‘Kaavi?’
‘I’m fine.’ She raised her chin, took a breath and headed for the door.
To anyone watching, they looked like the perfect couple – he in crisp chinos and a button-down shirt, she in tailored black pants and a cream top that hugged her just right. Polished, poised, not a strand of hair out of place. But beneath the surface, turmoil brewed.
‘Do you know which ward he’s in?’
She shook her head. Neel went to the reception desk and asked for information. All he knew was that her father’s name was Mr Archary. The nurse on duty seemed to know who he was talking about and directed them to the second floor. They came out the lift and walked hand in hand into the waiting room.
‘Kaavi?’ A woman who was obviously Kaavi’s mother rushed to her daughter. Neel let go of her hand for her mother to embrace her. But Kaavi didn’t return the hug. Her mother still squeezed her.
A man and woman came forward. They were probably Senthil’s parents. And then an elderly man was at their side. Neel didn’t know whether he should introduce himself. He decided to let Kaavi take the lead. It was her show, after all.
‘I thought you weren’t going to come,’ her mother said.
Kaavi looked away. She just wouldn’t speak. It was clear that Kaavi was not going to say anything, so Neel decided he had to step up.
‘Hi. I’m Neel Naran,’ he said, reaching forward to shake hands with Kaavi’s grandfather, uncle, aunt and mom. They returned the handshake, completely unaware that their minds were going to be blown in a second.
‘I’m Kaavi’s husband.’
Her mother gasped. Her aunt and uncle’s eyes opened wider and her grandfather smiled.
‘Husband? Is this some kind of joke?’
Her mother looked at Kaavi. Still, she was like a deer caught in the headlights.
‘No, it’s not a joke. Kaavi and I are married. We’ve been married for almost three years,’ said Neel.
‘Three years!’ her uncle exclaimed.
‘I don’t understand any of this,’ her mother said.
‘You heard what they said. They’re married. Your daughter is married. Let them be happy,’ her grandfather said. Her mother looked closely at her grandfather.
‘You knew! Dad, you knew!’
He just smirked.
‘Granddad? What do you mean you knew?’
Finally, Kaavi was speaking.
‘Kaavi, babygirl, of course I knew. You think that Senthil and I would leave you out in the big world on your own without keeping tabs on you?’
‘Sen knows?’
‘Of course Sen knows,’ her grandfather said casually.
Neel blinked. He felt as if he’d stepped into some reality show about a dysfunctional family.
‘Do you want to see your father?’ her mother asked, completelychanging the topic.
‘No.’
‘He’s having surgery tonight. It’s a risky one,’ her mother said.
Kaavi looked at her mother in disgust. This was not the Kaavi Neel knew. Was he wrong about her? Who treats their parents like this?
