"But there are no people living on the moon or in the sky!" Pebbles squinted at the drawing K2 was busy with. It showed a little box-like house in the sky between the moon and the stars. One could even see a face looking out of the window, possibly toward earth.

"Why can't there be? People went to the moon, so why can't they live in the sky?" K2 argued defiantly.

"Abby, can you tell K2? He says there are people living in the sky!" Pebbles looked at Sanyukta hopefully.

"Sorry kids, but am a bit busy, you have to figure these things out yourselves!" Sanyukta looked a overwhelmed as she tried to feed an unwilling Megami her formula, at the same time keeping an eye on Gingerbread, who was trying to chew anything that caught his fancy. The once fragile pup had morphed into a little bundle of energy in the weeks after they brought him home.

"There is no air in the sky. How can people breathe?" Pebbles persisted.

"I don't know, but science can make it happen. People can live in the sky!" K2 continued to add details to his art.

"Hi everyone! Looks like we are very busy here!" The voice startled Sanyukta. Randhir often walked in unannounced, but his sudden entry surprised her. As he nodded at her she saw that he looked travel weary, but he was obviously happy to spot the kids. 

"Hi Gingerbread, how have you been?" Randhir barely finished saying those words when the little dog darted toward him, wagging his tail happily, nipping at his ankles. Randhir picked him up and spoke to him tenderly, trying to stay out of reach as the puppy attempted to lick his face. Soon there was laughter ringing across the room as the children joined in. It felt like the solemn atmosphere had suddenly become charged with happiness. 

Sanyukta's heart skipped a beat. No matter how hard she tried not to, she had missed Randhir like crazy. She was conflicted, her mind was unwilling to admit that she was still drawn to him. She had been tempted to call him and it had taken every ounce of her willpower to avoid doing so.

 Both Randhir and Harsh had left town abruptly weeks ago, giving her barely any notice, mentioning some urgent business that needed their attention. Before leaving Randhir made sure that she had access to the account into which he transferred enough money to last her months, but the absence of the men was unnerving for her. Although Harsh had asked her to call or send an email if she wanted to, she refrained from reaching out, hoping that either one of them would call. Needless to say, she had been disappointed. 

"Where's Dad?" She asked. She had assumed they would return together, but there was no sign of Harsh yet.

"He will be back this weekend. He had to stay back to take care of certain things." Randhir asked for some tea and something to eat.

"Sure, why don't you freshen up first?" She had some batter sitting in the fridge, she could make idlis quickly.

"What is this powder for?" Pebbles asked.

"You mix it with oil or ghee and enjoy it with idli or dosa!" Sanyukta showed her how to use the condiment called gunpowder, made with roasted lentils and spices.

"My Mom makes sambhar and coconut chutney with idli!" Pebbles had never eaten gunpowder before.

"Yes, but if you are out of coconut this acts as a substitute. Have some sambhar if you don't like the powder!" Sanyukta offered.

"No, I do like it." Pebbles imitated K2 by mashing her idli and eating it with the powder and ghee.

After they finishes the snack she turned to Randhir.

"Coach Sir, please tell K2 that people cannot live in the sky." Pebbles showed Randhir the picture K2 was making.

"Hey, is that you looking out of this window?" Randhir asked.

"No, that is my Dad, he is an astronaut, he is waving out to me!" K2 replied. 

For a few moments nobody spoke. Sanyukta rose and left the room, she was afraid the children would see her tears.

"I was just telling him that it is not possible, there is no air in the sky!" Pebbles looked at Randhir hopefully.

"In fact, children, it is quite possible for people to live in space. Here, take a look. This is the International Space Station, crew members have lived on it since the year 2000." Randhir smiled to see the astonished look on the children's faces.

"But why are those people living in the sky?" Pebbles asked.

"The ISS is like a space laboratory, the crew members carry out various science experiments to see if it may be possible for people and plants to survive in space." Randhir explained.

"So there are people living on it right now?" K2 asked. Randhir could see hope building in his eyes.

"Yes, there are people living and working there, even as we speak. And the ISS is not stationery, it circles the earth every ninety minutes. That means the people living on it see sixteen sunrises and sunsets daily." Randhir went on to explain that the windows in the sleeping quarters were darkened so that the crew's sleep would not be disturbed when the sun rose and set several times in a twenty four hour cycle.

"So then my father could be living on the ISS, and he has not come home because he is so far away! Can we see them from here?" K2 asked excitedly.

"The ISS circles the earth every hour and a half. It can be see moving across the horizon if it happens to be passing over your city. We can ask NASA to send an intimation for the next possible sighting over our region. Maybe if we set a telescope in time we can see it better!" Randhir assured him and K2 looked elated. Randhir could see how much the fantasy meant for K2 and did not want to disappoint him.

"Hey kids, why don't you watch this movie called Annie? It is about a little orphan girl finding herself a home, and has many songs too! Nanny, please keep an eye on them!" Randhir instructed. He had to go after Sanyukta, she had not yet emerged from the room.

"May I come in?" Randhir announced his presence with a knock on her door.

"I was just putting her off to sleep!" Sanyukta announced, avoiding looking in the direction as the door opened gently. Randhir shut the door behind him.

She was sitting on the bed, with Gingerbread nestled in her arms. Mercifully Megami fell off to sleep soon.

"The kids are watching Annie on TV in the living room!" Randhir sat down beside her. It was not hard to see that she had been crying.

"Are you fine?" Randhir tickled Gingerbread and the puppy wagged his tail, trying to leap toward him.

"I don't know what to do! No matter how hard I try, K2 won't stop fantasising about his absent father. What am I supposed to tell him, that unlike in his imagination where he is a superhero, his father was someone who hobnobbed with drug dealers and was probably killed by them? It would break the boy's heart!" Sanyukta's eyes brimmed with fresh tears.

"Sanyukta, maybe it would be better if I waited for Dad to return before sharing the news with you, but looks like I owe you an explanation for why we were away for the past few weeks. You need to be strong, it may be a little difficult to digest." Randhir wanted to be as discreet as possible.

"This is about Vishad, is it not?" Sanyukta's instinct had forewarned him.

"Goa police contacted Arvind uncle claiming they had cracked the case. They had found some evidence. Arvind uncle called Dad, after which we rushed there. The cops ran a DNA test, which proved that the remains of the body they found was actually Vishad. Dad briefly considered informing you but we decided against it. We had to stay back to perform the rites. Dad is still completing some procedures. And you may have to travel to Goa to attend to some formalities, whenever you feel ready for it!" Randhir paused. 

Sanyukta sat still, trying to digest the news. It did not take her by surprise, everyone had strongly suspected what had just been confirmed. It was nearly five years since the man had disappeared. She just did not know how to react. Was she to mourn the passing of the man she had married mindlessly, a sham marriage that had been contrived by Renuka to ensure the separation of her son from her rival Anju's daughter?

"You ok?" Randhir asked.

"What am I supposed to do now? I cannot keep the truth from K2, now that we have confirmation!" She mouthed the words aimlessly.

"He has to know the truth, but maybe we can wait a while before we break it to him gently. It is a lot for him to deal with, and he is quite young!" Randhir wished he could reveal to mother and child the real truth about K2's paternity, but this was not the time for it. It would be inappropriate, his father had performed Vishad's last rites just days ago.

"So I am officially a widow now!" Sanyukta sighed. It hardly made a difference, she had never felt like a married woman anyway .Her relationship with Vishad had been a sham. And apparently the Shekhawats knew about it. Ironically enough, she did not know that Randhir knew much more than she did. 

"Actually when a chapter closes, you are at liberty to start a new one, at your discretion. I am going to make some popcorn for the kids, you can join us to watch Annie if you want!" Randhir carried Gingerbread in his arms as he left the room.

When Sanyukta finally emerged from the room the children were enjoying  popcorn and sipping freshly squeezed orange juice. Randhir sat on a beanbag, with Gingerbread in his arms, eating little morsels of popcorn.

"Where's Nanny?" Sanyukta asked.

"Taking a well-deserved nap! Sit down, have some popcorn!" Randhir offered her the bowl.

"Abby, we are having both butter and caramel flavours!" Pebbles chirped happily, amidst a mouthful of the crunchy caramel snack.

"But sugar is not good for their teeth!" Sanyukta objected.

"They promised to brush their teeth afterwards. And an occasional treat is not a calamity. Take it easy, Abby, the kids are in good hands!" Randhir drew their attention to the final medley sung by the lead stars of the film. Much to their surprise, he began to sing the lyrics alongside, encouraging the children to join him by following the lyrics appearing on the screen.

"Together at last!
Together forever!
We're tying a knot,
They never can sever!

Annie
I don't need sunshine now,
To turn my skies to blue --

Warbucks and Annie
I don't need anything but you!

Warbucks
You've wrapped me around
That cute little finger.
You've made life a song ...
You've made me the singer!

Annie
And what's the bathtub tune
You always "Bu-Bu-Boo?"

Warbucks
Bu-Bu-Bu Ba-Ba-Ba
But you

Annie
Yesterday was plain awful

Warbucks
You can say that again

Annie
Yesterday was plain awful

Warbucks
But that's

Annie
Not now

Warbucks and annie
That's then

Annie
I'm poor as a mouse,

Warbucks
Ah ha! I'm richer than Midas.

FDR
Oliver, marvelous!

Warbucks and Annie
But nothing on earth
Could ever divide us!
And if tomorrow, I'm an apple seller, too--
I don't need anything, anything, anything
I don't need anything...

But you!

Servants
Annie Annie Annie
Everything's humming now
Annie Annie Annie
Good times are coming now
Since you came our way
It's Christmas,
Christmas everyday
We dismiss
Bad times, sad times
Now they're all yesterday news
Since Annie
Kicked out
The blues

Annie Annie Annie
Look what you've done for us
Annie Annie Annie
Turned on the sun for us

Grace
Have they sent the cheese?

Drake
Yes and ice camemberts and bries

Grace
Judge Brandeis

ALL
Annie Annie
You filled our life with a song

They're two of a kind
The happiest pair now
Like Fred and Adele, they're floating
On air now
And what's the title of the dream

Warbucks
I don't need anything

Annie
Anything

ALL
Anything
I don't need anything
But you!"

"So dear children, hoped you enjoyed Annie!" Randhir asked.

"Yes, she found a loving home and a father!" Pebbles trilled happily.

K2 said nothing. He had enjoyed the movie but looked lost in thought.

"Ok, kids, we promised Abby that we shall rinse our mouths, so come on!" Randhir led the two into the bathroom. By the time Sanyukta had tidied up the doorbell rang. It was Hetal, who had come back for Pebbles.

"Hi Randhir, when did you get back!" Hetal was obviously happy to see him.

"This afternoon. How are you?" He responded.

"I was planning to take Pebbles to the children's fair this evening. Why don't Abby, K2 and you join us?" Hetal asked enthusiastically. She had just made the plan up in her head, although there really was a fair happening.

"Sure, why not. How about it, Abby?" Randhir asked.

"Why don't Hetal and you take the children along while Nanny and I look after Megami and Gingerbread at home?" Sanyukta had no desire to see Hetal try to cozy up to Randhir.

"Nanny can take a walk in the park with Gingerbread on a leash! You, on the other hand, will be needed to watch over K2 while I carry Megami around. And you can use the break too. So go on, get dressed!" Randhir would not take no for an answer.

Hetal left with Pebbles, offering to meet in the driveway in an hour's time. Sanyukta took K2 inside to change his clothes. It looked like all of them were going to the fair, afterall!