I wondered if Raghu would feel unsettled because he didn’t have a room for himself now. His things were still in the guest room but he couldn’t just go there if he wanted to. His other refuge, the kitchen, had been appropriated by Nani.

I stayed in my room and came out only in the evening. Raghu had texted that he would be home a little early today and I was counting the minutes.

When he walked in, we were all sitting stiffly in the living room, waiting for Papa to get back from work so that we could have dinner. Nani became more alert the moment Raghu’s eyes met mine. I couldn’t control the blush that crept into my cheeks. I looked away—straight into Nani’s narrowed eyes.

When Raghu rejoined us after a shower, I couldn’t stop myself from looking at him every now and then. I tried to be surreptitious but he was stealing glances at me as well. Nani fumed silently.

Ma had told me that Nani had hated Papa on sight. She could not understand why Ma would want to marry him because Papa didn’t have much money. But Ma had persisted and well, Papa hadn’t turned out too bad, I thought. Maybe that annoyed Nani. But shouldn’t she be happy that her daughter was happy and doing well?

Nani had never liked Aunty V either, and now because Ma had called her in preference to Nani, she probably hated her.

As Nani got up to check on the dinner that she had insisted on cooking, we heard Papa’s car at the gate.

When Papa came in and saw our glum faces, his too became glum. It was like a reflection, I thought, trying not to giggle.

‘She’s still here then,’ he said in a low voice as he sat down.

‘Of course she’s still here,’ Aunty V said. ‘Making a number of heart-attack friendly dishes.’

‘Mom!’ Raghu mumbled. ‘Stop it.’

Aunty V rolled her eyes, but it was Ma who spoke. ‘Just let her be. Let her do what she wants. She’ll get tired of it in a few days.’

Dinner was a strained affair. I ended up sitting next to Raghu and Nani glowered at the two of us.

Nani had made lacchha parathas and rogan josh. There was an inch-thick layer of oil on the gravy. Just looking at it made me want to hurl. I quickly made myself a cucumber and carrot salad.

To my surprise, Nani smiled approvingly.