"Lady Flora, was my eyesight failing me again — and I'll blame Dr Dastoor if it's true — or did I spot you staring at the mannequins in the window display at the Whiteway & Laidlaw store a few nights back?"

His walking companion, for the first time in a while, had been caught unawares by her loyal friend. She was in a bind. Lady Flora was part of a handpicked list of guests belonging to a certain vintage and royalty who had been invited for the second edition of mid-day's The Guide Restaurant Awards. And, she wasn't sure if Pheroze was on the list.