The masala he’d made for the potatoes was soft and not too spicy and he’d grated coconut over it. I could eat it from a bowl, like halwa, I thought, agonizing at the thought of actually doing that. I was a little dismayed at how often my thoughts were turning to food, now that both he and Aunty V were in the house.

‘No problem. I’ll join you guys in a bit,’ he said.

I was bursting with the need to tell everything to Nisha, but I’d have to wait until we met tomorrow in college. I wanted to tell her in person to see her expression when I told her about that ‘moment’ with Raghu. I didn’t want to think too much about it or read too much into it until I spoke to her.

After breakfast, Ma and Aunty V sat in the living room, and got on Facebook to invite their friends for the party. I helped out by making a poster for the invite. Then we started sending them out and, seriously, old people had nothing better to do on Sunday morning than being on Facebook because they all responded immediately. They were definitely going to come!

Raghu had gone to take a shower after breakfast. He emerged from his room, hair still wet and shiny.

Aunty V looked up and frowned. ‘You need to dry your hair.’

‘Ma, I’m not a kid!’ he protested, looking a little embarrassed.

‘Yes, you are,’ she shot back at him.

‘I won’t catch a cold because of wet hair!’ he said, his face a little red.

Since Aunty V kept glaring at him, he scowled and walked back to the bedroom. He came out with a towel tied on his head, turban style. He looked ridiculous and he knew it.

Aunty V took one look at him and slapped her forehead.

‘This boy,’ she mumbled as he sat down beside them.

Yes, this boy, I thought. I was glad he had come. Even if I was just his friend, I was glad of his company, of the fun he brought into our lives.

Papa hmphed and I turned to him.

‘You’ve been weird all morning,’ I said.

He looked at me and frowned. ‘Stupid party,’ he mumbled.

‘Aww. Are you jealous that this Ashwin guy . . . no, Ash from Mom’s college will be coming to the party?’ Ash had been the first one to RSVP.

His face reddened. He cleared his throat. ‘Nonsense. I’m just worried about your mother. I don’t want her to get stressed over this party.’

‘She won’t,’ I assured him. ‘Look at her. She seems so much happier with something to look forward to.’

Ma indeed seemed to be better. I wouldn’t say her face was glowing—she still had those zits and now dark circles too—but she seemed a lot happier.

‘Thanks, Ananya,’ Papa said suddenly.

‘For what?’