Anu quickly got the dinner going. The sooner it was over the better. Padma aunty unleashed a barrage of verbal firing all through dinner.

‘So much food. We have to have a sense of proportion when we cook.’

‘Why keep a cook? I cooked even when I worked.’

‘Is Sanju even getting any proper south Indian food? This looks too fancy.’

The final firing was just before she left. ‘Vicky is such a bright boy but because of the school, he can’t even spell simple words.’

Anu was exhausted by the end of the night. Such hatred from Padma aunty because she believed Anu was not good enough for Sanju. Nobody on earth was good enough for Sanju in her view. But there was another reason too for aunty’s hatred. Anu had broken off the engagement when Sanju had insisted that they live with his parents. Then, after about six months, they had got back together when Sanju had agreed to move into a separate flat.

Padma aunty, who was much relieved when they had separated, was devastated when they got back together. Her Sanju was not only marrying beneath him, but he was also moving away from the house.

It was altogether another story that Sameer had proposed to her in the meanwhile and Anu had almost agreed to marry him. She often wondered if Sanju’s change of heart was because of that proposal, though he denied it vehemently. But that had marked the beginning of Sanju’s disapproval of Anu’s friendship with Sameer.

21

21

By the time everyone left for the night, Anu was a wreck. Setting up the table, getting extra salt for someone, pickle for someone else, cold water for some and hot water for Padma aunty—well, none of this would have left her this dead if the house wasn’t as big as the Mysore Palace. In the middle of this, Vicky had gone into superhero mode flying from the sofa to window to what-not.

Padma aunty did not leave before firing a final salvo at Anu. ‘Sanju has done so well all by himself.’ Then, for good measure, she added. ‘With a single income.’

Sanju’s mother was the only one who caught it. The father-son duo was busy arguing about the best route to get home. Sanju’s mother then mildly corrected Padma aunty. ‘Padma, Anu stopped working only now. Also, because of her flat, they have saved a lot on rent.’

Padma aunty’s nostrils flared. ‘Because of that tiny flat, Sanju moved out of our nice house. And, Anu, you should do a B.Ed and qualify as a teacher.’

‘Yes, ma’am,’ Anu muttered to herself, closing the door behind them. Vicky came bounding to her full of stories. Some of them got so intermixed, Anu didn’t understand them at all but that didn’t matter. She hugged him close and that was all he needed.