The feeling of pressure on my chest was easing up. It had been weeks since Sakshi had broken up with me, and I thought that I had worked through my feelings. Work was going well, and Rishi’s relationship kept me entertained. Swearing off love for a little while seemed to suit me, and I even found myself smiling spontaneously again. I had learned that I needed to stop pushing down how I felt, that the emotions welling up inside me needed to be released, and if I refused them, denied them the right to be felt, they would manifest in ways that would destroy me. Vihaan showed concern, saying that I was working too hard, trying to distract myself from my feelings. I rubbished his claims, insisting that I was working to my goal of finding a place where Maa no longer needed to climb stairs.

‘Ashray.’ The familiar sound of chair wheels rolling broke my train of thought. ‘I sent you a mail. Look at that place!’ I navigated to my email and opened Rishi’s message which had the subject line ‘perfect’. Half expecting a joke, I sat back in my chair, trying to stifle a sigh. I was greeted with a picture of a two-bedroom apartment in the neighbourhood I wanted; the building was new and had an elevator.

‘What do you think?’ Rishi grinned.

I turned to him. ‘It’s beautiful—and there are no stairs.’

‘You haven’t seen the best part! Scroll down.’ I ran my finger over the mouse as pictures of the idyllic apartment filled my screen. From the living room, sliding doors opened on to a balcony. My mouth curled into a grin that matched Rishi’s. Quickly, I looked at the price. It was well within my budget; how was that possible? As usual, he read my thoughts.

‘It’s a friend’s investment property. He doesn’t want it standing open; he told me that if I could find a good tenant, he would keep the price reasonable.’

‘But don’t you want it?’ I asked him. He let out a laugh that was probably too loud for the office.

‘What am I going to do with two bedrooms and an apartment that size, Ashray?’ He had a point. His relationship with Latika was going well, but they weren’t serious yet.

‘I’ll take it,’ I said impulsively. ‘Do you think we can see it tonight?’

Rishi pulled a set of keys out of his pocket and smiled. He had known I would love the place. Opening my phone, I sent Maa a text.

‘Getting off work early. Have a surprise for you; please be ready at 6—we’re going out.’

‘So, we go and see it with my Maa, and then you come with us for dinner after?’

‘Sounds great,’ he replied, rolling back to his desk.