Reflected Glory

Scene: Apartment lobby. Aeshna is about to turn the key and enter her apartment when she is greeted by a familiar looking lady and a young girl. They both carry loaded shopping bags. 


Neighbour: Hello beta, let me introduce myself. I’ve been seeing you and your husband around but we’ve never really met properly. I am XYZ. We live in the apartment above you.
Aeshna: Good evening, XYZ. I’m Aeshna.
Neighbour (pointing to daughter): Have you met my daughter ABC? She’s around your age . . . 
Aeshna: Hi! How are you?
ABC: Good. Nice to meet you.
Neighbour: I saw you last night sitting outside on the bench with your friends.
Aeshna: Oh, that was you looking from the balcony?
Neighbour: Uh, yes, I was hanging out the clothes to dry. I noticed this person with you, a big guy with a goatee. He's a Buddhist.
Aeshna: I’m sorry?
Neighbour (to ABC, her daughter): Beta, uska naam kya hai? Humare Buddhist group se?
ABC: Pata nahin, mummy.
Aeshna: He was sitting with us?
Neighbour: Yes, I saw him last night. He comes to our Buddhist meetings.
Aeshna: Oh, oh it must be my friend JB.
Neighbour: Yessss. That's him. He is in our Buddhist group. I don’t know him really, I just see him there.
Aeshna: Aah.
Neighbour: I thought that if you were friends with him you must be nice people. I thought I'd make you meet my daughter. You can all be friends.
ABC (squirming): He he. 
Aeshna: Sure. Of course.

End of scene. Everyone leaves for their respective homes, Aeshna with more urgency than others.