I returned to Hotel Renuka, exhausted, after a long day of work. I approached the front desk to retrieve my room key.

“Ma’am, your friend next door did not leave.”

I smiled. “Is it possible to move to another room?”

They looked at each other, then back at me. “As you wish, ma’am.”

“Great! What is my new room number?”

“Let us figure that out, ma’am. We will be up to collect your bags shortly.”

They moved me from 1A to 3A, a musty, hot room, but smoke free. Finally.