The man stood smoking against the pillar of the bus stop. His new shoe pinched but he kept it on. He saw himself reflected in the tinted glass of a passing vehicle and marvelled again at the difference a shave had made to his appearance.

He had to be patient he told himself; last week’s disappointment must not dissuade him. He looked around, it was much the same scene, the old woman selling agarbattis in the corner, the sweeper who having finished his morning shift was waiting or perhaps whiling the way time by sunning himself and the passing honking traffic and a few people trying to get a lift.

At long last he saw the bus coming, it took the last turn and came to a halt right next to him. The girls spilled out of the bus, laughing and chattering. This weekly outing was the highlight of their life in the residential school.

Pocket money was hoarded for this time when they would be able to buy that yummy pastry at Auntie’s store or pick up delicacies at the neighbouring store which stocked everything from savouries and fancy cookies, candy and chocolate, not to mention the coloured clips, pens and pencils which were needed to play those games of one-upmanship.

The man kept an eagle’s eye out for Deeksha, she had not come in the bus last week. He had waited hopelessly, this week however his patience was rewarded.

He spotted her in a group of five girls standing at the side of the bus as if waiting for someone to join them. His first urge was to go up to her and speak but he controlled himself.

Deeksha was precious and he had to handle this with the utmost care, it wouldn’t do to alarm her at all.

The girls moved off in bunches, the eldest being the first to move off, the younger ones were chaperoned by a teacher and the man was afraid that Deeksha would be too close to a teacher for him to be able to do anything.

Deeksha was oblivious to the man’s presence. Her interest was focused on the new pen she had seen at the shop on her last visit; she wanted one in pink and had asked the shopkeeper to order one for her. Her friends said she wouldn’t get her pen.

They had made a bet if she won the bet, they would all buy her something she liked otherwise and if she got her pen, she would treat them all to pineapple pastries at Auntie’s store.

The girls started walking towards the shop all chatting nineteen to the dozen, the new teacher followed them with a book under her arm and a slightly lost look. The man saw all this and waited. Once the group crossed out of sight he got up and followed at a discreet distance.

Deeksha gave a cry of joy when the shopkeeper handed over the pen to her as her friends looked on sheepishly. She quickly paid for it and then found a small bracelet she had liked last time which she made her friends pay for. Once done with their purchases the girls headed towards the pastry shop.

The new teacher had found a corner seat which overlooked both shops and she sat down there to wait for the girls to return.