju. But even I can count that it comes to fifty thousand a month. Have we come into some hidden gold suddenly? Till last month, you objected to buying even things like Twinings teabags!’ Then she remembered to add. ‘There is nothing wrong with Sumitra aunty’s school. I taught there too. Now, don’t say case in point.’

‘You said it. I didn’t! And, Twinings tea tastes like water and is double the price of Tetley!’ Sanju put his fork down in irritation. ‘Why is everything about money now, Anu? You spend so much on bags and shoes and teas but when it comes to important things, you become stingy.’

Anu was stung. True that she bought an occasional (well, once in three months at best) Hidesign or a Caprese. But was that any comparison to the expenses Sanju was talking here?

After a pause, she nodded her agreement. She didn’t want to drag on the fight and make Sanju quit dinner. The credit card bill would do that anyway. ‘Fine. I will put him in Indigo International. Let him become an unhappy Einstein!’

Sanju smiled. ‘Say Jeff Bezos or Nadella. Einstein is long dead.’

Anu smiled too, as the cloud between them began to lift slowly. ‘Sanju, how much is your actual take-home salary? After the taxes, retirement and other hidden expenses?’

Sanju didn’t like to reveal the numbers. She never knew how much he made. He got up and ruffled her hair. ‘Don’t worry. I won’t make you spend your inheritance.’

‘I will need your debit card to pay the first instalment of fees.’

Worry flashed on Sanju’s face momentarily. She was sure he hadn’t thought of actually having to pay!