Leaving the office early, I hopped onto a bus back to my apartment. There was a spring in my step for the first time in a long while as I ran up the stairs to our apartment. Soon we wouldn’t need to do this anymore; Maa would have the freedom to come and go as she wanted. She would have a little balcony garden where she could sit in the morning, drinking her tea.

‘Ashray,’ she called as I walked into the house.

‘I’m here Maa, are you ready to go?’

‘Aren’t you going to have something to drink before we go?’ She popped her head out of the kitchen.

‘Rishi is meeting us there, we will have plenty of time afterwards.’ I locked arms with her and led her out of the kitchen. She smiled at me lovingly, confusion and delight written on her face, but I knew she didn’t want to spoil my excitement at surprising her. Holding her arm as we went down the stairs, knowing that she was straining, I couldn’t help but allow myself to be truly happy. I might not have Sakshi by my side, but one of my dreams was being fulfilled. I was earning well, and having a home like the one we were going to see would help in finding me a wife. If my heartbreak had taught me anything, it was that status still mattered when it came to marriage. If I could prove that I was a reliable provider, there was more chance that I would be accepted.

In the taxi ride to the apartment, Maa teased me for clues about where we were going.

‘Look at this beautiful market,’ I said, pointing out of the window. Early evening traffic was congested, which would normally irritate me, but today it allowed us time to see which shops and areas Maa would be able to explore while I was at work. The driver stopped outside the building. I helped my Maa out of the taxi and paid him. At the door, Rishi waited for us, his normal grin on his face. He greeted Maa and she pulled him into a warm embrace.

‘What do you think?’ He opened his arms wide, turning in a half-circle.

‘I don’t know what this is,’ she responded playfully.

‘Come.’ I held her arm as Rishi buzzed us into the building. The front lobby was tiled in light grey, and four new silver elevators lined either side of an indoor rock garden. It smelled clean, unaffected by the pollution outside. Rishi reached for the button on the elevator. It opened instantly.

‘This is fancy,’ Maa said and smiled. ‘I hope you boys aren’t taking me for dinner? I already have food prepared at home.’