Pooja hadn’t shown up at the tennis court. That was a bit disappointing for Anu, but on the bright side, Pete had said she was now looking like a below-average player after two days of practice. That was a great improvement from pathetic.

On Friday morning, Anu decided to beg Pete to go with her for admissions. His grandkids were in the same school. Also, white people received a good reception in India.

‘Why do you want me to go with you? You are the native here! I am the foreigner.’ Pete protested when Anu called him and asked him to go along with her to the school.

‘Pete, trust me. In this part of Bangalore, you are the native and I am the foreigner. I will buy you coffee at Shree Darshini. Please go with me.’ Pete had told her how he loved the coffee in Darshini that was close to Verdant Green, but given how crowded the place was, he could never get in.

‘Fine,’ Pete agreed. ‘Add two Vadas to the coffee. Both for me. Pick me up at nine then.’

‘Yes, My Lord.’ Anu hung up the phone. She was not like Shwetha who could go anywhere or do anything by herself. Anu needed someone by her side. But she was blessed that she always found someone right to be by her side. She had ‘good people karma’.

Once the money was paid, the admission process was smooth. Everyone was friendly to her and super friendly to Pete. The principal even ordered some fresh juice for them in her chamber. She asked Pete repeatedly how they were in comparison with the schools in the US. Pete, being the diplomatic talker that he was, simply said the kids loved it there and loved it here.

‘Time for me to pay your debt, Mr Pete.’ Anu grinned as she drove.

Settling Pete on the stone culvert under an old banyan tree in front of the Darshini, Anu handed him a plate of piping hot Vada dipped in Sambar. ‘You are my hero.’ Pete smiled at her gratefully. ‘But you didn’t need me today.’

‘Well, you were my trophy friend. I liked showing you off.’ Anu bit into her Vada.

Pete shrugged. ‘Fair enough, then.’

That was when Anu spotted Pooja walking on the road with her earphones plugged in. Torn jeans and a T-shirt—she looked too plain. Not at all like the designer kid she had met the other day.

‘Pooja,’ Anu shouted instinctively but then, realizing she had the earphone on, rushed to her and tapped her on the shoulder.

‘Oh, aunty,’ Pooja took off her earphone, but she did not look too pleased to see Anu grinning ear to ear in glee.

‘Want to join us for a coffee?’ Anu felt a little deflated looking at Pooja’s lack of enthusiasm.

‘No aunty, another time.’ Pooja smiled curtly. She seemed to be in a hurry to go somewhere.