‘No.’
‘You can understand why I couldn’t keep us a secret any longer?’ He sounded like he was running.
‘Yes.’
She could hear his even breathing and maybe his feet hit the ground. He was definitely running. He didn’t disconnect the call, but he wasn’t saying anything. She didn’t speak either. She just held on for what seemed like eternity, but it was probably under two minutes.
‘Now open the door,’ he suddenly said.
‘What?’
‘I said open the door, please.’
Kaavi jumped up, phone still to her ear and ran to the door. True as day, Neel stood on the other side of it.
He disconnected the call and smiled. She looked at her phone.
‘How?’
‘Sven invited me for drinks at Riya’s, but he got called away on an emergency. This town is so small and your shortcut from Riya’s is really short. I ran. Can you believe that!’
‘You’re best friends with Sven now?’
Neel followed her to the couch.
‘Funny story. He arrived at the hotel yesterday and asked for me. Small town. He heard I was staying there. He wanted to check up on me because apparently I looked like hell a couple of days ago,’ he replied as he sat down.
Kaavi sat down too.
‘You did look like hell,’ she said, remembering his reaction to her panic attack.
‘How do I look now?’
He was in dark jeans again and a red T-shirt. And he smelled so damn good.
She shook her head.
‘Now let’s talk. What’s going on?’
‘Nothing much,’ Kaavi replied.
‘On the phone, you said your father is dying,’ he said.
‘I did. He is,’ she said calmly.
Neel looked at her as if she were crazy. She probably was. She felt no emotion whatsoever.
‘And why aren’t we at his bedside?’
‘We don’t have to be there. Senthil’s parents and my grandfather are flying to Johannesburg to be with my mother,’ she said.
‘Your mother is still alive? And you’re not going to be with her? Your parents live in Jo’burg!’
‘Senthil’s parents are there. Didn’t you hear what I said?’
‘Who is this Senthil and Shona that I hear so much about?’
‘Senthil … Sen is my cousin. His dad and my mother are siblings. He’s on honeymoon with his wife, Shona. I’m living in his apartment. He called the other night when you were here,’ she explained.
