‘Senthil is your cousin. You’re living in your cousin’s apartment?’
‘How many drinks did you have before Sven was called away?’
‘One. So you’re sure Senthil or Sen is your cousin?’
‘Neel! Senthil is my cousin!’
‘And you’re not in love with him?’
‘Neel! I’m going to kick you out. Of course I’m not in love with my cousin!’
‘But you let me believe you were living with your lover in this apartment?’
She twirled a lock of her hair around her finger.
‘About that … Technically, I never said that. You just assumed.’
His eyes narrowed. ‘You didn’t correct me either. So you’re single?’
‘Nope. Married – for now,’ she replied.
‘You know what I mean,’ Neel said.
‘I do. There’s been no one since you,’ she said and looked away. She didn’t want to imagine who he’d been with after she left him.
But his next words surprised her. ‘For me too. No one after you.’
They sat in silence until Neel sat up straighter.
‘Kaavi, your father is dying and you’re here.’
‘I am. Do you want popcorn?’
He didn’t answer. He just stared at her in disbelief. She got up and walked to the kitchen. He could see her from where he sat.
She popped a bag of popcorn into the microwave.
Two minutes later, she emptied the bag into a bowl and was back on the couch.
She held out the bowl to Neel. He didn’t take any.
‘Kaavi, you know whatever is happening you can’t avoid, right?’
She nodded.
‘I’ll book us a flight to Jo’burg?’
‘No, you won’t.’
He didn’t argue. She munched on popcorn and he continued to stare at her in disbelief.
And then she got it. She knew what she had to do. She’d give the bastard one last act of defiance. It would be perfect. In your face ‘Dad’.
‘Book the tickets, please.’
‘What changed your mind?’
‘What are the chances of you having my wedding ring on you?’ she chuckled.
