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“Damage control. You look like a fright, babe. Close your eyes and lie back,” he ordered, pulling out a moisturising sheet mask.

I gave in with a sigh because there was no arguing with Sufi when he was on a mission. He slapped two cold teabags over my eyes and placed a glass of watermelon juice in my hand.

“Hydrate,” he ordered, and I hydrated.

“I’m going to miss you,” I mumbled, and he let out a loud snort from under his own sheet mask.

“I’m not going anywhere, gorgeous,” he retorted.

“But I am,” I replied. “And you know it.”

“I know nothing of the sort. Even if the divorce goes through, you and I are solid, babe. You’re stuck with me. Trust me, we’re going to be besties until the end of our lives, terrorisingthe inmates of whatever old people’s home Aisha dumps us in, together,” he said with a cackle.

“That’s the dream,” I said weakly. “Unless you get dementia and forget all about me.”

“Pfft! You’re unforgettable, babe. Like a nightmare that never leaves you.”

“Stop! You’re making me blush with all this praise,” I said dryly.

“That’s just the sheet mask working its magic,” he shit back.

“Hopefully, I’ll look less like a swamp witch when we land.”

“Who cares? We’ve all seen you at your worst and we still love you,” he teased.

“Well…Dhruv hasn’t seen me at my worst yet,” I said hesitantly. “And I don’t want to scare him off already.”

Sufi pulled the teabags off my eyes and glared at me when I opened my eyes to protest.

“What have you done?” he hissed, and I raised my chin in defiance.

“I asked him to meet me at the airport. I’m not going home with you guys.”

“Oh boy! There’s going to be bloodshed on the tarmac today,” said Sufi in a singsong voice. “Poor Dhruv. I liked him. He doesn’t deserve to die so early.”

“Shut up,” I hissed, looking around to see if anyone had overheard his predictions. “And don’t you dare chaabi Viren into fighting with Dhruv, you hear me?”

“Babe, chaabi-fying is my superpower,” said Sufi with an evil grin. “But in this case, I won’t have to do a thing. Mr C will do the needful.”

“He willnot. Viren is as eager to end this as I am,” I said coldly.

“That I agree,” murmured Sufi.

I shot him a suspicious glance because it didn’t sound like he agreed with me. But I had no time to argue with him. I had to find a very diplomatic way to break the news to the rest of the family. Because it was time they learned to live without me.

“Look, it’s not like I’m cutting off from you guys completely. I just need some space right now. I’ll come back in time for the social worker’s home visit. Until then…we can do movie nights at my place,” I babbled.

“Sure! Because Mr C will definitely agree to spend Friday evenings with you and Dhruv. Honestly, Sue! Are you high? Your husband is not going to let you drive off with another man. Especially not with Tahira and her aunt watching gleefully.”

I groaned in despair.

“That’s why I need you on my side, Sufi,” I begged.

“I’m always on your side, babe. Which means I get to stop you when you go off half-cocked,” he said cheerfully.

I rolled my eyes and slapped my teabags back over my eyes. He could say what he liked. But I knew that Viren would only be glad I wasn’t going home with them. It would make the eventual separation much easier if we started now.

As we prepared for landing, I cast about for a tactful way to tell Viren that I wasn’t going home with him. Because I needed his help to break the news to Aisha.