That same day...

Ghatlodiya, Chanakyapuri, Ahmedabad

"Stop, thief!" GK cried, on his haunches while trying to catch his breath. A few young people collected around him.

"Everything okay kaka?" one of them asked.

He nodded his head. The group split up and some of the boys tried to run after the thief. A few minutes later, they made their way back.

"Kaka, he got away," another one said panting. "Was there something expensive? We should inform the police."

"No, don't worry about it," GK told the boys. He then moved slightly to crouch closer to the compound wall of the apartment building the incident had happened in front of and leaned onto it for support.

Seeing a bunch of boys crowding near the building, people began to gather.

"What happening?" A loud voice boomed through the crowd dispersing them all. And standing in front of GK was the owner of that voice - Anupama.

She saw the frail old man resting on the pavement, moved towards him, and crouched right beside him.

"Everything okay Kaka?"

He briefly narrated what had happened.

"I had gone to meet some of my distant relatives. On my way back, the auto-rickshaw suddenly developed trouble. I thought I would continue walking till I found a new one. But this thief stole all my belongings.

"Beta, he took my tote bag which had my wallet and phone."

He looked tired. Anupama looked up at the sun. It was scorching. The heat and the experience might have both harrowed him.

"Worry no Kaka, I live this building. Come with me. Use phone to inform relatives. They come pick up you.

"Waiting time in my house. Sun too hot. Not good. Too tired staying out."

She extended her hand to lend him support to get up and he gratefully took it.

As the two of them made their way to Anupama's apartment, he casually asked, "Beta what's your name?"

"Anupama."

"You, Kaka?"

"Gopichand Karodiya."

*****

Seated comfortably under the ceiling fan's breeze, GK gulped the cool water Anupama offered. The house was small and modest, a one-bedroom apartment at the most, in an almost run-down building. He could see large visible veins in the walls of the living room. She'd recently had the place treated for termites and no money to paint over that evidence. The living room opened out onto a balcony that overlooked the rear of the building. A clothesline ran across the entire length of the balcony. On the left side was a rather large and healthy Tulsi plant.

The living room was also sparsely fitted. Two plastic chairs, one plastic table, and a wooden divaan covered by a beautifully patterned bandhani sheet. One of the corners had a beautiful wooden table with a mesmerizing idol of Lord Krishna on it. A small lamp was placed before the idol.

The living room opened to a short hallway with four doors. GK guessed the room right next to the living room was the kitchen, the one on the farthest end was the bedroom, and the two smaller doors in between were the bathroom and the toilet. There was a wash - sink in between those two doors.

Anupama had promptly disappeared after offering GK water. The aroma from the kitchen told him that she was making something for them to eat. He really liked this girl. Compared to his relatives who only seemed to entertain him as a courtesy, he found Anupama to be genuinely warm and caring.

The girl, she was still a girl compared to GK, must be in her early 40s. And yet she lived by herself, devoid of family. He turned around to look at the walls. They were devoid of memories.

His thoughts were interrupted by Anupama's chatter.

"Kaka, take some hot dhokla and masala chai. I made fresh," She pulled the plastic table in front of GK and placed a plate and mug on it.

GK took a bite. The dhokla tasted heavenly.

He looked at Anupama, seated opposite to him on the Diwan, sipping from her mug of chai.

"Beta, god bless you. You helped a stranger, brought him home, and gave him food and water. May all your wishes come true."

She smiled at that, a sad smile that reflected the pain in her eyes.

GK got up and made his way to Anupama. Placing his hand on her head, he said: "One always receives blessings when one needs them."

And then she held onto GK's hand and cried for the first time since her divorce six months ago. She had received more concern and understanding from this stranger than the family she was born into, than the family she'd married into, than even some of her own children. But this stranger, she'd met outside her apartment had blessed her, had wished for her dreams to come true.

"Shhh..beta, what's wrong."

"Nothing Kaka."

GK chuckled at that. He understood she needed reassurance. He didn't need to know why.

"Good things always happen to good people Anupama," he told her. "But remember, God helps only those who help themselves."

When she wiped her tears and looked at him quizzically, he explained: "It's easy to pity yourself because you're a victim of circumstances. But before you feel sorry for yourself, ask what action did you take to change the outcome? And if you did nothing, then you have no right to feel sorry."

She paused to take a deep breath. "Kaka, six months before, I became divorced. My husband 26 years old left me and got married. Again. My wedding day, I mean wedding day celebration every year day, my husband and that other girl, in my bedroom."

GK knew there was more to it. He tottered to the kitchen and filled a glass with water from the earthen pot and handed it to Anupama. She took a sip and gratefully looked at him. In her entire lifetime, she didn't recollect a moment where anyone had done anything nice for her, even something simple as offering her a glass of water.

GK sensed the awe. He gently laid his hand on her head encouraging her to continue.

And Anupama did. "Kaka, 26 years of wedding, I do everything, all housework, cooking, cleaning, taking care husband's parents, taking care children, taking care everyone except myself.

"But when everybody find out, no one care about me. No one care about me.

"Everyday I first getting up and last sleeping, and I do that for 26 years. When I tell husband's mother about affair, she blame me. She tells me I'm not good wife. I don't know how to keep husband happy. 26 years Kaka, and I had nothing after it all."

She took another sip of water. "My children, they no love me. They love Papa. Strong Papa, handsome Papa, Papa speak nice English. New Mama, very style, very smart, work in office. Me??" She pointed to herself from top to bottom. "My middle son, he love me. He trying to support me. But his father tell him he throw him out of house. Stop giving money for college. So I tell him to stay. Keep quiet. No mother ask child sacrifice for self respect. I give divorce and quietly leave home."

Anupama felt light after having said all of it out aloud. Talking to this stranger was easy. And so she told him more, about the struggles she faced trying to get an apartment as a single woman, not being able to find a job because she wasn't educated and didn't know to speak, read or write English, how she finally managed to land a cooking teacher's job at her daughter's school, how her daughter ignores her whenever she accidentally bumps into her in the corridor.

She told him things she'd never told anyone before. She somehow knew she didn't have to worry about being judged by this man.