‘Sorry, ma’am. We are full for the night. IPL night. RCB is playing.’

‘This is for my father-in-law, please. Can you please accommodate? It will mean a world to him. He is a really big cricket buff.’ Anu tried to sound sweet though she was both panicking and getting frustrated.

‘No, ma’am. Sorry.’ The man was now waiting for a chance to hang up on her. He was of no use.

Anu called Sameer who did not pick up. So much for close friends. She called Shwetha back. ‘Listen, get some balloons, streamers, and a cake with the picture of a cricket bat. Come to Jake’s at eight, okay?’

Anu then walked inside the house with a bright smile. All faces turned to her expectantly. Padma aunty too did not sport her usual I-hate-your-guts look.

‘Anu, you are late.’ That had to be her mother. Late for what? The birthday party I haven’t planned but invited people to?

‘Not late at all. Jake’s is only a half-hour drive.’ Anu rebutted.

Anu’s mother-in-law, looking visibly happy, spoke. ‘Instead of everyone going separately, we thought we can all go together. Your father-in-law’s friends will come there directly. They all want to watch IPL on the big TV at Jake’s.’

Anu smiled as brightly as she could. ‘That is the plan, aunty.’

The caravan of cars started. Anu drove alone and sent Vicky with her parents. She had to reach there before all of them. Cutting, swerving and swearing, Anu reached Jake’s in a record twenty minutes. She was sure her father and father-in-law would take at least forty. Calming her breath, Anu stopped at the reception. Thankfully, Shwetha was already there. ‘Table for eight, please.’ Anu panted.

The woman smiled. ‘Under what name, ma’am?’

‘Anu.’

The woman looked and looked again and then spoke, looking very perplexed. ‘No, ma’am. I don’t see it here.’

‘That is very careless.’ Anu put on as stern a face as she could. ‘I called and made a reservation.’

Shwetha was playing along well by dawning an angry face. The woman made a call and a man walked to the reception. Can’t these women handle anything by themselves? Something as simple as setting up a table?

‘Are you the one who had just called, ma’am? I told you there are no tables.’ It was the same voice that had spoken to her over the phone.

‘I made a reservation is what I know. This is my father-in-law’s ninetieth birthday and he is an ex-army man. Is this the respect you pay a veteran?’ Anu couldn’t believe herself for the lies that tumbled out.

The man looked highly unconvinced but luckily, he didn’t argue. He instead turned to a waiter and mumbled something. ‘Follow him, please. We will arrange something.’