Vish Puri, known to close friends and family as Chubby, is a portly, Punjabi private investigator in Delhi. In his trademark Sandown caps and carefully waxed mustache, he is assisted in his investigations by his loyal associates, Facecream, Tubelight, Flush, and his driver, Handbrake. Occasionally, much to his annoyance, “Mummy” (his mother-not a nickname) interferes as well.

The three dresses hung in the closet like wallflowers waiting for a dance. Suspended beside them, as if poised for partnering, was a man’s jacket. But the scent of mothballs told me that their dancing days were over.