She
She strolled leisurely in the garden with his daughter, laughing merrily. Her tanned skin glowed in the afternoon sun. He watched her quietly from the corner window of his bedroom. As he saw them entering the house, he hurried downstairs and sank into the plush drawing room sofa, burying his nose into the newspaper. Shalu came flying up to him, shouting ‘Hello Papa’ all the way and hugged him lovingly. ‘So, how was your tuition?’ he asked tenderly. ‘It was good but physics is a hard nut to crack.’ ‘And what about you?’ he probed as he turned towards her. Amazed that such a silly question could be put to her, she raised her eyebrows and remarked casually, ‘With a little help from Shalu, I think I can sail through.’ She had been visiting them for the past few weeks now and always addressed him directly without uncle-ing or sir-ing him. Shalu butted in. ‘We can go through the next chapter if you like.’ ‘Sure.’ Somebody rang the doorbell. ...