I needed Fat Ananya to leave. To be gone for good. But as I glanced one last time at the mirror before stepping outside, I knew she was still there.

Unnerved, I pushed open my door and walked outside. I could hear the sounds of laughter from outside the house and I walked there, my gaze lingering on the corridor where the guest room was, where Raghu was probably snoring away obliviously.

Aunty V had got fairy lights strung around the garden, and we’d hired some tables and chairs that were scattered around. I looked around at the people who had come. Some looked much older than my mother and some looked quite young.

Ma was sitting at one of the tables, talking to someone I recognized from the photos on Facebook. It was that man Ashwin—or Ash—who was talking to her in a low voice and going by the look on Ma’s face, she seemed to be enjoying herself.

Amused, I looked around. Aunty V was surrounded by a group of people and she was relating something funny to them.

Papa walked towards me, his face grumpy.

‘What is it?’ I asked him.

‘Nothing. I’m bored,’ he said, glancing at the table where Ma and Ashwin were talking.

‘You’re jealous,’ I stated.

He rolled his eyes. ‘I’m not jealous. I’m really bored. I don’t know these people at all,’ he said. ‘I think I’ll go inside and watch TV.’

‘But that’s rude,’ I protested.

He sighed. ‘So what should I do? Sit here in a corner? I’ve already had quite a bit to drink.’

‘Sit in the corner and I’ll join you as soon as I go and meet everyone,’ I told him.

He walked back and sat down on the chair and suddenly his face brightened. I turned to look at what had caused the change of expression. It was Raghu, standing at the door, hands in his pockets. My heart fluttered in my chest.

He’d changed into loose-fitting cargo shorts and paired it with a white T-shirt. He surveyed the scene and then saw Papa, who was waving at him. Smiling, he walked towards him.

I didn’t think he had seen me so I walked towards Ma to say hello to Ashwin and other people she wanted me to meet.

Ashwin was soft-spoken and shy and not at all the hot dude Ma and Aunty V had made him out to be. Ma was glowing, though, as she spoke to him. She was wearing a light yellow kurta and loose pink palazzo pants. She had left her hair loose and I was startled to realize she was looking pretty. She’d managed to hide the dark circles and zits with concealer and her voice had a special sort of quality as she laughed. She never laughed like this with us, I thought, this tinkling, breathless sort of laugh.