‘It’s been 1:30 already”, Anu said to herself. Restlessly, she gazes at her mobile screen, tapping her thumb alongside. A message pops up on her phone. She opens it excitedly. It was a status reply on WhatsApp which she puts in last night. “Your mommy is cutie” someone texted. Out of habit, she checks her status. A woman, in her early 50’s is swinging and giggling. Anu smiles as she watches the video and scrolls through one of the Whatsapp messages. She has sent her account details to a contact named, Raging Films. ‘We will transfer your payment by tonight’ was the last message she received. The anxiety again ensues in her heart, until the call on her phone breaks the monotony of her pale face. “Thank You Bittu” she hears the voice from the other side of the phone. “Happy Birthday Maa”, Anu tries to sound as excited and happy as she could for the next ten minutes of the conversation.
“Did you have your lunch?” her mother enquired in the mid of the conversation. Meanwhile, Anu is busy typing and erasing a message. “Hey, can you let me know when can I receive my due payment?” She murmured the message while her mother’s voice continues from the other side of the phone. “Anu, Anu. Are you there? I couldn’t hear you?” her mother continues to ask. Anu erases the message and starts typing again without responding to her mother. ‘Hey, did you receive my account details?’ Anu erases the message again and takes a deep sigh. There is a knock on the door. “Okay Maa, I will call you back tonight. Yeah, I will take care. Bye,” Anu hung up the phone in a hurry and rushes to open the door. The water boy is standing outside holding a large can of water. He enters as Anu opens the gate. The water boy places the can on a table and walks towards Anu. “Mam, total 150. Last time, you paid for just one can”. Listening to the water boy, Anu rushes toward her room. She picks up her mobile and looks for her account balance. ‘Your account has 74.32 rupees’ Anu reads the message to herself and quickly starts looking for her purse. She takes out a wallet from her bag and looks within. After searching for a brief time, she takes out one fifty rupee note along with a few coins. “Please take seventy this time. Rest I will pay you the next time, for sure”, while stretching her hand Anu requests the water boy. The water boy picks up the empty can and takes the 50 rupees note from Anu. ” Next time, pay 100. It will be settled.” Anu keeps looking at the money on her hand, as the waterboy leaves.
She closes the door and comes to her room to lie down. She stares at the room ceiling for a while and again picks up her phone. She opens the food delivery app and starts looking for cake delivery options in Allahabad. As she scrolls through her phone, a Whatsapp message pops up again. “Did you order the cake for Aunty?” Anu received a text from Pooja. Anu reads the message and doesn’t respond. “Send me the money, and I will order it for you” Pooja texted again. Anu didn’t respond this time either. ” Remember, The shop will get closed by 2 pm.” As the third text popped up, Anu throws the phone aside and lies down on her bed. She closes her eyes and starts breathing deeply. The clock ticks to 01:45 pm.
Anu gets up from the bed and starts walking lamely toward the kitchen. As she was filling her glass of water, a notification sound pops on her phone. Anu rushes towards the room holding the glass. She keeps the glass beside her bed and picks up her phone. Her eyes start to glitter and a smile ensues on her face. ‘Your account has been credited with rupees five thousand’ Anu reads the message and checks her account balance. The screen shows the amount of Rupees 5074.32. Quickly, Anu checks the time and opens the cake delivery app on her phone. She scrolls through the phone and stops at the image of a butterscotch cake. She starts typing something with immediacy. ‘Order placed’, a message pops again on her phone. Anu takes a relieving breath and keeps his phone aside. She picks up a glass of water and starts drinking patiently. She gulps the water while looking at the clock. The time is 5 minutes past 2. She drank the water and lie down again on the bed. She picks up her phone again and opens the WhatsApp. She types, ” Sorry Maa, I was in a hurry. Will call you at night” and pressed the send button. The next moment she received a message from Raging Films. “We have transferred your due amount. Kindly confirm the transaction.” Anu reads the message and starts typing. “Payment received, Thank You”. She presses the send button with a smile.