Sorting Out Sid by Yashodra Lal

course he knew her name, but he was going for casual. He saw Aditi’s expression and realized he had been mistaken in assuming this to be a safe topic.
    ‘Oh!’ she snapped, ‘you mean the one you insulted repeatedly and then ran away from, right? Yes, that was Neha or something .’
    ‘Listen…’ he pleaded, ‘… I’m really sorry about that … was she really upset?’
    Aditi let out her breath in a huff, literally letting off steam. ‘No, Neha doesn’t get upset easily – most of the things that bother other people don’t bother her … she’s kind of different . I was hoping you’d get to know her better.’ She gave Sid a dirty look again, but he was too relieved to mind.
    ‘That’s great,’ Sid exhaled, ‘I thought she was very nice … whatever I … er … saw of her. I know she probably thinks I’m an idiot – I behaved like one. It’s just that…’ He searched for the right words. ‘I haven’t really been myself of late.’
    ‘That’s true.’ Aditi gazed at him. ‘I’ve never seen you so all-over-the-place before. What’s going…’
    ‘So tell me more about her,’ he said, interrupting her, leaning forward and setting his half-empty mug on the table. ‘Your judgement of people has always been so accurate. What do you mean she’s different?’
    Aditi was sharp enough to know he was trying to change the topic. But he had appealed to her ego by flattering her. That always worked. She rolled her eyes and let him have his way, settling back to speak about the girl who was clearly a favourite of hers.
    ‘She’s a single mom, as you know.’ Sid inclined his head graciously, ignoring the sarcasm. ‘She used to be my neighbour in Bangalore a few years ago. She’s much younger than us, just turned thirty. I never saw much of Kapil, her husband. Their divorce came through a couple of months ago – I think they were only married for three years. She’s got full custody of the baby – he didn’t really fight for it. She’s convinced he never cared much anyway. She’s now moving here from Bangalore with the baby and starting a new job. Very brave of her!’
    ‘That’s rough,’ Sid murmured, and then added wonderingly, ‘But … she … looked so cheerful and … happy.’
    ‘That’s her!’ Aditi said, smiling again. ‘She’s always like that. I’m quite amazed by her sometimes – she’s had such a rough childhood too! She lost her dad when she was only eight – so it’s just been her mom and her. They’ve done okay, though.’
    ‘So how come she’s leaving her mom and moving to Delhi? And why is she moving to Sherwood Towers … just to be close to you?’
    Aditi looked a little surprised at the interest he was showing. ‘Well … moving to Delhi? Maybe she just wanted a change – sort of a new beginning? And Sherwood Towers is only partly because of me and Krish – Neha doesn’t ask forhelp on most things, she’s pretty independent. I think it’s just that her new office is in Gurgaon, and she feels Ayaan and Kippy would be good company for each other.’
    ‘Kippy?’ Sid couldn’t help snorting. ‘Sounds like a dog’s name!’
    Aditi’s smile disappeared and she told him coldly, ‘I wouldn’t say that to her if I were you.’
    ‘Got it.’ Sid wiped the grin off his face.
    ‘She’s pretty unique,’ continued Aditi. ‘Full of life. Always interested in meeting all types of people. She introduced me the other day to this Englishwoman, Cynthia – a British psychic! I don’t believe in all these things, but she’s supposed to have quite a following – has a practice in Hauz Khas. The three of us went out for lunch. I thought she was very sweet … slightly strange. I’ve no idea where Neha meets these people. Anyway, she’s always doing stuff like that.’
    He was on the verge of making a derisive crack about the whole British-psychic-named-Cynthia thing, but refrained given how Aditi had reacted to the Kippy-being-a-dog’s-name remark.